Blue Throat Sex?

[iReefer12]

Can someone tell me whether or not this blue throat is a male or a female? I’ve had these 2 in my tank for 3 years or more, but in a recent move the female has gained brighter yellow fins and a little blue on her jaw, and there’s been a bit of chasing/aggression every now and then.

I’m led to believe the stress may have made her change sex? I’ve read this on other people’s posts, but want to make absolutely certain before I separate.

Known male in foreground

Thanks for any help.

 

[richiero]

Looks like you have one and one , the one with the nicer color and the more pronounced blue on the jaw is the male , from what i can see from the pic

 

[richiero]

https://www.saltwaterfish.com/product-bluejaw-trigger-male-19735

 

[iReefer12]

Now I’m confused.

I just witnessed both blue throats do some kind of weird spiral thing. They were nearly vertical in the tank, and they were side by side interlocked and they were twirling around and around really quick, (there was lots of teeth chomping noise too, but both appear unhurt)

The known male’s blue patch was really bright after and the unknown male/female looked more like a female.

I found someone else’s video on YouTube and the act looked just like this:
The problem is, this guy says it was a mating behavior, but he has 2 males for sure. So... what is the consensus mating behavior or 2 males squaring up?

 

[iReefer12]

Looks like you have one and one , the one with the nicer color and the more pronounced blue on the jaw is the male , from what i can see from the pic

Well the one without the blue sometimes does have a small bit of blue on the jaw, and the pronounced yellow fins is not usual for females?

Can females still have the yellow fins and hints of blue on the jaw?

I will say this, they both have different shaped bodies the known male has a more pointy appearance and the unknown male/female is more rounded at the front.

 

[mort]

To me it looks like you have two males or a dominant male and a fish who is trying to challenge it. The vid looks like it shows two males in hierarchal scrapping.
The lack of a blue throat could be because it's still transitioning or showing signs it's not yet dominant.

 

[Eva Rose]

I think def 2 males. Yellow coloration on fins on both. One is just a bit brighter and more developed now. Blue jaw pronounced on both.

Juvi blue jaws often don’t show full male coloration till they mature a bit. I was sold a ‘female” (brownish edged fins & blue jaw shadow not yet visible) over time I saw a faint blue shadow on jaw. Sure enough it developed into a beautiful male.

 

[iReefer12]

Thanks for the replies. That’s kind of what I thought too. That video someone posted says there mating but to me it reminds me of 2 male deers licking horns fighting for dominance.

Looks like I’ll have to get ready to remove the smaller one.

 

[lion king]

What size are they, if the one in question isn't a solid 4 to 4.5", you had an immature Male all the while. They dont change sex but some males dont mature until reaching between 4 and 4.5". I've seen this several times, and a females accent colors are more of a rusty red, not yellow.