I for one would like to see a dorsal and ventral view of the one
you're saying is "pretty sure it's female".

These two were put together in March (pre breeding season)
and the male initiated some courting moves (head bobs etc).
It seems the male calmed down soon after the introduction and
accepted the newcomer as just a cage mate till just recently or
during the last couple of months (well into breeding season).

Being pretty sure on sexing a young mali could be a good guess
at best. If it is indeed a young male it makes sense that the anxious
older male would become aggressive toward another male during
the breeding season. How large (gram weight / svl / stl) is the
younger mali.

What criteria are you using that leads you to be "pretty sure it's female? Maybe the lack of dorsal color/pattern? The head size or shape? The lack of post anal bulges or enlarged/waxy pores?

John

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