Calling Experts Are My Gourami's Female Or Male

[babybell911]

Ok I got three gourmai 1 opaline and two dwarfs. I'd like to know what sex they are. I thought my opaline was a girl but she's got more of a point to her fin now so maybe not. She's been in the tank for a while and the two dwarfs were added sunday. So far no major issues the powder blue dwarf chases the rainbow dwarf a bit and the opaline defends one corner but no major aggression.
Here are the pics.
Rainbow dwarf

Close up of powder blue

Only pic i could get of opaline

I think the two dwarfs are female but I'd like a definate Thanks for looking xxx

 

[TheRedDarren]

hi m8.
The 1st pic is a juvenile male dwarf.
2nd is a female, these are selectivley bred to give this colouring, the wild colour (or natural) for a female dwarf is silver body with a gold/brown colour to the back half of the fish.
3rd I believe is a male, although i'm not 100% on that one.

as you said about the fins, if the anal and/or dorsal fin is rounded it is female, pointed its a male, as a general rule of thumb, of course there are exceptions i believe.

 

[babybell911]

I'll probably have to get rid of one then if the dwarf and opaline are males right?? Thanks xx

 

[sylvia]

Both dwarfs are male - you can tell because they have longer 'bulbous' anal and dorsal fins. With dwarfs, they are not necessarily pointed.

The three-spot looks like a male but with that fraction of the body to work with, I'm not sure. Can't you get a full-body pic?

You are going to have to return the opaline as he will stress the dwarfs out and may even kill them. One dwarf may also end up stressing the other to the point where he develops disease but you can reduce the chances of this happening in various ways (eg heavy planting). If possible, get 3-4 female dwarfs. They will solve the problem.

 

[babybell911]

Buggar thanks sylvia I thought the blue's would be male and the rainbow female but never mind. I dont really wanna give my opaline up cos I've had him ages but if I can find a good home I mite. Any colour morph of dwarfs thats a guaranteed female. I like the honey red ones with the white tail.

 

[babybell911]

Heres a full opaline shot

 

[sylvia]

Deffinately a male opaline. Honestly, either you're going to have to return the dwarfs (that's what I would do) or find the opaline a new home and get some dwarf females. Female dwarfs are not colorful. They tend to be a duller silver-brown though some have faint stripes or a pale blue wash. They are easy to destinguish because their fins are much stumpier and they have many upright dorsal fin rays that make the fin (if it's not clamped - clamping is a bad sign anyway) look 'spiky'. Those sold in LFSs are also usualy mature enough to have an obviously wider bodied (easier to see when you look down at them from above) though you must take care not to choose one with dropsy or a bacterial disease (common in dwarfs unfortunately). Many LFSs don't stock females at all because their duller coloration means they are not so much in demand. You can usualy ask your LFS to order some in or, alternatively, order some online.

 

[babybell911]

Ok think I'll probably rehome the dwarfs what kind can I get to keep my boy opaline company as he's very depressed and quiet on his own until the featherfin comes out then he wonders round with her.

If I kept the dwarfs are the honey ones females or will these also be males cos they're colourful??

 

[sylvia]

No - honeys are a completely different species - nothing to do with being male or female. Male honeys tend to be brighter and develop a blue-black ventral coloration while females are paler. However, it's not a good idea to add more gourami species to your tank.

Your opaline does not need company. He is a territorial fish and adding gouramies may well provoke an aggressive reaction in time. The reason he comes out more when the threadfin is around is that he feels safer. Try planting your tank more heavily and introducing a school of fish such as harlequin rasboras.

 

[babybell911]

Ok thanks I will be rehoming the dwarfs as soon as can find somewhere for them to go. Could i add hatchet fish or gold neons I like them?

 

[sylvia]

Hatchets are not the best idea because they are strictly top-dwelling and any gourami is liable to pick on them because of this.

Neons would be fine (though make sure they aren't so young that they can be eaten!)

 

[babybell911]

Thats brill then cos I've seen some gold neons I think are stunning and I have a spare tank I can keep them in if they are too small until they get bigger. Thanks sylvia you've been a big help taking my dwarfs back to the pet shop tomorrow xx