Gender of my rams?

[pseud]

More pics will help (Although I'm sure she.. he's MALE!)

 

[Elisabeth83]

so you think she is a male darn..lemme go get a few more pics...

edit: ya know what? I think your right...I just checked out "her" dorsal fin and it's just as pointed as his. I actually started a topic before I think about them showing off to eachother and the "female" looked exactly like him

Got more pics..will upload in a sec

another pic

this is a terrible picture but I got a pretty good shot of "her" dorsal fin and it sure is pointed!!!

 

[Elisabeth83]

what should I do? your certain its a male? Should I move it to another tank? I'll have to take it back to the shop where I got it from. Should I get another one in hopes its a female or can a male live by himself happily??

 

[pseud]

I'm 95% positive it's a male... sorry! (and even with the small possibility he isn't, there's enough doubt that he is to warrant changing him for a positive female)

Until you take him back to the shop, if you have another tank set up where he wont be bothered by other fish, then that's the best option. If not, just ensure he has plenty of places to hide.

When my female ram died I wasn't going to replace her, but my male got really depressed and started sulking, losing his color. I got quite worried, so I think they really need to be kept in pairs. I would take him back, and switch for a female. When you're at the fish shop take your time, pick the most dominant of the fish with the pink tummies.

Remember to post pics of the new girlfriend!

 

[Elisabeth83]

Thanks so much for your help! It all makes sense now I'm so glad you found my post and decided to reply.

I moved him now to another tank where he wont be bothered. Poor guy..being chased like that I feel terrible. Well least it only started the last couple of days so he hasn't been under too much stress.

If I get another female I'll make sure to look for the rounded dorsal fin and the pink tummy. There were 2 people at the shop where I got her from who assured me it was a she. Ah well I guess the fish were young so it was probably hard to tell.

I will be sure to post pics if I get a girl

 

[pseud]

Anytime... now watch someone will disagree with me lol

 

[Elisabeth83]

I'm really still confused if she is actually a she. I've been reading more today and I read that they get their pink belly when they are mature also read not all females get a pink belly. I also read that the black patch on rams sides that the females has blue speckles around it and in it and when using a flashlight mine is like that.

I also read though that if one of them is being chased so much that they are cowering in a corner that they are about to be killed and that is what my male was doing to "her". He kept chasing her up on top of the filter and would nip at her. She was breathing very heavily so I ended up taking her out.

Maybe she is a female but he just doesn't like her???

 

[ramesses]

Anytime... now watch someone will disagree with me lol

[snapback]872119[/snapback]​

I am not really going to disagree 'cause that's a male.
A blue female,especially the germans are better colored than any other variety,therefore should always show that pink/purple spot.

Liz,I don't usually use flash on my pics,but this is one of them where it shows a male and a female german.As you can see it's very obvious which one is the male and the female with the spot.Female germans at an early age will show the spot,so don't get another one without that distinctive coloration.

 

[pseud]

I'm really still confused if she is actually a she. I've been reading more today and I read that they get their pink belly when they are mature also read not all females get a pink belly. I also read that the black patch on rams sides that the females has blue speckles around it and in it and when using a flashlight mine is like that.

That may be true, but don't forget that a) "She" doesn't have a pink tummy B) "She" doesn't have a rounded dorsal fin and c) "She's" about the same size as he is.

As for the black patch idea, I've read that too. And I don't think it holds much weight. I can't see any correlation between the blue dots and the black circle and sex in any of the rams i've looked at. But that's just me.

I also read though that if one of them is being chased so much that they are cowering in a corner that they are about to be killed and that is what my male was doing to "her". He kept chasing her up on top of the filter and would nip at her. She was breathing very heavily so I ended up taking her out.

Maybe she is a female but he just doesn't like her???

[snapback]872468[/snapback]​

Maybe. But he'd also do the very same thing to a male.

 

[pseud]

I am not really going to disagree 'cause that's a male.

[snapback]872883[/snapback]​

Glad you agree.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Just realized I've been thinking since I got her..it's a her because she has less colors (like in a lot of other fish species) but it's not that at all it's because he's the dominant male and the other male is so stressed he's lost all his colors

Both of you are right...everything points to it being another male. Do you think they swam with eachother since I got them because maybe they were siblings and just now they are maturing?

I'm ticked at the place I got them from. They didn't help me one bit in choosing a female Well the tank the other one is in is temporary so I guess I've got to call them back and return her. No idea if they will do that seeing as it's been nearly 2 weeks.

The newly single dominant male is now pacing the tank looking a bit worried. I made a new post asking if he'd be ok by himself but maybe he needs a girl afterall. I guess I was just worried I'd pick out another male but after looking at pics that have been posted I'm sure I'll be able to pick out a female.

- pink belly
- rounded dorsal
- smaller in size

Thanks for your help!