Gender?

[Dylan_89]

Carl recently convinced me to get 3 Opaline or Blue gourami with a ratio of 1M:2F

Saw them at my LFS, apart from making me sad... they're all in the same tank!!
So here are my issues:
1) How do I distinguish the males from the females?
2) Will they regain their blueish colour when put in a proper tank? (they all seemed pale - common in any LFS)
3) How can I choose between Opaline and Blue? (Whenever I look online, I lean towards blue... But at my LFS, I lean to Opaline!!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Carlovel1]

Carl recently convinced me to get 3 Opaline or Blue gourami with a ratio of 1M:2F

Saw them at my LFS, apart from making me sad... they're all in the same tank!!
So here are my issues:
1) How do I distinguish the males from the females?
2) Will they regain their blueish colour when put in a proper tank? (they all seemed pale - common in any LFS)
3) How can I choose between Opaline and Blue? (Whenever I look online, I lean towards blue... But at my LFS, I lean to Opaline!!

Thanks in advance!

1. Males are slightly more colourful, have longer dorsal and anal fins with pointed tips. Females are less colourful, and have shorter dorsal and anal fins with rounded tips.
2. Yes, either they are stressed in the lfs and their colour has faded (and will regain colour once settled in your aquarium) or they are still juvis and they will gain more colour as they grow up. Feeding high protein food (such as 'Tetra Pro Colour flake' or live or frozen foods) will help them colour up quicker.
3.Purely down to your personal taste:
Opaline Gourami:

Blue Gourami/Three-spot Gourami:

Note the fins in the Blue Gourami are rounded (therefore the fish is a female) and the fins on the Opaline Gourami are pointed (therefore the fish is male)


Carl

 

[Dylan_89]

How did I know you'd respond first Carl

Thanks for the info (again)!

But I do have 1 question.

In the 2 pictures supplied (thank-you so much, so very helpful!!), u said the opaline was a female and the blue was a male... but when I read your descriptions/reasoning.. I see it the other way!
The blue has short rounded fins (female) and the opaline has the longer pointed fins (male).. I'm assuming it's just a typo?


DECISION MADE: Opaline!

 

[Carlovel1]

How did I know you'd respond first Carl

Thanks for the info (again)!

But I do have 1 question.

In the 2 pictures supplied (thank-you so much, so very helpful!!), u said the opaline was a female and the blue was a male... but when I read your descriptions/reasoning.. I see it the other way!
The blue has short rounded fins (female) and the opaline has the longer pointed fins (male).. I'm assuming it's just a typo?


DECISION MADE: Opaline!

Yep, it was a typo Fixed it now though.

I would have gone for the Opaline Gourami too, nice choice

 

[Dylan_89]

How did I know you'd respond first Carl

Thanks for the info (again)!

But I do have 1 question.

In the 2 pictures supplied (thank-you so much, so very helpful!!), u said the opaline was a female and the blue was a male... but when I read your descriptions/reasoning.. I see it the other way!
The blue has short rounded fins (female) and the opaline has the longer pointed fins (male).. I'm assuming it's just a typo?


DECISION MADE: Opaline!

Yep, it was a typo Fixed it now though.

I would have gone for the Opaline Gourami too, nice choice

Ah Carl - you've saved the day once again! I'll be sure to name my male "carl"..... wow i'm so creative with my names...

 

[Carlovel1]

How did I know you'd respond first Carl

Thanks for the info (again)!

But I do have 1 question.

In the 2 pictures supplied (thank-you so much, so very helpful!!), u said the opaline was a female and the blue was a male... but when I read your descriptions/reasoning.. I see it the other way!
The blue has short rounded fins (female) and the opaline has the longer pointed fins (male).. I'm assuming it's just a typo?


DECISION MADE: Opaline!

Yep, it was a typo Fixed it now though.

I would have gone for the Opaline Gourami too, nice choice

Ah Carl - you've saved the day once again! I'll be sure to name my male "carl"..... wow i'm so creative with my names...

 

[Dylan_89]

Got 2 females on hold just need to find a male!

Won't put them in till I've finished planting though