How 2 Tell?

[chrisquinn12]

Hi before I start, Great forum. lots of friendly people and great advice...This is my 2nd question so far:

My LFS sold me 2 pairs of Sailfin Mollies. Its the only way they sell them?...Not the perfect ratio I have now learnt. But with only 1 tank they are going to have to live together...Now the Q. My LFS told me the male has a big fan shaped top fin. *technical description*And the female has a low top fin. Is that correct bec I read something here about anal fin or something?...Are they telling me B.S?
The reason I ask is a male (large fin) keeps harrassing the other male? (large fin) I thought it nomally should annoy a female? Have I got the sexes mixed up? Or is this just a pecking order thing?

 

[dwarfgourami]

Likely to be a pecking order thing. How big is your tank? Could get nasty if they are too closely hemmed in.

To make sure of sex, have a look at the anal fin, the one by the anus. A female has a proper fin-shaped, fan-shaped fin. A male has a sort of rod arrangement, a primitive willy.

The problem no doubt is that one male wants both females; there aren't enough to go around, so he is very aware of the other male as his rival. I would ring up the lfs, say this is not working, please take 1 male back. Or if you have a really big tank, which is already cycled, get some more females (but remember sailfins are not small fish).

 

[blue_ram]

Hi before I start, Great forum. lots of friendly people and great advice...This is my 2nd question so far:

My LFS sold me 2 pairs of Sailfin Mollies. Its the only way they sell them?...Not the perfect ratio I have now learnt. But with only 1 tank they are going to have to live together...Now the Q. My LFS told me the male has a big fan shaped top fin. *technical description*And the female has a low top fin. Is that correct bec I read something here about anal fin or something?...Are they telling me B.S?
The reason I ask is a male (large fin) keeps harrassing the other male? (large fin) I thought it nomally should annoy a female? Have I got the sexes mixed up? Or is this just a pecking order thing?

The easiest way to sex the livebearer is to look at the gonopodium. The picture below is of two males and the the arrow is pointing at the gonopodium. Females have regular fan-like fins instead.

My experience with mollies are that the alpha males will harass everyone, when they are in a small group. Males will also harass females as well. I had to banish the male mollie to 10 gallon, because he wouldn't leave the females alone. Unfortunately, this is a rather typical behavior of the males.

By everyone, I mean other mollies. He doesn't bother other fish; even the much smaller ones.

 

[Lateral Line]

I found this in the fish index! Moved to Livebearers.