How Do You Tell A Male From A Female In Tropical Fish?

[MollyPlatty]

Hi, I just signed up cause I have some questions.

How do you tell male from a female in tropical fish? I have Platties. Orange & Black. I know I have a female cause she done had 7 babies from the first time and now, I have found more that she has had about 10 more in the tank, I have them all seprated from each other, the mother is in a breeding tank, and the first babies are together in a small 5 gal tank. which they are getting bigger, and the second fishies are in the bigger 20 gal tank, and the male, i ebleive its a male cause I only have one, he is a molly and is in small clear bowl. My question is How can I tell female from male in platties.

Please let me know.

Thanks,

Josh

 

[dthoffsett]

If you want to have a few baby livebearers, get two or three fat female you can tell they are females due to their fan shaped anal fin unlike the males elongated gonopodium- see pictures the male (platy) is on the left and the female platy is on the right.

Quote taken from this article.

 

[MollyPlatty]

I just figured out that I have two Platies, The female is orange and black spots & the male is yellow with orange tail.
Thanks for the reply.

Also, is it ok to transfer the babies from the big tank to a smaller tank? They are pretty tiny, compare to the first ones I've got. I didn't transfer the first babies till they got bigger, but these second ones are tiny, would it be ok to transfer them?

If you want to have a few baby livebearers, get two or three fat female you can tell they are females due to their fan shaped anal fin unlike the males elongated gonopodium- see pictures the male (platy) is on the left and the female platy is on the right.

Quote taken from this article.

 

[dthoffsett]

As long as your smaller tank is cycled it's fine to move them.

 

[vinylman]

With most Livebearers, I'd keep a ratio of 1 male/3 females. If you only have one female, she'll be pestered non-stop by the male and her life expectancy will be shortened.