Question On My 2 Firemouths

[V_Wagner]

Hi all!

I have two firemouths and I would like some opinions on the sex. They are still young but hoping someone might be able to tell.

#1 I think this one is female. She is much paler on her belly.

#2 I think this one is male. He is much brighter red on his belly

Also at what size do Firemouths start breeding?

Thanks For any Advice.

 

[onidrase]

firemouths are pretty much impossible to sex until they are in breeding mode, even when full grown. Best way to get a breeding pair is to buy about 7 of them and wait for two to pair up and bring the rest back rather than throwing a male and female together and hoping they'll get along

 

[balajake]

females dorsal fin is more squared off and the male has a more pointed longer dorsal. males are bigger too.

 

[onidrase]

females dorsal fin is more squared off and the male has a more pointed longer dorsal. males are bigger too.

IME, that's very generalized and some females will have long dorsals and some males will have squared ones. sexing firemouths is no easier than sexing an angelfish or oscar.

 

[V_Wagner]

Thanks for your opinions. The more I watch them, the more I think they are the same sex...lol One other thing, if you look at picture #2 again, look at his tail fin. It's very skinny. Looks like some kind of birth defect or something. None of my other fish have bit his tail. It's been that way since I got him 2 weeks ago??? I've looked at many pictures of firemouths and none of them have a strange tail fin like mine.