Sex My Fish...

[Timmy_Bee]

Hi,

I set up a new tank and have been gradually adding a few more fish. I would like some help sexing the little guys and any tips on how to breed.
I have got an assortment of barbs (cherry, rosy, tiger, green tiger and something i have already forgotten) , two gourami (which i think are both male - so the guy in the LFS told me) and two plecs. If i took some pics this eve, would you be able to help me work out which ones are male / female? If so, what sort of photos do you need? ie top view, side view or just as much as possible?

 

[Curiosity101]

Side on views with fins up is normally the most useful.

With the gouramis it'll be easy. But with the barbs it could be more tricky.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

I have 3 cherry barbs. One of which is smaller and much more 'cherry' red - am i right in thinking this is the guy?

The rest of my barbs all look exactly the same to me... I'll try to get some pics up later (when im not at work )

 

[helterskelter]

Cherry barbs. Males have more red colour, females duller with a silver, fuller look to the belly. Easy to sex

Rosy barbs. Males are again much brighter red, females are more silver, again easy to sex.

Tiger/Green Barbs. There are the same species and will breed to gerther. Again males are brighter and females are duller with slightly fullter look to the belly.


Breeding there are not easy but interesting to try.
You need a breeding tank.
Separate the males and females to different tanks. Feed them all on high protein foods and lots of live foods, do this for 10-14 days. Once the females have put on some weight and have a good full look to them. add them to the breeding tank. Use a deep layer of marbles. This protects the eggs from the adults which will happily eat as many of them as they can.

Suddenly moving the fish all to a new tank can be a trigger alone to induce spawning, but not always the key. If they ready and happy then they will spawn with in 4-5 days.

Gouramies are simple to sex once mature. Males have pointed dorsal fin's and females are more round
Quite easy to breed but again you need a breeding tank set up.


Another thing is you need to think about rearing any fry you get. you need to get lots of live foods, Newly hatched brine shrimp, micro/grindle worm.
If you dont want to have the live foods then it's pointless trying to breed them.

Go for a simple livebearer like guppies as the fry can be reared on flake foods from birth.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

Thanks. that all sounds good.
Maybe i wont intend to breed just yet. Need to have a think about that one.

But i think one of my green tigers might be 'with child' anyway - watch this space!

Hopefully get pics / vid soon

 

[Timmy_Bee]

Is there a dominant gene between tiger and green tiger? as in if they breed would the fry be all green, or not, or some sort of mix?

 

[helterskelter]

Green i suspect would be recessive.