sexing Angels

[x Fish x]

rundown: i bought my Angels in January, when they were about the size of quarters, from my LPS. i really wanted to get a bonded pair, and took out the two that stuck together (at the time i worked there, and got to bag my own fish) now they've pretty much tripled in size, maybe even quadrupled, and i just wanted to know if there was any surefire way of sexing them?

the Marbled- Sharkie, my brother named him- has these funny little 'pimples' on his gillcovers and face, and i saw/heard somewhere that they meant he was a breeding male. Acidici doesn't have any pimples, and she's big 'round the middle. do either of these things point to male/female? or should i just keep calling them Boy-Sharkie and Girl-Acidici?

tibbets: Sharkie has a bent dorsal fin that's just starting to even out, and Acidici likes to swim sideways, diagonally, and even upside-down =D

 

[Tempestuousfury]

What do you mean they "tripled"? Did you buy more or did you breed?

Most aquarists cannot tell the difference between the sexes. The only time we can tell if there's a pair is if we buy a few and they pair off by themselves. The only way to sex them is by the differences in the size of the breeding tubes, which are only visible when they are getting ready to copulate.

 

[Doggfather]

Hi x Fish x

Try looking on their underside the males genital papilae will be pointed, whereas the females will be rounded. You can also look for a cranial hump, which may signify a male fish.

good luck breeding

 

[gaya]

Hi x Fish x

Try looking on their underside the males genital papilae will be pointed, whereas the females will be rounded. You can also look for a cranial hump, which may signify a male fish.

good luck breeding

what does that look like? color?

 

[David]

Usually somewhat clear or whitish, like a male guppy's gonopodium. Also older males may develop a cranial hump like doggfather said, which are also found on some other mature male cichlids like midas, red devils and sometimes convicts.

 

[x Fish x]

Tempest: they grew? they went from about 3/4" in 'diameter' to about 2-3".

Doggfather: i just checked the pair (who are sociable little bugs =3) and the Marbled has a small whiteish pointed tube- i'm assuming- while the Calico has more of a whiteish bump. also, the Marbled's butt sort of caves inwards, whereas the Calico's is flush with her... er, chest? neither fish has a cranial hump as far as i can see.

thanks =3

 

[black angel]

the male looks like he's been pinched in the stomach area and the female will get plumper.