Sexing Golden Gouramis?

[fish mad]

I got my 2 gouramis testerday and they have settled into the community tank fine. Im not sure what sex they are though. The lfs had no idea at all. They are both beautiful although one has more prominent colours than the other. The flecks on the dorsal fin and tail are more prominant than the other one could this be the male? Im not worried about breeding them but i dont want them to fight each other or attack the other tank mates. Is this likely if they are the same sex? The brighter coloured one is chasing the other. If i did need to return one would the other be ok without another gourami in there?

 

[silverdoller]

well i know that in most gouramis the males are colorful and the females are dull

 

[sylvia]

Color isn't an indication of sex in three-spots. It's more likely the duller one is simply stressed from being chased by the other. Having said that, they do color up when in breeding condition - but both sexes do so - not just the males.

Returning one and keeping just one gourami is actualy a very good idea seeing as you have three-spots. In your other thread I offered some alternatives but didn't consider that option. If you have a male and female or two males, keeping a single male would work out perfectly. You can also keep females singly but, IMO anyway, they are better off in groups (that's not to say they are not aggressive though!).

Anyway, sexing three-spots is easy - males have a longer and more pointed dorsal fin, the female's dorsal is rounded and far shorter (usualy about half the length). These differences are even apparent in younger fish so you should be able to sex them that way. Besides the fins, the male's body is also slimmer and more 'streamlined' than the plumper female. When viewed from above, females typicaly look wider than males - though this difference may only be apparent in mature or gravid fish.