Sexing My Honey Gourami

[Saedcantas]

Hiya all,

Well I've been reading through many of the previous topics on the forums and I've come across vast amounts of brilliant advice! But, I now think I may have made a schoolgirl error in sexing my honey gourami. Gertrude is what I thought/think is a female??? she's ~1.5" in length and not the most vibrant Honey gourami I have ever seen, she is only really red on the ventral areas, the rest of her body is either white or orangish, with a pale face also. I was under the impression that the dorsal fin visual applied to honey gouramis also? Therefore I had assumed that since the dorsal fin to me looks round ended and short, she was a she!

I read another topic which mentioned females retaining a midbody horizontal stripe to maturity, she doesnt appear to have one of these, so which is it to be?

Here's two pics for those who havent seen my introduction thread

 

[sylvia]

How long have you had it? Do you have any others like it? When you first bought it, how big was it and what color?

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure but I would say it's male. Sexing using the fins is unreliable with these fish and color is tricky too because there are some newer color morphs (as well as a hybrid version...). If you go by body shape though, the fish looks male. But if you go by fin shape, it looks female

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Am inclined towards saying this one is male although it isn't nearly as easy as some other gouramies.
Is it just the pic cos near the tail end it looks like he has fuzzy stuff on him. Sign of a fungal infection.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Saedcantas]

I've had it for three days I only have one

And yes it is definitely just the picture, you can plainly see the same colouration and markings on both sides of the fish, it has a paler area which continues into the tail. Trust me I know disease when I see it or not

Thanks for your answers and concern
Lotte***

P.S: I have just now taken some more photos for you I am sorry to anyone on 56K for the sheer size of these, but having to reduce them often does them no justice, especially when the full size picture shows (as clearly as I think is going to be possible!) that it is the colouration of the scales only

Remember this fish is 1.25" in total length B)

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Ah yes. Glad it was just the pic/my eyesight.
Hugs,
P.

 

[sylvia]

Ah lol - only 3 days I still think it looks to be a male but it may take a while before you can be 100% certain (by watching his behaviour and if he colors up).