Sexing Pearl Gouramis

[wcohen]

Hello Folks,

I've decided on Pearl Gourmis for the new 60 gallon tank (after fishless cycling, of course) and would like two males and four females. Sexing 2-Spots and Dwarfs is pretty easy, but I have a hard time sexing the juvenile Pearls at the LFS. At 1.5 to 1 inches, none of them seem to have darker chests (males) and it is really difficult to tell from the fins when they're that small. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Wayne

Morgan Hill, CA, USA

 

[severum boy]

They are a bit small for a fish that grows 6" to be showing sexable colours, but then if any have more orange throats then they aughto be males Likewise, any more dull fish could be females. Your best bet however, is buy 6 random ones and enshure the guy in the store will take some back and exchange them if they are all of one sex.

 

[sylvia]

Look for body and fin shape. At this size, there is no color difference. Females will be ever so slightly shorter-bodied and plumper while males will look lengthier and 'racy'. The fins can be misleading if you look for a characteristic male pointy fins but the males almost inevitably have longer dorsals and some may have a few ray extensions, if they aren't too small, on both their dorsal and anal. You can also sometimes tell from their behaviour whether they are males or females as the males might be 'sizing each other up' whereas the females tend to avoid any, even mild, aggression and congregate in little groups.

 

[wcohen]

Thanks Severum Boy and Sylvia, for your replies.

Sylvia - what is meant by a "ray extension?" Does it just mean longer?

On my weekly visits to the LFS (I still have the 15 gallon and am aquiring supplies for the 60) I look at the Pearls to try to determin their sex, so I am prepared when I pick mine out in a month or so. Last week they only had three, so I suppose it's possible that all three were of the same sex. I'll see if I can spot any differences this week.

Thanks again!

Wayne

 

[Fremlin]

I was fairly lucky, I got mine when they were young and it was impossible to tell. I turned out I have 2 males/2 females.

 

[sylvia]

I mean that the fin rays (the rays that support the fin) extend beyond the main fin. Look at the anal and dorsal fin on this mature male: http/www.tjorvar.is/assets/images/Pearl.jpg and compare his fins to this female's: http/z.about.com/d/freshaquarium/1/0/Y/2...rlgourami02.jpg Do you see how he has those little filament-like projections on his anal/dorsal fins? Those are the ray extensions which females lack.

If you want an obvious example of extended fin rays, look at a crowntail betta http/pbskids.org/backyardjungle/files.ph...discovery_f.jpg as opposed to a halfmoon betta http/www.pisciculturacorrea.com/betta/halfmoonazul.jpg

 

[wcohen]

OK. That makes sense - I can see the difference.

Thanks again Sylvia.

Wayne