The Old Question...

[fishwatcher]

I have 3 of them, which is supposed to be a trio (1m, 2fm). However, I think I may have 2 m and 1 fm. Two of them have 3-4 extensions on their bottom fins (can't think of the name of it, sorry! ), and one has on 2 extensions. Of course, the one with 2 extensions is a bit younger and still smaller. Other than the candling, does anyone know a decent way to sex these fish?
I'm not going to chase them around to catch them and stress them out like that, you know?
Any help would be appreciated!

 

[sylvia]

Behaviour might be useful - croaking and displaying or bubblenest building - all of which males do far mroe than females. If they are not getting into fights but are mature, you probably either have only females or a trio.

 

[fishwatcher]

The 2 largest/oldest/longest extensions do croak at each other a good bit, but I have yet to see the smaller/younger one do it. There has never been a bubble-nest from any of them.

 

[sylvia]

Size and color and body shape are also indicative. Males end up larger with longer fins overall and are darker with more irridescence and brighter (blue) eyes. Females tend to be paler with a plumper belly area.

I have to say though, there isn't really a very reliable way IMO - short of waiting for the behaviour to make things obvious for you. The sort of displaying with croaking you are probably referring to is normal when arguing over hierarchy but one of the two, at least, is likely to be male. You'll probably find, if you have two males (or 3), that they'll start getting more aggressive in time.

I'd love to see pics I don't think I'd be able to sex them, personaly, from the pics - but maybe someone else can.

 

[fishwatcher]

I'll try to get some pix tonight. This morning I woke up to find their filter had died on me, so I had to drop the old media in the tank along with an air bubbler while I got a new one. I just got it set up so it'll take a little while to clean the water back up from the mess I made this morning (today was "clean the filters" day, so it was kind of yucky!) I'll post pix, though, ASAP.