What Sex Is This Dwarf Gourami?

[scorphonic]

 

[scorphonic]

I though that the first fish was a blue male gourami but this one is silver and not blue. Also this fish tends to be chased from time to time by the fish in the second photo...which is a trait of the male vs female gourami I believe.

What do you all think?

 

[Biulu]

The second one is definitively a male. However, the colours in the first picture are not as clear. Is the fish a bit more 'silver' and the coloured stripes are more or less in the background? Have a look at this thread: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...st&p=275370


Chasing can also be due to dominance. Gouramis are very territorial, and an 'invasion' by another gourami might also cause the chasing.

 

[scorphonic]

Yes the first one is silver and the orange stripes along its body are quite light and there isn't that much colour at all in that fish. Under the light it shines silver so i know that its not a blue gourami. I'll try my very best to get better photographs but these fish are pretty camera shy, just when I'm about to take a snap they move!!

Here's a closer look:

 

[sylvia]

Both look like males to me.

 

[Orbit887]

Both look like males to me.

Yep I'd say the same, 2nd pic is definately a male, and the first pic looks male too, just with different colour variations.

 

[scorphonic]

Ok...thats a pity alright...would have been nice to get a female. How hard are they to get and how difficult is it to sex them?

 

[sylvia]

If you want females, make sure to get more than the males - so at least 3, idealy 2 females per male. You shouldn't really keep these fish in pairs anyway. Dwarfs are rather prone to stress-induced diseases and keeping two means one will generally chase the other around (and hence cause it stress). Male naturally harass females rather more.

Finding them can be tricky because many LFSs find they do not sell as readily due to their duller coloration and therefore do not stock them. You can usually ask the LFS to order a bunch in for you, however.

Sexing is easy. Females are duller - usually silvery or brownish. They usually lack stripes though you do get particularly colorful individuals on occasion. However, females never have the long, pointed or 'bulbous' dorsal or anal fins - which are characteristic of males. Females also tend to be obviously plumper but take care not to purchase fish with dropsy - ie no pine-coning of scales or bloated appearance.

Here are a few pics I googled to help you out:

Males of various color morphs:
http/133.11.37.221/users/naibunpi/Image/...i-photo-old.jpg
http/www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/gour...n_blue_male.jpg
http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/...cs/dwfgour2.jpg
http/www.desertratdemocrat.com/archives/031105.jpg

Females:
http/www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/gour...blue_female.jpg
http/www.deepwateraquatics.com.au/images...arf_gourami.jpg
http/www.otsuka-nettaigyo.com/img/Cobalt...rami-female.jpg
http/www.elmersaquarium.com/image_fish/0...lame_female.jpg
http/www.elmersaquarium.com/image_fish/0...oise_female.jpg

Powder blue pair (female on left): http/www.aquahobby.com/img/powder1.jpg
http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/...cs/dwfgour1.jpg - Note the female is smaller.
Flame/red pair: http/www.gourami-breeding.co.uk/jean.jpg Female is obvious

 

[scorphonic]

Hay thanks a million for that sylvia!! Super links!!

I think I'll ask my local store to take my gray male in exchange for a female (and I'll get another two on top of that for good measure!)

Thank you.

 

[Chipie]

Hay thanks a million for that sylvia!! Super links!!

I think I'll ask my local store to take my gray male in exchange for a female (and I'll get another two on top of that for good measure!)

Thank you.

Yes they are bothe males. The shape of the head on the females is different. It's a little bit more pointy and the mouth goes more upwards. Hope this is the right word. I'm french speaking by the way ;-) Here's what a female looks like. These are my two females.

This one has stripes

And this one doesn't but they are both Dwarf gourami females