| This depends on the fish, for many this can | | | | have orange on the belly, particularly when |
| be very difficult. | | | | they are ready to breed, while males lack the |
| | | | orange. (2) In Auratus African cichlids from |
| Also several factors go into any fish | | | | Lake Malawi, the young fish have female |
| developing into a breeding condition, where | | | | coloring of a yellow-golden base with three |
| sexing the fish is more likely; water | | | | black bands, aligned with white stripes |
| temperature, water quality, and a very | | | | running parallel to these black bands. As the |
| important aspect is proper nutrition. | | | | fish mature the males reverse to a black base |
| | | | body color with yellow or turquoise bands. |
| Here are a few basics; | | | | |
| | | | Goldfish: |
| Livebearers: | | | | |
| | | | Sexing Goldfish is very difficult before they |
| In Livebearers such as platties the male has | | | | reach sexual maturity. |
| a short tube called gonopodium in place of | | | | |
| the anal fin, while the female has a normal | | | | One way to tell is by looking at the shape of |
| triangular anal fin. | | | | the vent. Females may have rounder convex |
| | | | vents while males have thinner concave vents. |
| Cichlids: | | | | The pectoral fins of males may be rather |
| | | | thick and stiff (compared to those of female |
| In Cichlids some species, males and females | | | | goldfish) and with a more pronounced outer |
| are readily distinguishable by color, size or | | | | ray. |
| shape. For others it is difficult or even | | | | |
| impossible to tell the sexes apart in non | | | | Another way to tell is by male goldfish will |
| breeding individuals. | | | | developing breeding stars on their gill |
| | | | covers and along the first ray of their |
| • Body shape: The male form a pair of | | | | pectoral fins when they are ready to breed. |
| cichlids in the wild is generally larger than | | | | |
| female. Some females are larger than some | | | | Bettas; |
| males especially if not found in a breeding | | | | |
| pair, so size alone is not a reliable | | | | Male Bettas in the wild are short finned in |
| indicator. Males may have a hump on the | | | | the wild, so fins are not as reliable a way |
| forehead. The size and shape of this hump | | | | to tell the sex in bettas and is common |
| differs by among species. This again is not | | | | belief. Here are a few ways to improve the |
| foolproof as females in aquariums have also | | | | accuracy of sexing your betta: (1) While |
| grown humps, so the presence of a hump does | | | | looking at the male betta head on, there is |
| not in itself identify a male. Females may | | | | an extra flap of skin under his body. The |
| also rounder. | | | | extra skin is an extended flap of skin from |
| | | | the gills. (2) Again look head on, the males |
| • Fin length: Males Cichlids will often | | | | will have a much bolder head and fin |
| have longer, more flowing and pointed anal | | | | structure. (3) While a little less accurate, |
| and dorsal fins. This method has many | | | | a male will generally not have a white dot |
| exceptions too (such as female Convict | | | | under his body, in between his ventricles. |
| Cichlids). | | | | Females will have this white dot. |
| | | | |
| • Coloration: This is a species | | | | Taken together you can give a much more |
| specific check for the sex of the fish. A | | | | accurate assessment of your Bettas sex. |
| couple examples: (1) female convict cichlids | | | | |