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