How can you tell what sex a fish is?

Question

Anyone know how i can tell what gender my fish are? Are females smaller, or is there another way to tell?

Answer 1

It depends on the species of fish, (age of fish sometimes). For most goldfish as they reach larger adult sizes you can sex them by their caudel fin, its thicker on a female thinner on a male. For some species they are sexually dimorphic (differant colors) for example african ciclids like kenyis are all born blue but as they age the females stay a blue color while the males turn yellow. Other species of africans can be sexed by the egg spots on their anal fins, males having the spot whereas females do not . Some species sexing is determined by the anal fin, examples would be platys where the female has a rounded anal fin and the males is pointed. Some fish are determined by the top dorsal fin like mollys where the females is short and rounded and the males is longer and wider. Some speces like certain loricades would have to be examined in a specimen container and using a magnifying instrument to look at the shape of the anal vent intself, this also depends on age of loricade. Other fish like oscars are also hard to determine correctly the sex until mature. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Hey Helen,

Have you tried "Fish Porno?"

sounds kinda fishy, huh?

I don't like the clothes and cologne thing - They could be "Gender Confished...."

Have you rolled them in flour and looked for the "Wet Spot?"

Sorry,

Seriously, as a basic rule of thumb, go with the colors/fins. Size is almost entirely based on age. (Unless they're prego, I mean, with eggs, then, of course, they'll be bigger). But usually brighter is better as well as the amount of "decorative" fins. But then, many tropicals will toss you for a loop - They both look the same! I would get a book from the library - with the tropicals, every species is different.

James

Answer 3

It relies upon on the type of fish. For some fish it truly is really straightforward to inform the male and female aside. For different fish it truly is totally diffilcult. with out understanding what kind of fish you've there is not any way of providing you with particular suggestion to ensure the fish's sex.

Answer 4

You didn't said what kind of fish you have. Some types have males smaller then females (guppy), some have different colors, some have different tails and flippers. Some female fishes have bigger stomach.
Search on the internet for guides.

Answer 5

a male fish as a pointed dorsal fin a female as a rounded one

Answer 6

It will depend on the breed of fish.

Cherry barb males are darker colour then females
Guppies are pretty obvious ... males have the prettier tales.

Read up on the breed of your choice and see.

Answer 7

Depends on what fish you have, but generally the brighter coloured larger finned ones are male.

Answer 8

It depends on the species of fish.

Answer 9

it is tough.... unless you are familiar with the breed... HOWEVER if you go to a reputable store with your list of types of fish, one of the clerks could probably give you some general characteristcs to look for.... or research it online starting with one type then moving on once you think you know what to look for.

Best of luck

Answer 10

Go to the bookstore and buy yourself a cheap book for beginners.It may help with your plight.