how to tell the gender of fish?

Question

i have african fish... i cant tell which are males and which are females... if anyone can help me determine the gender i would appreciate it

my fish are african cichlids... im not sure the specific names but i bought as a african assortment... i have two yellows with black stripe on fin, two light blue also with black stripe on fin, and two spotted.

i also have two frontosas if anyone knows how to tell them apart. thanks

Answer 1

Not knowing what species of fish you have makes it difficult to answer your question. Depending on the species, determining the sex ranges from easy to nearly impossible. The website referenced gives tips for identifying the gender of your fish.

Answer 2

I think the light blue ones you have are Convict Cichlid if they look like this:

http://www.fish-tropical.net/oscar/images/convict_cichlid.jpg

If it is then:

In general, in the wild, males in this group are larger than females. That is, if you find a pair in the wild, the male will be larger than the female. However, some females are definitely larger than some males, so size alone is not a perfect indicator. Females are also rounder, though this difference is easily masked by a belly full of food. Males may have nuchal humps (a hump on the forehead). The size and shape of the hump differs by species. For me the best way to sex them is to look at the convict belly and if it's orange then it's probably a female and if it's not than it's a male.


for sexing Frontosa read this page:

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/frontosa_sexing.php

Answer 3

it really depends on the type of fish you have-usually male fish more colorful of the sexes, and have the long flowing fins whilst females have short fins and are their colors are more drab, although some are quite colorful.

Ask the person where you bough it from.

Answer 4

it really depends on the type of fish you have-usually male fish more colorful of the sexes, and have the long flowing fins whilst females have short fins and are their colors are more drab, although some are quite colorful.

Answer 5

If you really want to get technical there is a process to identify the gender of fish called 'venting', where you examine and compare their sexual organs, or vents. "http://www.fishhead.com/articles/ventsex.htm"

Otherwise you must know the species, males and females can be exactly the same, or completely opposite in color, size, finnage, etc.

Answer 6

the easiest way is to look at the anal fin. Rounded it is most likely female, pointed most likely a male.

Answer 7

What kind of African Aferican Fish, THere are many differnt African fish.

If you would like to email me what kind of African fish it is. I will tell you all I can ^_^

Answer 8

hide some fish food at the end of a maze.

the fish that don't stop to ask directions are male.