how do you tell a boy goldfish from a girl goldfish?

Answer 1

This is not easy as these fish do not have distinctively gendered genitals in the way that mammals do. Male gold fish, shubunkin and carp are generally more slender in shape than females. Females tend to be chubbier and almost pear shaped.

However, as fish do not eat in the colder months and survive off their fat reserves their shape will be misleading outside the breeding season. In the warmer, breeding months the males develop distinctive spotting around the gills and on their heads. These little bumps are white and quite noticeable during the breeding season. Watching their behaviour at this time will also offer clues to gender.

The male fish try to stimulate breeding by chasing the females around the pond or aquarium. They deliberately bump into the females to stimulate spawning. However, if you wait until you see these signs it will be a little late to start a selective breeding programme. Once the female has spawned the male will quickly deposit his milt over her eggs. Fertilisation only takes 20 minutes and so, by then, it will be far too late for the fish keeper to intervene.

Answer 2

* The female Goldfish are slightly bigger than the males and look even heavier in the abdomen when they are full of eggs. * Male Goldfish develop white spots on their gills and pectoral called “breeding tubercles” during spawning time. * Males have midline ridges on their undersides beginning from the back of their pelvic fins and ending at their vent opening. This feature can be absent or smaller in females. * Males have firm abdomen while in females; the area between the pelvic fins and the anal fins is more pliable. * Male Goldfish have longer and pointed pectorals as well as stiff fin ray, while females have more rounded pectorals and shorter, finer front fin rays. * Male goldfish have smaller and more oval anal openings and the anal fins are not as thick as that of the female goldfish who has a larger and rounder anal opening with a slight protrude. The anal fin is also thicker. * The spawning time is the easiest time to distinguish the boys from the girls. The female opening will look larger and more swollen as the eggs begin to ripen. She would look big and heavier. Since fish reproduce through external fertilization, you can make out when a male is ready by the white breeding tubercles and you can actually push out the milt through his ventral opening by running a gentle finger along his sides. * There is one more obvious, but kind of time taking way to make out which one of your fish is male and female. Find out who is chasing who – the chaser will be the male and the chased and tired out one will be the female! It’s the natural tendency on part of the male goldfish to chase and nudge at a female’s rear part.

Answer 3

Goldfish are one of the fish that are very hard to sex. Here is a web link that has info AND pictures to help you with it.

Answer 4

I'm no expert on goldfish, but, I think in mating season, the male gets stripes on his dorsalfin.

Answer 5

Here's a link that describes what to look for and includes photos.

http://www.bristol-aquarists.org.uk/goldfish/info/sexing-fs.htm

MM

Answer 6

the boy goldfish is the one trying to get away from the girl fish,lol

Answer 7

MM and Barb both have good websites.

Here's another interesting one: http://www.blurtit.com/q711613.html

Answer 8

the girl always has her mouth open

Answer 9

Garb it's crotch and see if there are any avocados down there.