how can you tell if a fish is a male or female????

Question

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Answer 1

What kind of fish? Different species have different methods.

Some have differences in color, fins size, or fin shape, like bettas: http://www.flippersandfins.net/faq.htm#malefemale

Some have special structures when they're about to spawn, but otherwise look almost alike, as in goldfish: http://www.bristol-aquarists.org.uk/goldfish/info/sexing-fs.htm

If you know the type of fish you have, look it up in the links on the right side of this page - it'll tell you what to look for: http://www.fishlore.com/

Answer 2

It usually depends on the species of fish. Some fish species of females will have darker scales, and males brighter. Some are defined by shapes of the fins, like males have longer anal and dorsal fins that are pointy at the end but females are blunt and are shorter. Those are "bony" fish so I believe.

For others, like some sharks, they have claspers and clocas.

Answer 3

Generally, males have brighter, more vivid colors while females are more pale in color. I can't be more specific without knowing the exact species.