first time Betta owner....?

Question

Is there any way to tell a boy from a girl? If so How?? Thanks

Answer 1

sexing isnt always " males have long fins and females have short.

As in the wild, plakats, males are short finned.

Even today, long fin females are comming on the market. Certainly i have had in the past, HM females that have more finnage than some males.

The best way to tell is looking under the fish. There should be a white dot for the egg tube inbetween the 2 ventricles.

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Edit: to the thrend i see going.. It is wrong. Aggression isnt a true way to sex.... it is unrealiable just like finnage.
The best way is looking for the egg tube, When you become more advance you will pick up your own tricks. I have seen enough bettas that i can tell just by looking at the head of the betta and the ventricles. You will develop your own tricks as you get more advanced.

But aggression is a seperate issue and isnt a true reconigized way of sexing.

Answer 2

For the most part, females will have shorter fins. Sometimes that's not entirely accurate as has been said, as some males are still bred with the shorter fins. A more fool-proof way to check is to examine the underbelly of the fish and look for a small white dot that protrudes slightly. This is the oviposter and is only visible on the female. Sometimes young males and males who have overeaten will have a small spot there, but it goes away with time. =P

Still unsure? There are several other ways to determine sex among bettas. =3

a. Body Shape. This is a very good indicator in more mature specimens. Females will be round in the abdominal area and will thin out towards the caudal fin. Males will have more of a snake-like, rectangular body shape, being pretty consistent in length from top to bottom through and through.

b. Head Shape. The head on a female betta will be visibly smaller and more 'feminine' looking. Males will have larger heads with a very prominent lip and jaw line, more suited for fighting than those of the female.

c. Gill Membrane. The gill membrane will be much, much larger on a male betta than a female. Some females almost appear to have none at all, while a male's will stick out normally and can actually be seen moving in and out while breathing even when the fish is relaxed and not flaring or displaying.

d. Fin Shape. This method would be used more for determining plakat, or short-finned, males from regular females, but the anal fin will be much more pointed in males whereas the anal fin of a female would tend to have a more rectangular appearance. Also, the ventral fins will typically be much longer in males than females, as well as the dorsal fin a much larger size.

e. Temperament. Males are, in general, very aggressive. Females can be catty, but they usually sort things out pretty quickly once they associate who's on top and who isn't. Lots of flaring and an occasional nipped-off scale or ripped fin will occur, but not much actual full-out fighting will occur.

Hope this helps,
C.G.

Answer 3

The pretty bettas that you always see in pet stores with the vibrant colors and the big flowing fins are male. Since you are a first time owner, DONT put 2 bettas in the same tank together. Theyre fighting fish, and they'll kill each other. Put a mirror infront of him for a few seconds. He'll puff up and become very aggrivated. You know why? because he thinks its another male betta.

Answer 4

male betta's are larger and have long colorful fins
female betta's have extremely short fins and are not colorful at all

female betta's are also harder to find in pet stores, since they are very plain looking

Answer 5

A male is bright, colorful, and fights to the death. A female is white or light gray, and rather peaceable.

Answer 6

Get an inexpensive book on Anabantids,it will tell you everything you need to know.

Answer 7

males are have longer fins