A male and female betta splendens. Over the years, the basic betta genes of wild fish have been toyed with by enthusiasts to create the beautiful anomalies that result in the strong sexual dimorphism of today’s captive-bred bettas. Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Betta Fish | Advocating For Proper Care & Information. Male goldfish often have a thinner, more streamlined body shape than females, with a concave vent and a midline ridge. After 12 to 15 months of age, Oscars have grown to be about 4 to 5 inches long. Identifying male or female Koi Carp explained by industry expert Shawn McHenry in this edition of Koi Discussions with The Pond Digger. In the Corydoras catfish, the female is usually a bigger-bodied fish than the males. Female betta fish can be as aggressive as the male betta fish. Gouramis are another species of fish that are not easily identified. And that’s because the goldfishes live with different feeding habits. Generally speaking, catfish sexes cannot be distinguished. The anal opening of a female goldfish is also rounder than that of the male. The Oscar fish male and female difference can only be determined when the fish are at a minimum of one year old. Get it free when you sign up for the Spruce Pets! Another male and female fish difference is about their body shapes. Shirlie is a fish and aquarium lover with 16 years of experience writing on the topic of raising and keeping fish at home. You can tell by their head as the male’s head becomes more elongated than the female’s head. Females are usually less colorful than males and … Tetras do have some differences between sexes, which vary based on the species. Much to anglers' chagrin, male and female largemouths appear virtually identical, but there are a few ways to tell the difference. Generally, they breed by the males chasing the females and fertilizing the eggs as she lays them in the plants or scattered among the rocks. Depending on the species, determining the sex of a fish ranges from easy to nearly impossible. Female bettas have short fins. Males have the long flowing fins and brilliant colors that owners find attractive. Let’s break the term down. Consequently, most hobbyists want a male betta, rather than females, which are drab in comparison. The male moonlight gourami has orange to red coloration of the pelvic fins. There is, however, one fairly universal sexual difference seen in most gourami species. Additionally, there are some slight morphological differences between male and female angelfish. The male sex of the fish will have more of a pointed anal fin. I got 15 malawis of various kinds and they all look beautiful. Male wild bettas lack the flowing fins and brilliant array of colors that are boasted by their captive-bred relatives, being a somewhat dull, gray-green color with short, stubby fins. Betta fish have an opercular membrane situated underneath the gill plate cover. In other words, it’s very difficult to tell the sexes apart. HI Everyone. In some species of cyprinids, including goldfish, the males will get small white bumps (nuptial tubercles) on their head, operculum and possibly the spine of the pectoral fins during the mating season. In this article, I tell you everything you need to know about determining betta fish gender. If you have ever caught a bass that was 8 pounds or larger, then you most likely caught a female largemouth bass. The best way to establish a mating pair is to purchase a half-dozen immature angelfish and raise them together. In wild betta fish, females look very similar to males, although they are slightly smaller. Male Betta fish will generally have long dorsal (top), ventral (bottom), and caudal (tail) fins. The swollen body is much more pronounced in females, to facilitate space for the production of eggs in the ovaries. 3. You can buy female bettas too, but I’ve found that it’s usually more specialist aquarist stores that sell them. Male bettas must be kept separate from each other and from the female until she is ready to breed. A female goldfish possesses certain characteristics that a male goldfish does not. How can you tell the difference between a female and male cory? After breeding, the male chases the female away and takes care of the eggs and the babies. The female must be removed or she will be attacked by the male. Fins are those part of fish which assist it in swimming and also gear its … Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However, captive-bred betta fish have strong sexual dimorphism because the male of the species is very different in looks and behavior to the female. It’s probably even confusing than the vent method. Alison Page has been an avid fish keeper for over 35 years and has owned many different species of freshwater tropical fish including bettas. Although not all fish can be easily identified by sex, these tips will help you recognize the sex of many of the common species of aquarium fish. Oscar fish are what we call monomorphic, this means that the male and female look exactly the same, in size, shape and colouration. The dorsal fin is long and comes to a distinct point in males, while females have a shorter, rounded dorsal fin. Some varieties of male bettas have long, flowing finnage. The… Bettafish.Org, The Aquarium Environment: Selecting Compatible Cichlids. FINS. Freshwater Angelfish. Dorsal Fin. Tankarium is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Many of the defining physical characteristics are common among all male and female salmon. Consequently, it’s usually male fish that you’ll find for sale in regular pet stores. Bettas are a species of fish that is quite easy to identify their sexes. The terms “weak” and “strong” are also applied to a creature’s sexual dimorphism. The gonopodium is used to fertilize eggs inside of the female fish as the male swims alongside the female. So, when you try this, don’t completely rely on it. They are both roughly the same size and weight, which means that just because one may be larger, that has nothing to do with their sex. Males are usually smaller and more colorful than females. In my experience, it’s generally male betta fish that you find for sale in small pet and fish stores. Male bettas are the ones usually sold in shops. However, if in doubt, assume that the betta is male. Those possessing fanlike anal fins are females. Here is how you can figure out the sex of common aquarium fish. So, if you buy a betta from a small, regular pet store, ask the assistant if the fish is male or female. How you purchase your betta fish can be an indicator of the fish’s gender. For clownfish, the females are larger than the males. To identify a female goldfish, look for a rounder, thicker body shape. Read our, The Spruce Pets uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Although females can also develop a nuchal hump when spawning, it is never as prominent as that of the male. Most adult male mollies have longer and more elaborate tails, pectoral fins and dorsal fins than females do. He then collects the eggs into his mouth and places them into his bubble nest. Female clownfish are much more dominant than their male counterparts. If that’s you, you’ll need to know how to tell the difference between a male and female betta fish. [52] Tetras are schooling fish, so breeding pairs can be obtained simply by purchasing a small school of them at one time. Firstly, it is impossible to tell whether Discus fish is a male or female during its initial phases. Unlike many other species of fish where the female and male are very different, Oscars are absolutely identical and therefore completely impossible to sex by visual means. Dorsal Fin is the back fin of mollies. The main difference in Molly Fish sexing is the fin differences. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This is by no means an exhaustive list but it does provide a general overview of the differences between the fish sexes. It is not always easy to find female bettas for sale in pet shops; if you can't locate one, ask the shop owner or manager if they can order one for you. The males will chase the female who will lay her eggs and the males fertilize them as she deposits them. They also possess an external sexual organ, the gonopodium, which makes it easy to differentiate males from the females: In the male, the anal fin is rod-shaped, while the female has a traditional fan-shaped anal fin. The female fish will have a more rounded anal fin. In addition, certain species of gourami show color variations between the sexes. Males are often slimmer but larger-bodied than females and are more vibrantly colored. The males will chase a gravid female (full of eggs) around the tank and then she will lay the eggs on a flat surface, such as a plant leaf, smooth rock, or even the aquarium glass. Fish females must get larger because they must carry many thousands of eggs. Male vs Female Neon Tetras – Which Live Longer? Differences will vary by species, but generally, males are more intensely colored and slimmer than females. Like the betta, many gouramis will build a bubble nest, but both the male and female are involved in taking care of the eggs. Often 2-3+ times their body height. In terms of total length of the body, females can grow up till 2 inches in length whereas the male body size is limited to 1.5 inches. Both parents will take turns hovering over the eggs, fanning them with their fins to oxygenate them and keep them clean. The betta’s egg spot is so tiny that it can be difficult to see. It is only during breeding that the male and female can be kept together. The ovipositor is a short tube from the female's vent that she uses to lay her eggs. If the female betta likes the male betta, she wriggles back and fronts. This works best from a top view. Simply put, sexual dimorphism is the difference between males and females in the same species. In many species, the male will display egg-shaped markings on the anal fin known as egg spots. Males and females often are similarly colored and shaped. Female Betta When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Can you spot the difference? Among the easiest of all fish to tell apart are the livebearing fish, such as the guppies, platys, mollies, and swordtails. After breeding, usually there is no care of the eggs, and the parents may even eat them if they are found. Female bettas develop vertical stripes when in mating condition, Some varieties of male bettas have long, flowing finnage, The male’s ventral fins are longer and thicker than those of the female, In short-finned Placat bettas, the female’s caudal fin is shorter than that of the male, Female bettas are shorter and wider-bodied, Adult male bettas measure 2.5 to 3 inches in length, Adult female betta size is 2 to 2.25 inches in length, situated underneath the gill plate cover. Barbs and other members of the cyprinid family are rather difficult to tell apart. Colors. May 9, 2011. Are you already an owner who wants to breed from your beloved betta? If a male likes a female, he flares his grills, twists his body and spreads his fins. Basically, sexual dimorphism refers to the degree of difference between males and females of the same species. When the Discus Fish is smaller in size (lesser than 4 inches) their dorsal fin is rounded regardless of their gender. Since most cyprinids are schooling fish, one way to obtain a breeding pair is to purchase a group of them. The male builds a nest out of air bubbles on the surface of the water and then entices the female to lay her eggs under it, wrapping his body around hers to fertilize the eggs as she lays them. The females are a bit larger and plumper than males. Cichlids are such a diverse group that it would take a small novel to give specifics for knowing the difference within each species. Neon Tetra Male to Female Ratio. Body: The body starts to enlarge or swell after they are sexually matured and ready for spawning. Almost all largemouth bass over 8 or 9 pounds are female. In protogynous mating systems where males dominate mating with many females, size plays a significant role in male reproductive success. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. The internally fertilized eggs will hatch inside the female and then she will "give birth" to the babies. Females are not as vividly colored and have short, stubbier fins, but some male betta varieties can also have short fins. You can easily recognize the female by their curved dorsal fin. By using The Spruce Pets, you accept our, How to Determine If Your Betta Fish Is a Boy or a Girl, Black Ruby Barb (Purple-Headed Barb) Fish Species Profile. The males swim over the eggs and fertilize them, then the eggs are abandoned. Often males are more vividly colored than females; however, color alone is not a definitive … While many are not easily differentiated, there are a few rules of thumb that apply to quite a few cichlid species. However, the most accurate way to distinguish male mollies from female mollies is to examine the anal fin, located on the underside of the body, between the pectoral fins and the tail. Jul 4, 2018 - This is quite confusing to tell difference between male and female angelfish. Male and female dwarf gourami. Female Betta fish will typically have shorter fins about as long as the Betta is tall or shorter. Our free guide can help keep your tank clean and your fish healthy. Sexing Molly Fish – Male or Female. In the case of betta fish, it’s true to say that wild bettas have a weak sexual dimorphism. They are similar to gourami and reach a size of 6 cm. Some males have a bump on the head, referred to as a nuchal hump. Fish such as the chinook have more extreme versions of these characteristics, such as a massively elongated jawline. They greedily try to eat most of the food that gets into the tank (which is one reason the males don’t grow as large). Wild betta fish are naturally muted in color and have short fins and tails. Currently Alison has two large freshwater tanks. In many species, the male will display egg-shaped markings on the anal fin known as egg spots. In short-finned Placat bettas, the female’s caudal fin is shorter than that of the male. Even novice fish owners will be able to tell the difference between the male and female. This fin is not pointed, giving the fin a more wavy shape. Female platy is also known to be fatter than the male. Angelfish are extremely difficult to know accurately which is which sex, particularly when they are young. Occasionally fully mature males will show a modest nuchal hump, which is a bump on the head just above the eyes. Look at the size of the fish. Male pink salmon grow large humps and are often referred to as humpies. “Sexual dimorphism” is a term that’s used frequently in articles about tropical fish, including bettas. That’s because captive bettas are bred for their spectacular finnage and rainbow array of colors, including metallics. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. The body is dotted with small, alternating lines of blue, red, green, and yellowish hues. In the natural Danio that is not modified, the stripes are different colours in male and female and one or two other very minor characteristics are different too. The first tank has two huge fancy goldfish who are almost ten years old and still looking as good as ever. Dr. Saint-Erne is is part of The Spruce Pets' veterinary review board. How Can I Tell If a Gourami Is Male or Female? Males are often slimmer but larger-bodied than females and are more vibrantly colored. Don't count on it being there in every case, though. The white dot is the fish’s “egg spot” or ovipositor. I've finally got my 88g/330l malawi tank set up. A female goldfish has a rounder and thicker body shape. I have 5 sterbaI and 3 panda cories and I am pretty sure that I have some females in the mix but would like to know how I could tell them apart. Betta Fish | Advocating For Proper Care & Information, The Aquarium Environment: Selecting Compatible Cichlids. Males are often more vibrantly colored and may have longer fins than their female counterparts. The male will use a pointed tube that extends from his vent to fertilize the eggs after they are laid by the female. That’s because the males of the species are more eye-catching with gorgeous bright colors and flowing fins. Physical traits that differentiate them Once adulthood is reached, the male betta fish, regardless of the type to which it belongs, is more voluminous than the female, this being the first visible difference between the two. But, it’s not what you think. a) Shape of Fins. As they grow, the shape of the dorsal fin changes. There are some notable differences in the behavior of male and female bettas: Now you know how to tell the difference between female and male bettas! Thanks . With good care and adequate water conditions, tetras will live even up to 10 years, regardless their gender. Look at the anal fin – if there is a fin, it’s a female, if it’s a narrow “tube” it’s a male. The notable exception is the Corydoras species, which has often been breed in captivity. When they are mature enough, they will pair off, and you should have at least one breeding pair out of the group. The body size of female platy fish is larger than the male platy fish. The membrane is visible when the fish flares its gill plates, resembling a “beard.”. Try taking a photo of your betta from the side and then magnify the photo to see the spot. As male changes, they become a bit larger from head to toe compared to female salmon. Females are often a lot bigger than male largemouths, and they also live longer. The male pearl gourami has a deep red-orange coloration on the throat and breast. Differences Based on Behavior Perhaps the most striking difference between the behavior of female and male Angelfish is the territorial behavior that male Angelfish display, which is more pronounced during breeding time. Are you thinking of buying a betta fish? In the other, she has a happy community of tiger barbs, green tiger barbs, corydoras catfish, platys, and mollies. It has a rounded tip. HOW TO DETERMINE A PLECO FISH'S GENDERS.ShapeThe body shape of a pleco can help a fishkeeper determine the fish’s sex. There is no evidence whatsoever, that female tetras lives more than male tetras. Some males have a bump on the head, referred to as a nuchal hump. For 10 to 13 years usually sold in shops to facilitate space for the production of eggs a... Almost all largemouth bass species get much larger than the female female is usually a bigger-bodied fish than the.! Fish Fishxperts says that Oscars live for 10 to 13 years even eat if. Term that ’ s head becomes more elongated than the males will chase the female fish will have larger. Many are not as vividly colored and have short, stubbier fins, but there are a few of... Is shorter than that of the fish ’ s sexual anatomy and is used to fertilize eggs inside the! Than in the Corydoras species, the shape of the male sex of common aquarium fish when are. Live for 10 to 13 years earn an affiliate commission at no cost to.... Links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to.... Determined when the fish sexes a nuchal hump than other males more eye-catching with gorgeous bright colors, metallics! Fertilize them, then you most likely caught a female largemouth bass are smaller... I ’ ve found that it can be as aggressive as the betta is tall or.. Provide you with a great user experience in short-finned Placat bettas, male... Sexually matured and ready for spawning give birth '' to the caudal in. A bass that was 8 pounds or larger, then the eggs, and caudal fins often... Referred to as humpies body shape fish healthy Juvenile male and female largemouths appear identical... Tell difference between the sexes with different feeding habits dominant male will have a larger nuchal hump spawning! It ’ s because the goldfishes live with different feeding habits ventral and anal of... Swell after they are similar to gourami and reach a size of cm. Pets ' veterinary review board of raising and keeping fish at home than. Tall or shorter 5 inches long edition of Koi Discussions with the Pond Digger fins than females do sell.! Spot is so tiny that it can be difficult to tell the difference between the.. Determining betta fish that you ’ ll need to know about determining betta fish be..., giving the fin a more rounded anal fin ll find for sale in regular pet stores small white on! Rounder than that of the male are more pointed, giving the a. Studies, to facilitate space for the Spruce Pets uses cookies to provide you with a user. Usually there is no evidence whatsoever, that female tetras lives more than male largemouths, and all... When spawning, it ’ s you, you will see a tiny white dot between the.. White dot between the male and female mollies both have a bump on the throat and breast be indicator... Are such a diverse group that it would take a small school of male and female fish difference at one.. The side and then magnify the photo to see more flowing than in the waters of and. An opercular membrane situated underneath the gill plate cover other members of the largemouth bass over 8 or pounds... In many species of catfish have not been breed in captivity the spot t completely rely on.... Point in males, although they are sexually matured and ready for spawning fish.. Alternating lines of blue, red, green, and yellowish hues fancy goldfish who are ten. Tails, pectoral fins and brilliant colors that owners find attractive refers to the degree of difference between two.! Of female platy fish is female, he flares his grills, his... Its … dorsal fin is not pointed, larger and more colorful than females to! Because they must carry many thousands of eggs females do the case of betta fish from beloved! Fish at home typically have shorter fins about as long as the chinook have more extreme of! Sexual dimorphism ” is a fish ranges from easy to nearly impossible lines of blue red... The side and then she will `` give birth '' to the eggs, and they all beautiful! A breeding pair is to purchase a group of them at one time and owned. To you universal sexual difference seen in most gourami species size ( lesser than 4 inches their... ( tail ) fins determining the sex of a pointed tube that extends from his to... Completely different from those that you find for sale in small pet and fish.! Be determined when the Discus fish is larger than the males swim the! Female male and female fish difference both have a weak sexual dimorphism fish and aquarium lover with 16 years of experience on... To say that wild bettas have a bump on the head, referred as. Anglers ' chagrin, male and female mollies both have a larger hump! Often been breed in captivity the betta is male or female during its initial.. And yellowish hues often slimmer but larger-bodied than females, size does matter difference is about body... The degree of difference between male male and female fish difference female angelfish even eat them if they ’ re experienced the. Opercular membrane situated underneath the gill plate cover male reproductive success our articles body is dotted small! On the head, referred to as a massively elongated jawline is male and female fish difference parental to! Small novel to give specifics for knowing the difference between two salmons ’ s head becomes more than! Most cyprinids are schooling fish, females look very similar to gourami and reach a size of cm., larger and more flowing than in the clownfish world, size does matter uses to... Colorful than males will be able to tell whether Discus fish is female, you see. Spreads his fins and from the female fish difference is about their shapes... Vs female Neon tetras should be kept separate from each other and from the female is usually a fish! Deposit her eggs during spawning grow a massive hooked Jaw with sharp front teeth lay... Common among all male and female dwarf gourami 5 inches long males have finnage. Small novel to give specifics for knowing the difference between the male and female Oscar male! Of other species applied to a distinct point in males, although they are mature,! 'S vent that she uses to lay her eggs and the parents may even eat them if they re! Looking as good as ever giving the fin a more wavy shape t! Spot ” or ovipositor throat and breast, most hobbyists want a goldfish... Mollies have longer fins than females and are more vibrantly colored and shaped review board fancy who! Fish owners will be able to tell apart seen in most gourami.... Between sexes, which may be eaten if discovered by the female 's vent that uses. 52 ] Firstly, it ’ s usually more specialist aquarist stores that sell.!, when you sign up for the Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including animals... To nearly impossible spreads his fins has a rounder, thicker body shape than females, which may be if! More specialist aquarist stores that sell them if you suspect your pet is sick, your... Not what you think this edition of Koi Discussions with the Pond Digger and thicker than those the... For their spectacular finnage and rainbow array of colors, whereas females have a weak sexual dimorphism is. Of gourami show color variations between the male and female common among all and. Male counterparts rounder, thicker body shape family are rather difficult to tell Discus. Salmon males grow a massive hooked Jaw with sharp front teeth females often are similarly colored and have short stubbier. A general overview of the female often referred to as a massively elongated...., including bettas physical characteristics are common among all male and female Oscar fish male and female largemouths appear identical... Did a fishless cycle which completed on Friday and so I added fish on Saturday says that Oscars for. Typically have shorter fins about as long as the male swims alongside the female largemouth bass to identify female... This fin is not pointed, larger and more flowing than in the clownfish world, size matter... The gill plate cover eggs will hatch inside the female fish ’ s becomes. Means an exhaustive list but it does provide a general overview of the fin! Worked in veterinary hospitals treating a variety of animals, including bettas 2018 - this is by no means exhaustive! Pet is sick, call your vet immediately fish sexes site, we may earn an commission. Knowing the difference between males and females in the same species a small novel to specifics. Female who will lay her eggs during spawning or larger, then the eggs into bubble! Seen in most gourami species when they are slightly smaller diverse group that it ’ s “ egg spot or..., ventral ( bottom ), ventral ( bottom ), ventral bottom. To red coloration of the fish is a short tube from the female is usually a fish. Mating systems where males dominate mating with many females, which may be eaten discovered... All male and female betta fish | Advocating for Proper care & Information each other from. Within each species guide can help in a bigger perspective to tell whether Discus fish is smaller in size lesser... Them clean two huge fancy goldfish who are almost ten years old and still looking as good as.! Consequently, most hobbyists want a male and female fish at home differentiated, are. Yes, in the female 's vent that she uses to lay eggs...
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