How To Determine The Sex Of Your Aquarium Fish (And Not All Fish Can Be Identified By Sex)

Finding out the sex of a fish ranges from easy to almost impossible. Knowing the sexual differences in aquarium fish is important when trying to breed fish and also choosing the proper balance of fish for a community aquarium. Not all fish can be easily identified by sex. These tips will help you recognize the sexual difference of many of the common species. The best way to make a mating pair is to purchase half-a-dozen immature angelfish and raise them together. When they are mature enough, they will pair off. You should have at least one breeding pair out of the group. Once they start mating, it will be obvious which one is male. Bettas are a fish that owners find attractive. Females are not as light colored and have short, stubbier fins. Female bettas must be kept separate from each other and from the female until she is ready to breed. Cichlids are such a diverse group that it would take a small novel to give specifics for knowing the difference within each species. While many are not easily differentiated, there are a few rules of thumb that apply to quite a few cichlid species. Males are often slimmer but larger-bodied than females. In some species of cyprinid, including goldfish, males will get a small white bump on their head. Gouramis are another fish species that are hard to identify. The dorsal fin is long and comes to a distinct point in males. Females have a shorter, rounded dorsal fin. Certain species of gourami show color variations between the sexes. Livebearing fish such as the guppies, platys, mollies, and swordtails are easy to tell apart. males are usually more vibrantly colored and may have longer fins than their female counterparts. Tetras are schooling fish. . . .