Is it, or isn't it..?

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 4:09 pm

The newly created "L98" was about to turn into the real thing, so I have taken the fish out of the tank.

But.. is it a male or a female? I see several physical signs of this being a female, but the behaviour certainly isn't it female. And the wide head could mean a male

I'll leave this one for you to identify, if at all possible, as I'm stumped.

Dr. P · Post by **Dr. P** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:17 pm

Based purely on the odontodes, I'd guess that was female.

Post by **Barbie** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:40 pm

I'd say female also. Curved pectoral rays, plump tummy, smaller anal fins, all point to it being a female. It has more "cheek" than normal, but the nose is short like a female also. Females can and will squabble, so I would think that damage would be normal, although none of mine have ever beaten each other like that. Where you just introduced a new fish though, the whole hierarchy gets thrown off, so anything is possible I suppose.

Barbie

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 7:19 pm

Not in that tank Barbie. I got really worried about her, so put her in with the other group. I agree she looks like a female, if she hadn't been that badly beaten up, repeatedly, I would have put my mortage on her being a female...

Guess that would have been a bad deal for anyone betting though, but you know what I mean

It's the male she's been squabbling with too

Good news again though, fishing her out, removing stones and whatnot, found another tiny little fellow.

Anyways, maybe she'll get along with better with the other group...

Leigh Freeman · Post by **Leigh Freeman** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 7:34 pm

I'd put my house on it too Mceve, if I owned one that is!

Dr. P · Post by **Dr. P** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:32 pm

Tell you what McEve....I'll put YOUR house on it

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:47 pm

in that case you'll get the morgage with it if you win! You can still back out though

Des · Post by **Des** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:49 pm

McEve,

A female for sure. Easy to tell mainly from the body shape and other standard indicators.

Regards,
Des.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 11:28 pm

Looks like a feamle to me, and quite a mature lady if I do say so. I have found that the odontodes get longer with age. (no comments please)

.

Rob

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 11:44 pm

Maybe she's just a cranky old lady. I sat watching her as she tried to bully her way into the cave while there was another female in there. The Alpha and her was actually competing to get in after the other lady

Maybe that's why she's getting one whopping after the other

zebra046 · Post by **zebra046** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:04 am

This is what happens to a female when you have a very rough male or even two males fighting for a cave, the stripes will regrow but not always straight.

maybe some of this photos will help they are old but would still be usefull
first photo same female as above

your fish has some characteristic of a male like the thicker check bone but some older females have this and a straight pectoral fin but from the size of the fish, with little odontoids on the fin and ckecks it could be a female.
heres the males if you notice the heads have an arrow head shape

this is the same male above it used to have a solid bar running across his head

same male but a couple years older

another sure way is to vent her

all photographs above are guaranteed breeders

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:38 am

Thanks for your help all

zebra046 · Post by **zebra046** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:55 am

this is another ventral view

Is it, or isn't it..?

Is it, or isn't it..?

Female too