Sexing Juveniles

Raul-7 · Post by **Raul-7** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:21 pm

How old (what size in inches?) do juveniles have to be before they can be sexed? Do males always have "hairs" under their eyes, or is that only when they are mature? Thanks.

fishboy · Post by **fishboy** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:47 pm

They needd to be about 2.5 inches until sexing can be noticeable really good

Post by **Barbie** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:07 pm

Speaking from experience fishboy?

Some fish do mature earlier and can be sexable at 2" even. It just really varies from fish to fish and I definitely wouldn't count on sexing anything under that size to be 100% accurate.

Barbie

INXS · Post by **INXS** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 1:42 pm

Some fish can be hard to sex even as mature (right Barbie

)

I have a hard time to do so with mine who are mature and breeding. If you look long enough you can see odontoidal growth on all of them and they all look fat (dual sex zebras perhaps ?

)

I think that one of the best indicators is that males take up residence in a cave, this can happen at 2 inches , before or after. Females will often find a place in a driftwood cluster to hang out.
That in combination with bodyshape , odontoidal growth on the pectoral fins and cheeks, shape of the paired fins and head shape you can usually narrow it down.
Keep in mind that the shape and odontoidal growth often doesn't happen until the fish are mature, well conditioned and in breeding mood.

fishboy · Post by **fishboy** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 10:39 pm

Great stuff INXS, i agree. My female L260 has odontode growth on her pectorals, and not as much in the interpecular.

zebra046 · Post by **zebra046** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:59 pm

a little bit over two inches in two years.