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Please help me identify these two
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 12:15 am
by lrry93
I finally found some zebra plecos to buy here in Hawaii and am wodering what sex they are. Can anyone please help me? They are both a little over two inches.
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 10:13 am
by Rob
At first glance, I woudl say you were in luck!!!! Top one looks likea young female, and the bottom one looks like a young male.
The female at the top has a slightly longer pectorial fins than I would expect, but she will grow into them.
I may be completely wrong as they are hard to sex at this age, but thats my tupence worth!!!!
Oh, and welcome tot he forum, I'm sure if you ask a few questions and read the articles you'll manage to get them spawning.
Good luck
Rob
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 4:49 pm
by Barbie
I would have to disagree, I still think that top one is male. The pectorals have that tell tale straight spot in them that seems to be a reliable indicator for males. The picture for the second one makes it difficult to tell at all.
Keep in mind, in my group of 11, I was told I had everything from all females, to almost no females. I'd decided they were gay and I was just going to ignore them and not worry about the problem for awhile. They spawned within a few weeks 
. Telling sex from pictures without a wide assortment of angles for each fish is just guessing, IMO.
Give them tightly fit caves. If they both use them, they're male .
Barbie
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 5:06 pm
by Rob
Could well be right Barbie, I am looking at the primary crescent shape of the Pectorial fins and the top profile of the head. However, as stated they are sightly longer than I would expect, so I might be completely off the mark Maybe in a few months time, after some fattening up it will be easier to tell.
Rob
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 9:47 pm
by Des
Irry93,
Welcome to the forum.
I would say that the top picture is a Male. especially from seeing the long cheek odontodes/bristles.
The bottom picture is a little out of focus so therefore cannot be sure. If it has cheek bristles as long as the one in the top picture, it is a male. If it has much smaller bristles , not much longer than the cheek groove,than it is a female .
Des.