A.Kelleri Sexing Juveniles

[Fats]

Hi,i have a few batches of A.Kelleri and was wondering if anyone knows at what age do they start to sex out and what noticeable signs i should be looking for?

Thanks
Ian

 

[Fats]

oooops sorry posted in wrong section..would be grateful if a mod could move it to its correct place for me.

Thanks
Ian

 

[aquaticclarity]

Moved....I hate when I make mistakes like that myself!

I find that most Apistos (wild type at least) can be sexed at around the 3/4" with reasonable accuracy. Look at the ventral fins (paired bottom fins). The leading edge should be pretty black on females and clear or nearly clear on females. Some species can be a little tricker then others and the fish might have to be a little larger for this to work but 9 times out of 10 the ventral fins give the sex of the fish away.

 

[Mike Wise]

...clear or nearly clear on females.

Jeff means clear or nearly clear on MALES.

 

[aquaticclarity]

Oops...thanks Mike!

 

[Mark]

In this species the males start to show blue spots on the gills very soon. The striping in the tailfin is early too so that you can sex them easily. The moment you see a fish with vertical stipes in the tail, you know it will be a male. The females get the dark ventral fins but the stiping in the males is easier to see and already visible at a length of 2 cm.

Mark