bolivian...m or f?

[phat_ed]

hi all,
i would like to get a partner for my bolivian. any chance anybody can tell if this one is male for female? i would appreciate any help.
have a look here:
http://www.spinnetworks.net/fish/001s.jpg
http://www.spinnetworks.net/fish/002s.jpg
http://www.spinnetworks.net/fish/003s.jpg
tia,
ed

 

[cmoreash]

I believe you have yourself a male.

 

[Neil]

phat_ed,

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

I would tend to agree with cmoreash, but I wouldn't lay down money on it.
It is too tough to tell until they are very mature and the males start getting longer filaments on the fins.

 

[Ghazanfar Ghori]

I've got two pairs of bolivians, both of them have spawned numerous
times. I've never been able to save the fry - didn't have any place
to keep them. Anyway, before I stray from the topic ...

One of my females has extensions in the claudal (sp?) fin, while the
other doesnt. If I were to show you a picture - most people would
guess its a male. However, I know for certain that it's a female.
Or alteast WAS a female. She hasn't spawned recently, but has in the
past. My other female doesn't have the extensions. Just this one.

BTW - I'm new to the forum so - Hello!

 

[Neil]

Ghazanfar Ghori,

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

Hello! Yes, that is the trouble with using only one diagnostic element to sex or identify fish. They don't always follow the rules as closely as we would like them to. Here is an article about IDing that emphasizes this issue.

http://www.apistogramma.com/descriptionchar-article.htm

In your case, I would say that the act of laying eggs would be far more significant than the length of the fin extensions :wink: !

Neil