Sexing Biotoecus opercularis

[mematrix]

Hi All I've been off the grid for awhile had med problems. I had to sell off most of my stock and tanks. Trying to rebuild everything back up. Any way I recently was given 3 opercularis #1&2 are about 1.5 inches long #3 is maybe 1 inch. I have been searching the web for info on sexing them found a few things descriptionwise but no photos to back/show what the descriptins described. So I was wondering If possibly here there were a few folks who may be able to help. Here are some photos of my 3 labled 1 thru 3

Sincerely Curtis
op1

op2

 

[mematrix]

rest of photos

Heres the rest of the photos
op2

0p3

Thanks Curtis

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi Curtis, welcome back.

You may need to let them develop a little bit yet before you see the finnage taking on the distinctive sexing traits. For comparison:

Male

Female

With the males, look for extensions on the trailing ventral fins (one of the first sexing traits I'm normally able to see). You'll also see a small lappet develop on the upper edge of the males caudal fin and occasionally (as seen here) an extension on the rear of the males dorsal fin.

Andrew

 

[Microman]

Hi Curtis,
You can actually sex B opercularis as quite young/juvenile specimens before any extensions to the finnage has developed.
On the dorsal fin there is a horizontal row of white/light blue markings or spots almost immediately above the point where the fin is attatched to the body.
In females the spots fuse together to form an unbroken line(Quite clearly visible in the picture of Andrews female) but in males the markings/spots are clearly seperate forming this pattern ............ A broken line of spots.
These markings are visible very early on in the fishes development.

Mark...

 

[mematrix]

Re to post

Thanks Andrew and Mark This helps alot. After looking I may have at least a pr.
Mark On the male does the line of spots stop about half way?
I def have a female for sure one the line def is solid along botom of dorsal

Curtis

 

[Microman]

Mark On the male does the line of spots stop about half way?

The length of the markings vary from specimen to specimen, they can stop mid way but can also run along almost the entire length of the dorsal.
Mark...