Afrikan Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 Hi pleco people.. I am going to need help sexing some Flash Plecs and Iquitos... Any tips would be most appreciative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 My dad says to pick them up and shake them. The ones that rattle are boys :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted October 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 :lol: :lol: I am not too sure on how popular I would be picking up the Plecs and giving them a good shake tho Caryl, yet thanks for the tip :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stereotaxic Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 This may help alittle: http://www.beepworld.de/memberdateien/m ... k_disi.jpg :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted October 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 Thanks Stereotaxic 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coelacanth Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 also helps as a rough guide to look at them from beneath (in a little tank or in a plastic bag). Male plecs tend to be wider and more robust than females Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatfish Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 Probably stating the obvious, but according to the experts at Planet Catfish, when flashs (L204's) grow to a mature size (around 9-10 cm - same for Iquitos but they seem to do it at a much smaller size), the males start to grow odontodes (small clear, thin spikes off each scale) on the back half of their bodies. If they have these they are definitely male. If I've got my sexing right on the smaller flashs: the females will have a more slender profile when looking at them side on (especially through the head area) than the males. The males will look chunkier through the head area (slightly broader when looking down on them and slightly higher through the back portion of the head when looking side on. Odontodes (clear spikes) are usually visible through the tail area in maturing males but you may have to catch them and look hard at them in good light to see them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted October 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 Thanks everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatfish Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 this might help. heres a mature male flash with long odontodes (spikes) on the tail. (In maturing males the spikes will be a lot smaller). and a male Iquito tiger plec showing the same thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted October 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 Thanks heaps flatfish, that is a great help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firenzenz Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworl ... cle_id=270 This is a handy overview Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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