Dwarfs Need Sexing.

[Pegasus]

Killifan has some Dwarf Gouramies that need sexing.

I can't be 100% positive... Three Pics

Thanks

[Rob]

From the pictures they all appear to be male. Female dwarf gouramis (Colisa lalia) are pretty well colourless (ie plain silver/silvery brown) - this means that many wholesalers will bring in male only shipments.

[cees]

I'd say all male. Dorsal fin in males is much more pointed than female. And as rob said, colour is a good indication. Behavoiur is another good indicator. If none of them has started making a nest then you can be sure you have all males. Put one female in and a bit of floating plans, hair algae etc and you will have nests in no time. All males will be building and fighting for space.

[killifan]

thanks for your help, it is as I suspected after there being no amorous activity!

Is it a case for trying for a swap at the LFS as they told me it was a breeding pair?

[Pegasus]

Here are a bit clearer pictures from Killifan

[Caryl]

Adding my 2c worth - I think they are males too

[Pegasus]

I'm inclined to agree with the clearer pics

There is a "bit" of colour showing in one of them.

(must get some better glasses than these monochrome ones I am wearing he he)

[Rob]

Try for a swap if they actually have females. IMO (for dwarf gouramis) if they're having to peer at dorsal fins then they're probably trying to sex a tank full of males - the colour difference is a very obvious difference in this type of gourami.

[Alan]

I'd go for males here too.

It is really noticeable that in a few species, only males are being imported.

I'm afraid that this is just another of these species. But you may be lucky and find one that has slipped thru.

Alan 104

[killifan]

yes,. there were several in the shop tank, all a very pretty blue as these two are. So hunt is on for a female!

[killifan]

I went into the LFS to see about a female and the lady was adamant that the females were as blue as the males and that it was the DORSAL fin that had the different shape. There defintely was a difference to be seen in the shapes and the two which would have been females also had quite swollen bellies.

[Bananalobster]

That is true for the larger gouramis but with the dwarf species females are alot duller, sometimes they will have some color but nowhere near as bright as the males. As said above it will be very obvious if gthere is a female in there.

[alanmin4304]

The importers either bring them in as pairs (and they are sold as pairs because the females have as much colour as a female guppy and they would never sell otherwise) or males only. These are all males. Get a better pet shop. They are very easy to sex if you see a pair (you don't even need to look at the dorsal fins). These are the blue variety which is hardier and imported most often because of that.

[Rozski]

Not the best shot, but see the female at the bottom?

Thats how big a diff the colour is. They are really grey-brown

[Rozski]

and a pic courtesy of the internet

Mine didn't have any stripes at all though

[Mal]

I have a pair of Cobolt blues, and they are both a very nice blue, and apart from the size the dorsal fin is the only difference. So In a few cases the females are as pretty!

[vindy500]

rozski, do you have females?

[Rozski]

heh, I *had* a female until it went the dwarf gourami way and got ulcers and died :roll: Males went the same way, but quicker

Have yours bred Mal??

[Mal]

No luck, checked on them this morning and the bubble nest has broken up. Not to sure what has happened, but will try again.

I think a smaller tank less water and no filter.

We have been doing some research on the fourm and seems we need to make some changes.

Who knows we will see if any have survived.

We will keep trying gutted though.

Mal.