Sexing L260 by belly patterns?

[apistomaster]

I bought a dozen L260 this summer and I am having trouble sexing them. They are adult fish and some are more anchored to a cave territorially than others. Other than behavior there isn't much differnce from viewing them from above or odontatodes(sp) growth. It seems statistically unlikely they would all be females but I'm sure beginning to wonder.
I have recently divided them into separate tanks. I tried to include at least one larger cave hugger and then selected the rest as randomly as I could.
Since the written material on pc has been published has more experience been that the white belly=female and spotted belly=male guideline is not a good way to sex them?
I hate to think I have a dozen females.
Thanks for your input on my question.

[racoll]

Hi Larry

Its very unlikely that you have 12 females. If they are all wild caught, there tends to be a higher proportion of males. This because they are apparently more easily caught by fishermen as they will stick to their caves rather than dart off.


How long have you had them?

I would think that if you can't sex them easily, it's probably because they aren't mature enough, or they are a bit out of condition.

I find the best option is to wait a while and feed more.

Here is a good thread I started a while back with stuff on sexing and belly pattern in L262 (closely related to L260 I believe).

I found the belly pattern to be a fairly unreliable indicator of sex, as it changes over time. See Below.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... light=l262

[apistomaster]

I am hoping that since dividing them as equally as possible regard their sizes and morphology into two groups I'm hoping that they will be brought into breeding condition. Most seem pretty robust; many have fat bellies but appear to act like and are built more like males.
I'll just keep taking good care of them and hope something transpires now that they aren't crowded altogether in one tank.

[kkorotev]

Larry,
In my recently concluded 3 year adventure with F1 L260, I came to believe 2 things for sure:
1)I don't get the belly pattern thing or
2)It simply doesn't always work (for me).

The sexual ID clues were best seen as behavioral differences, supported by
A)Weight/heft/girth behind the pectoral fins (from above) on gravid females and
B) DISTINCTLY greater growth of the "hairbrush" at the end of the pectoral fins on dominant/mature males. This growth is best seen if you get your face level with the fish and look at him from behind-as he's facing away from you.

I have found this to be very consistent in the Hyp. species I've had the fortune to keep and breed. I've also noted that adults have generally bred within 6 months of being taken from the wild...or not at all. That is, if course, providing all other factors are positive.
If you use a industrial strength parasite remover, like CLOUT when you get them, AND I'M NOT SAYING ITS A TERRIBLE IDEA, add 2 months to the process just by opening the bottle in their vicinity. lol.
OH...and if anyone tells you that females don't cave, they just haven't had one that does [YET]! If you're creating a cyclonic vortex in your tanks like some folks seem to feel they need, who WOULDN'T cave, just to get out of the wind?

I hope but don't expect that helps much.
Kevin

[apistomaster]

Comparing your notes with what I'm doing the main thing I have going against me is that my six months is pretty much up.

[racoll]

Why not post some pics Larry?

Perhaps some fresh eyes may pick out the individuals that are ready to breed?

[Yann]

Hi!

I think it mainly depend on what we mean by totally white... I shall try to post exemple of what I mean, but from my own experience I never had a wrong sex ID this way...the only point is what we mean by totally white... as I know some males could pass for female except if you look closely on the belly...it is hard to describe without further help to explain...a series of pictures would do help...

Cheers
Yann