Sexing Callichthys?

[Carp37]

3 years ago, I got 4 juvenile Callichthys callichthys from PC user Hoplo- these were between 3"-3.75" TL. One very quickly developed "ski-jump", thickened, orange-coloured pectoral spines, so I was pretty sure that one was male. The remaining three had shorter, less thickened pectoral spines lacking the orange colour, and were noticeably fatter around the abdomen, so I was pretty sure they were female. The male also had a noticeable orange cast to its head region around the gills and underside.

After two year there hadn't been much change in the characteristics of these fish, but during the last year, the presumed "female" fish seem to have developed into males, or at least have become thinner, and have developed elongated, orange, thickened pectoral spines. They haven't grown noticeably during this time- they're a little over 7" TL/6" SL.

My question is, are some males late developers? Or do females develop the thickened pectoral spines later in life? I'm not aware that any callichthyids change sex, so I'm a little puzzled. I don't have any recent pictures of them, but the pictures below are from a little under a year ago.





The pictures above are of a presumed female from last Autumn (so over two years old). The picture below is of the "male"

[MatsP]

Looks like your pictures show a female (upper two pictures) and a male (lower picture) to me. But I've not kept these for very long - it's one of my "cursed" fish...

--
Mats

[PeterUK]

The last picture doesnt look very 'male' like to me.
The pectoral spines on the males that I've seen and kept are much thicker and a deeper orange colour.

Photo of my young male approx 1 year old.

[Carp37]

Thanks Mats, Peter- I was pretty sure the top fish was a female when the picture was taken (the fish being at an age of 2 years 4-6 months), but now they look as male as the fish in the bottom picture except for the orange colouration round the bottom of the fish, which Peter's male is also showing...

[PeterUK]

Also noticed today while doing a tank cleanup, the males whole pectoral fin is almost as orange as the thick pectoral spine.
Looks very nice, especially when looked at from above on grey sand.

[hoplo]

Hi Stuart,

If you can get a picture of them now i will sex them for you.

Here's a picture of their Mum and Dad

[bamboosticks]

I have a pair, the male is so red; what does this mean?

[hoplo]

I have a pair, the male is so red; what does this mean?

is it a very deep orange on the underneath of him (chest/belly)? if so it means he is wanting to breed, hes in breed condition.

[bamboosticks]

LOL, that's right - he's as red as a tomato. I'm beginning to get the feeling that occasions of Callichthydae breedings are a sort of sesquipedalian relation of buses - you wait for one and not two, but three (might) happen.

I think the male is a bit aggressive - my female initially had a torn dorsal fin, and I also found that a Seussi had a nipped fin. As it happens, there's an air stone in the tank he inhabits, so I don't think I'll be seeing any bubble-nests any time soon.

More on him - he's absolutely the biggest fish I've ever kept, and the first to actually escape a fish net! A powerful beast. And completely un-spookable.

What should I do? Should I try to breed him? Incidentally, I've got a 4 ft tank split into 3, the middle compartment of which is inhabited by the aforementioned, one of which has had a spawn of Corydoras, and one of which is a sort of growing tank for some Congo tetras I bought for - get this - a quid each. I haven't put them in my main tank, because of a very big Microglanis for whom, I suspect, I have bought the most expensive meal ever - 20 pounds worth of Yunnanilus.

[MattP]

I got the same deal on the congo's; were they from a particularly well known pet/aquatics chain? These are a steal at this price and growing very quickly.

Cheers Matt

[bamboosticks]

It was Pets at home.

[hoplo]

you dont need to breed him if you dont want to he will be ok, if you want to try just put a lid in for him and see what happens.