L010a Are mine Females or Males? Video

[Xod]

I've had these fish for about 6months now and they've grown a lot since I got them. I am looking for a new challenge and im trying to get into breeding. However I need a pair and I believe mines are females. It would help to hear if you guys agree.

Heres the vid.


[Mod edit: Use Youtube tags --Mats]

[MatsP]

I can't tell from the video if they are male or female. Body shape isn't "fat" enough to certainly be female, and the picture is not clear enough to tell if there is any bristles on the front of the head [which isn't always present anyways].

A good still photo of the fish would be much better - one from the side and one from above against a light coloured background [such as an ice-cream tub or some such] would be ideal.

--
Mats

[Xod]

Here are some close ups. I only have a digital camera so this is the best I can do. Oh they just ate last night so they are bloated.

[Xod]

Bump. Anyone know?

[MatsP]

Photo from above, as I suggested earlier, would help quite a bit.

--
Mats

[Xod]

Heres the top down pics

First lizard was hard to capture with my camera, this was the best out of 10.


Second lizard was better in a betta cup.





heres a video.

[MatsP]

To me, those look like males.

--
Mats

[Xod]

Thanks, I was starting to wonder that. Im just going to go to the LFS and buy a female and see what happens. Worth 20 bucks

[Xod]

Update for anyone that is looking or following. I picked up another L010a from the pet shop for 20bucks. Looks about a half inch bigger than my two L010a's. I was reading abut the sexing and the males tend to be more brown and rust color than the females carrot orange. They don't even look like the same fish in my tank. Here are some pics.

[claro]

Hi,

i think that you have got either too young fisch or adult female.
Adult male gets good recognize: http://www.hypancistrus.eu/rineloricaria-sp-red/

Milan

[Xod]

@Claro: Thanks! those picture definitely showed off the males and females. I am starting to think that my L010a's are a little to young since they are only 2inches in length now that i measure them. Hopefully they will start growing the odontotes and breed!.

[bronzefry]

I agree. Young males. I originally bought mine thinking there was a nice mix. They suddenly sprouted lovely long bristly beards and their overall color became more red. I even thought they were breeding! Two of them were in a tube together. It takes a while for them to mature. When they do, they are stunning. I'm now looking for females. Nice tank for them.
Amanda

[Xod]

Thanks Amanda, Do you have any pictures of when you first got your Lizards and a picture of them now?

[Xod]

After two months since I first posted. 2 out of the 3 grew beards. I think I have 3 males.

[Xod]

Annual Update! The fish are now full grown, Two of which have grown very nice odontotes. They are now 2 and 1 years old.

All three together.


I believe this is the 2 year old female.


2 year old male.


1 year from when I purchased him.


enjoy

[apistomaster]

I only see males.
I have 8 young adults and only two females. I also raised mine from juveniles barely over 1-1/2 inches. Unlike some I have had in the past, my males have pectoral fins like your males which have a upwards bend. My first specimens had flatter pectoral fins and probably better red coloration than my current group.
Mine spawned for the first time a couple months ago on the bare glass just in front of the length of 1 inch inside diameter PVC pipe. The male fanned away the thin layer of sand to clear the open spawning site. The male guarded the eggs most of the time with most of his body inside the pipe except his head/mouth was over the egg patch. That was atypical spawning behavior from what I have read but almost more like how Sturisoma species spawn except they spawn on some kind of smooth, elevated substrates. I have had my Sturisoma spawn frequently on the cords of submersible heaters and on the side panel glasses. The L10a ate their eggs about 48 hours before they were due to hatch and I haven't been able to get another batch of eggs yet.
These fish have such mysterious origins but most would agree that they are a selectively bred hybrid of some sort. Some strains are very different and many strains seem to be intermediates between the two main forms. Hybrids within hybrids as it were.
Whatever they are I have always liked them because they are attractive and interesting fish to me. I know some people who hold these catfish in contempt because they are not a well defined known species. But their small size and peaceful nature make them very nice catfish for smaller tanks. I feed mine mainly frozen blood worms, live black worms and a few times a week, earth worm sticks.

[Xod]

-apistomaster, Thannks thats cool to know you had quite some experience with it. Much appreciated. Do you have any photos of your females / males? I want to really see a difference between yours.

[apistomaster]

I have never photographed my L10a and may not get around to it for awhile.
Mine look like your fish. The adults are easy to sex because the males grow bristles on to their pectoral fins and a bit around their cheeks. Head shapes are a bit different between the two sexes. I need to clean up their tank and wipe the algae off the glass.
Haven't been very involved with my fish lately.