How can I tell whether my L134 is a male or female

Cheese Specialist · Post by **Cheese Specialist** » 02 Jan 2004, 18:40

Hi all,

I have had an L134 (Brucilla) for about a month and I am not entirley sure whether it is a boy or a girl. I think it could be male because of the size of the head, but then I've read that there are bits on the tail of males which I can't see on Brucilla.

To make matters worse, Brucilla is quite a shy creature and comes out rarely when it's not pitch black. Yesterday, was one of the rare occasions that he/she made an appearance so I got a photo, but it's not great and I can't seem to put it up for you.

Any help appreciated.

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 02 Jan 2004, 18:57

Hi!

Female look rounder in the ventral region.

Males: grow odontodes on the body plate between the caudal and dorsales fins.

If you could managed a photo of your fish showing him/her from above who be great...

Cheers
Yann

Cheese Specialist · Post by **Cheese Specialist** » 02 Jan 2004, 19:06

Thannks for the reply Yann

I use my phone to get pictures of my fish and there's no way I could get a pic from above without catching and thus stressing Brucilla.

What are "odontodes" and what do they look like?

Thanks for any help

Post by **Barbie** » 02 Jan 2004, 19:23

There are some very good pictures and sexing descriptions in the iCOSA Ancistrinae lecture, and you can always use the search feature for pictures and descriptions of odontodes

Hope that helps!

Barbie

Cheese Specialist · Post by **Cheese Specialist** » 02 Jan 2004, 19:52

Never thought of that, thanks Barbie!

*goes off for a look*

Cheese Specialist · Post by **Cheese Specialist** » 02 Jan 2004, 20:52

I can't find anything on 'odontodes' and I have no idea what they are, or what to look for.

Any help much appreciated.

Post by **Barbie** » 02 Jan 2004, 21:00

http://search.freefind.com/find.html?id ... =odontodes

Barbie

Cheese Specialist · Post by **Cheese Specialist** » 02 Jan 2004, 21:15

Thanks Barbie but I did try searching and I couldn't find anything that has descriptions of what 'odontodes' are. Everyone seems to know, except me! It's like it's assumed that everyone knows what they are and everyone can identify them.

I am pretty confused. Well, whatever they are I don't think Brucilla has them. Do the males have to be a certain age before they develop or are they born with them? He/she is about 2 1/2" (maybe less) SL, how long does it take for them to get that size (just so I can try to work out age if males develop odontodes later on). Brucilla has a big head and I'm sure that I read somewhere that if the head is wider than the belly, it's a boy.

Thanks for your help Barbie.

Post by **Barbie** » 02 Jan 2004, 23:32

Reading the iCOSA Ancistrinae lecture that I mentioned details exactly what odontodes are, where they are located, how to sex the fish, and numerous other bits of information that would help your understanding. It's long, but certainly worth the effort!

Barbie

Easy · Post by **Easy** » 03 Jan 2004, 03:20

Here's my male L-134...I've encircled where the odontodes (hair-like) are located. You could see them better against the pleco's black stripes. Hope this helps.

kgroenhoej · Post by **kgroenhoej** » 03 Jan 2004, 10:35

Just like humans, some males have more "hair":

Regards
Klaus

Cheese Specialist · Post by **Cheese Specialist** » 03 Jan 2004, 14:41

Easy wrote:

Here's my male L-134...I've encircled where the odontodes (hair-like) are located. You could see them better against the pl*co's black stripes. Hope this helps.

Thanks!!

That's a BIG help! You have a lovely L134. How old is he? Did he always have them?

Mine has something on his tail a bit like that but it looks like a v small fin and is patterned (light, with a darker edge). It's a little triangle between his top fin and his tail, but is close to the base of the top fin. It doesn't seem to fold down like fins when he/she hides. Sorry for all the questons but it's hard for me to get a good look at him, although he/she has become more sociable over the last couple of days...

Looking at Klaus' picture I think Brucilla is a male actually. The 'triangle' (how stupid am I?!) looks similar.

Thanks

kgroenhoej · Post by **kgroenhoej** » 03 Jan 2004, 16:40

Hi,

the triangle you're talking about, that's called an adipose fin - both females and males have them.
The "hair" we all talk about is very conspicuous in my picture.

regards
Klaus

pleco_breeder · Post by **pleco_breeder** » 03 Jan 2004, 18:10

Klaus,

What are your caves made of? Is that cut brick? I like the look. BTW, that is the best L134 I have ever seen. Congratulations on that one.

Larry Vires

kgroenhoej · Post by **kgroenhoej** » 03 Jan 2004, 18:22

Hi,

Thank you.

It's cut tile. The cave is a bit too small - he can barely get in there and the female can not - she's larger than him. The cave have since been replaced with a bigger one.
I use these caves with a lot of my fish and both diff. Ancistrus and diff. Hypancistrus have spawned in these.

Regards
Klaus

Cheese Specialist · Post by **Cheese Specialist** » 03 Jan 2004, 19:22

kgroenhoej wrote:Hi,

the triangle you're talking about, that's called an adipose fin - both females and males have them.
The "hair" we all talk about is very conspicuous in my picture.

regards
Klaus

In that case I am still clueless to what I am looking for. What was it that Easy highlighted exactly, mine has a bit like that that doesn't fold?

I think I might give up on this one!

Never mind, and thanks for your help. My brain just doesn't work when Im writing essays (don't tell my lecturer that though!)!

Walter · Post by **Walter** » 04 Jan 2004, 01:47

Hi,
OK,
on the left side a male in a cave while breeding with odontodes on the back, right picture female without odontodes on the tail:

Everything straight now? ;)

Cheese Specialist · Post by **Cheese Specialist** » 04 Jan 2004, 15:06

Ohhhh

It's those little spikes, or hairs as someone else called them! I didn't know I was looking for them!!

*goes to look at Brucilla*

Brucilla doesn't have them, which leads back to my question of when they get them. Straight away or when they are mature? Brucilla is about 2" SL and I have had him/her for a month.

Thanks Walter, you've been loads of help. It's hard to see things unless you know what to look for!

Walter · Post by **Walter** » 04 Jan 2004, 16:23

Hi,
they get the odontodes when they are mature.
And, in addition, only when they are in the mood of mating and spawning, the odontodes are really good recognizable at the males. Otherwise they are smaller and quite difficult to see.