male or female - QA

stina · Post by **stina** » 16 Feb 2005, 14:51

Hi ppl!
Here is one of my QA...
All visible markings indicate that this is a female, but when i look at genital papilla , i think it is a male...
I need someone else to confirm that.
BTW interpercular odontoides are small, stomach is kind of white, head is not so broad.

anybody?

stina · Post by **stina** » 16 Feb 2005, 15:45

One more, closeup...

Post by **Barbie** » 16 Feb 2005, 18:06

It's honestly hard to tell without a shot of the whole fish, both from the side and above. How large is it? If it's over 3.5", it's definitely a female. Male L260 get some pretty pronounced odontode growth. The lighter "washed out" coloration would also lead me to believe it's a female.

Barbie

stina · Post by **stina** » 16 Feb 2005, 21:15

Now you have confused me a little bit.
3,5" is around 9cm... so i think my fish has that lenght... including tail.
This is a pic from my smallest QA, and if you say it is so, i belive you.

I must say all of my QA's have "washed out" coloration, and i thought that i have all males...3 of them to be preciesly...
So i have decided to swap one with my friends QA who is obviusly gravid, but when i looked at her's genital papila, i thought she is he...
I am never wrong with genital papila... but those L260 are destroying my record...

This is a good time to say: "never say never!"

Maybe now i will have 2 females and one male... unless i have all females - with marbeld belly...

regards

zebraplec · Post by **zebraplec** » 16 Feb 2005, 22:22

Barbie is spot on with the faded coloration. I have three breeding groups of these and the males are all dark and females faded. The marbled belly is said to be male however I have several females that I know have produced eggs with a marbled belly so its gets tricky sometimes

Post by **Barbie** » 17 Feb 2005, 01:17

I was referring to 3.5" SL, which doesn't include the tail. You might want to get shots of the fish from above against a light colored surface. A bowl or dish of water on the kitchen counter worked great here. Then you can get enough light, and take your time getting the different shots you need.

Barbie

INXS · Post by **INXS** » 21 Feb 2005, 13:22

All my females have white bellies and males have some pattern on them - though they haven't produced a spawn yet

That is what I have always been told to look for.