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Hi everyone,

I'm moving 3 zebs (2.5-3 years old) to my breeding tank. I would very much like to hear your thoughts on their sex?

pic1: pic2: Thanks
Kasper

2 males and 1 female. Can you get close-ups from above of each one?

It's very difficult to tell.

Here's a zoom view of each fish:

1. 2. 3.

1 -2 male
3 female

I really appreciate your input. I also lean towards 2 males and 1 female based on the pictures, but based on their behavior I tend to believe it is two females and one male. The tank has plenty of caves available (with opening perpendicular to the flow direction), but only one of the 3 occasionally enters a cave brieftly.

Is it possible to have males not willing to enter a cave? As mentioned earlier the fish are 2,5-3 years old.

Males pretty much always claim a cave. One may be a bit lax about defending it if there are no other males in a tank. But you should see a dominant male and even a few sub-dominant ones in caves regularly. If you had two males, I believe they would both be in caves. Each would cause the other to want to claim their own space.

Females will use cave to hide in at times and may overnight in one. But they don't care about which cave it might be. More often they are happy under a piece of wood or other natural shelter. One clue would be whether the one you say occasionally caves does so in the same cave. That would be one indication its a male.

So based on the age and your description it may very be that you do have two and possibly even three females.

Hi

I think it you have 3 females...

i think too that you have 3 females

The only definite male (dominant male) in the breeding setup is 6 years old and has claimed his cave. Today one of the three zebs has entered a cave, but didn't stay for long.

I guess the coming months will give a clearer picture of their sex, as they settle in.

Thanks again, I really appreciate your input.

The only surefire way is by venting the Zebras; because sometimes it is hard to discern - none of the fish above show signs of a dominant male (ie. wide triangular head and odontodes)

Hi,

I got a chance to take new pictures of fish number 2 from both above and underneath:
Hope this helps.

Thanks
Kasper

Male going by vent.

Thanks

Here a few new pictures from one of my groups 6 months on (and one spawn later)
Cheers
Kasper

Congratulations on the spawn!