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Post by bikeguy33 on Apr 8, 2009 21:57:39 GMT -5
well i know it is far from 100% for sexing by egg spots....but, it is a good starting point to start looking at it as a male till proven otherwise. have you attemted venting?
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Post by murdock6701 on Apr 8, 2009 22:33:31 GMT -5
no way! fish is tiny and eggspots are not 100% accurate in monomorphic or dimorphic fish
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Post by bikeguy33 on Apr 8, 2009 23:07:58 GMT -5
very true....but always a starting point....how small is the fish???
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Post by murdock6701 on Apr 9, 2009 9:06:32 GMT -5
maybe 2"
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Post by babygeige on Apr 9, 2009 11:04:25 GMT -5
Well, I don't have anything to add as far as her ID goes, but I think she's pretty and I really hope everything stays peaceful for you in there for a change!
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Post by murdock6701 on Apr 9, 2009 17:04:37 GMT -5
I'm just hoping it's a she! - as it grows, I'm seeing a protruding bottom jaw, glittery turquoise speckles on the gill plates, a big fat belly and today "she" opened up enough for me in full display to see that the stripes are extending into her topfin! and am thinking I'm seeing a tiny tan eggspot on the top of the anal fin
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Post by bikeguy33 on Apr 9, 2009 19:11:34 GMT -5
could be a boy my friend...that is small to see egg spots yet but not unheard of...
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Post by jonv on Apr 9, 2009 20:54:57 GMT -5
John I wouldn't even bother with the spots. I've got 3 female Flavus all having 3 or more spots on them. Just an inhertied trait from their daddy as well, they have more striping look to them then what you see in a typical female as well. I've seen them flare up with yellow bands when holding a brood and fight. Very aggressive ladies I have, and if I were to look for spots, I'd swear they were male. If the gender is bugging you that badly, net the fish out, let it squirm around a bit until it calm down, use wet hands, firmly, but not tightly grab her and turn her upside down, look at the vent spot like the pics Carl posted. Small vent, male, bigger vent, female. It's actually not as hard as it looks, but so you can get an idea of what kind of vent you are looking for, I reccomend you do your Labs first and confirm they are male, then compare the look of the vent to the mystery fish.
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Post by bikeguy33 on Apr 9, 2009 23:04:20 GMT -5
great advice Jon
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Post by kagome on Apr 10, 2009 0:31:19 GMT -5
I found some pics for you to compare your mystery fish to. Only thing is these are all adults. www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquarium/maylandia_z_makonde.htmlAs far as venting goes, I think I am still to much of a chicken sissy to try it. I'd be so scared of hurting the fish. Kind of funny, I'll stick my hand in a horse's mouth, grab it's tongue and squirt wormer down it's throat, but I'm scared to pick up a fish. lol
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Post by murdock6701 on Apr 10, 2009 8:54:37 GMT -5
I found some pics for you to compare your mystery fish to. Only thing is these are all adults. www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquarium/maylandia_z_makonde.htmlAs far as venting goes, I think I am still to much of a chicken sissy to try it. I'd be so scared of hurting the fish. Kind of funny, I'll stick my hand in a horse's mouth, grab it's tongue and squirt wormer down it's throat, but I'm scared to pick up a fish. lol thanks K - I have seen those pics ans at first that's where I drew my conclusions - still not so sure, but at this point, I don't care anymore - so far all is going well and really, that's all that matters - I am not going to breed them, my only worry is aggression and if that happens, I will work in out - as far as venting goes, unless I'm going to breed them, I'm not doing it - my eyesight up close is bad - I can't even get a sliver out of my hand without losing focus!
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