sexing

[jacob]

i have two questions...

1) how do you tell between a male and female in clown loaches?
2) same thing for gold severums?

thanks for the help

[blixem]

Originally Posted by jacob

i have two questions...

1) how do you tell between a male and female in clown loaches?
2) same thing for gold severums?

thanks for the help

I'm not sure about the loaches, but you can sex mature severums by the colors on their face. Males have a much brighter and more apparent pattern, whereas females either have little to none.

[Damon]

The only way to sex clown loaches is venting. Not adviseable but by very experienced keepers.

[maxpayne_lhp]

Welll when they're young, I believe that it's impossible. And duh! Clown loaches can change their gender...

[DavidDoyle]

Max, I have never heard that clowns can change sex- where did you find this information. Also, there are almost no documented instances of captive spawning by clown loaches that did not involve hormone injections, so sexing is not a big deal.

[maxpayne_lhp]

I remember that they do change sex when they grow older... But let me relook at the artciles and sites I went thru.. it's been months and I forgot where it is... But I'll give evidence

[maxpayne_lhp]

Dah not much have I found.
But I did find some on sexing...

Sexing clown loaches externally is hard, but possible by looking at the tail fin. The tail fin tips on the male are slightly bent inwards, making the fin look a little bit like a claw.

And about body shape:

Although Baensch stated that there were caudal fin differences between the sexes, this has been disproved. Sex differences are subtle, but females appear to be fuller bodied and more rounded than the males.

Ouch I start doubting this old brain of me... better go join up fish_doc