How to identify male from female...

ronnfive · 09-20-2005, 12:04 AM

How to identify male from female:

Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) – this type of livebearers are easily sexed through observation. The male Swordtails have swords on their tails while the females do not. Usually the female is larger and has a rounded body than the male. Generally, the best observations are focused on their “gonopodium” or what we called the modified anal fin. It is a tube-like fin at the lower backside next to the belly of the fish.

Guppy and Endler (Poecilia reticulata/Poecilia sp. endler's) – this type of livebearers are easily sexed through observation. The male Guppies or Endlers are smaller and more colorful than the females. Generally, the best observations are focused on their “gonopodium” or what we called the modified anal fin. It is a tube-like fin at the lower backside next to the belly of the fish.

Molly (poecilia latipinna) – this type of livebearers need more observation than the other livebearers. The common male Mollies have a colorful tail (like bluish or greenish color) having a larger dorsal fin, and is usually thinner (viewed from top) than the females. Generally, the best observations are focused on their “gonopodium” or what we called the modified anal fin. It is a tube-like fin at the lower backside next to the belly of the fish.

Platy (xiphophorus maculatus) – this type of livebearers needs careful observation than the other livebearers. The male Platies are typically smaller or thinner than the females. Generally, the best observations are focused on their “gonopodium” or what we called the modified anal fin. It is a tube-like fin at the lower backside next to the belly of the fish.

Here is the male’s gonopodium

A closer look…
Gonopodium

Here’s a female
Anal fin

A closer look...
Anal Fin

Hope you find this useful...
Ronn

Please feel free to correct me, if I’m wrong or add something... so that this will be very useful to the others or new into fish keeping of this type of fish. Thank you.

Lydia · 09-20-2005, 06:24 AM

Good info! Maybe this should be made a sticky or put in the articles section?

**TheOldSalt** · 09-20-2005, 07:24 AM

Done!
We get this question so much it's high time we had a sticky for it.

ronnfive · 09-21-2005, 10:12 PM

Thanks folks... hope that this will help to clarify confusions regarding their gender. I love this type of species… it is indeed a great beginner fish and very hardy, I’ll recommend it to anybody.

ronn

apple · 01-30-2006, 01:18 PM

http://public.fotki.com/apple1/fish/ is my gold molly in the breeding nest a female lol i hope i didnt pu tthe wrong fish in the breeding nest lol

tonkstoy2003 · 10-09-2006, 02:51 AM

Okay with the swordtails, only the Males have the sword? because I can sex the fish, but the lps told me that the two i have the one with the sword was the male and the one w/o it was the female, what puzzles me about this is the fins on the bottom are the same in both. they both have the same fins underneath just like my mollies. That's what i was confused about :P Thanks

ronnfive · 05-08-2007, 06:51 AM

Pic would help a lot...

All livebearer fish born females, then later on when they are old enough or about 2 months old or so, some of them decide to change gender and some continue being females. One of these situations is that sometimes this type of fish decides so late… and later on shows gonopodium and in your case swords. A late bloomer fish, what we called it…mostly they grow quite large that they looked often mistaken as female. I hope this help!

-ronn
ronn.gfxartist.com

Steve155 · 08-31-2007, 11:10 AM

This is great! Thanks!

tikotaz · 12-02-2007, 02:03 PM

I have a male and female creamsicle molly they have similar dorsal fins though the one in a seperate tank is smaller. But underneathh it's hard to tell, they look similar as well and I can't up and squint to see if the one in the seperate tank has that part, though belly is getting bigger each day. Was told that it was a female, yet still not birthing yet.

cocomania · 12-02-2007, 03:01 PM

Great job, I will deffinently keep all of this in mind when i start buying all of my fish.

elvis332 · 01-04-2008, 05:02 PM

RONNFIVE YOU ARE RIGHT I HAVE A SORDTALE AND THE MALE HAS A BLACH SKINNY LINE IN ITS TALE

vettech909 · 01-30-2008, 03:48 PM

great info!!!now i know i have 2 females and 1 male

audzter · 04-06-2008, 04:34 AM

Nice info!!!

09-20-2005, 12:04 AM	#1
ronnfive Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 44 User Feedback: (0)	How to identify male from female... How to identify male from female: Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) – this type of livebearers are easily sexed through observation. The male Swordtails have swords on their tails while the females do not. Usually the female is larger and has a rounded body than the male. Generally, the best observations are focused on their “gonopodium” or what we called the modified anal fin. It is a tube-like fin at the lower backside next to the belly of the fish. Guppy and Endler (Poecilia reticulata/Poecilia sp. endler's) – this type of livebearers are easily sexed through observation. The male Guppies or Endlers are smaller and more colorful than the females. Generally, the best observations are focused on their “gonopodium” or what we called the modified anal fin. It is a tube-like fin at the lower backside next to the belly of the fish. Molly (poecilia latipinna) – this type of livebearers need more observation than the other livebearers. The common male Mollies have a colorful tail (like bluish or greenish color) having a larger dorsal fin, and is usually thinner (viewed from top) than the females. Generally, the best observations are focused on their “gonopodium” or what we called the modified anal fin. It is a tube-like fin at the lower backside next to the belly of the fish. Platy (xiphophorus maculatus) – this type of livebearers needs careful observation than the other livebearers. The male Platies are typically smaller or thinner than the females. Generally, the best observations are focused on their “gonopodium” or what we called the modified anal fin. It is a tube-like fin at the lower backside next to the belly of the fish. Here is the male’s gonopodium A closer look… Gonopodium Here’s a female Anal fin A closer look... Anal Fin Hope you find this useful... Ronn Please feel free to correct me, if I’m wrong or add something... so that this will be very useful to the others or new into fish keeping of this type of fish. Thank you. Last edited by ronnfive; 04-14-2008 at 01:15 AM. Reason: adding.more.info.

08-31-2007, 11:10 AM	#8
Steve155 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 117 User Feedback: (0)	This is great! Thanks! __________________ 13 Gallon - main community tank 6 guppies (2m-4f) 3 platy (1m-2f) 5 neon tetra 3 pepper patterned cories 3 zebra loach Fry Tank 16 guppy fry (3-4 Male, 12-13 Female) Remember: Fish R Friends Not Food!

12-02-2007, 02:03 PM	#9
tikotaz confusedanddazed Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Age: 27 Posts: 86 User Feedback: (0)	Helpful, though confusing I have a male and female creamsicle molly they have similar dorsal fins though the one in a seperate tank is smaller. But underneathh it's hard to tell, they look similar as well and I can't up and squint to see if the one in the seperate tank has that part, though belly is getting bigger each day. Was told that it was a female, yet still not birthing yet.

12-02-2007, 03:01 PM	#10
cocomania Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Age: 18 Posts: 67 User Feedback: (0)	Great job, I will deffinently keep all of this in mind when i start buying all of my fish. __________________ currently a beginer and have 1 tropical tank stocked with: 3 black mollies 2 mickey mouse platies 2 albino corydoras 6 neon tetras 2 Guppies

04-06-2008, 04:34 AM	#13
audzter Funny Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Philippines Posts: 34 User Feedback: (0)	Nice info!!! __________________ 1 HMPK Red Dragon 1 HMPK Black Orchid 1 Half moon bi-color 20 Guppies 10 Mollies 10 + Carps 4 gold fish 1 Thai-zz Flower horn

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09-20-2005, 06:24 AM	#2
Lydia Ichthus Owner Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: FL Posts: 1,907 User Feedback: (0)	Good info! Maybe this should be made a sticky or put in the articles section?

09-20-2005, 07:24 AM	#3
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,016 User Feedback: (5)	Done! We get this question so much it's high time we had a sticky for it.

09-21-2005, 10:12 PM	#4
ronnfive Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 44 User Feedback: (0)	Thanks folks... hope that this will help to clarify confusions regarding their gender. I love this type of species… it is indeed a great beginner fish and very hardy, I’ll recommend it to anybody. ronn

01-30-2006, 01:18 PM	#5
apple Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 23 Posts: 8 User Feedback: (0)	http://public.fotki.com/apple1/fish/ is my gold molly in the breeding nest a female lol i hope i didnt pu tthe wrong fish in the breeding nest lol

10-09-2006, 02:51 AM	#6
tonkstoy2003 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: baytown, tx Age: 26 Posts: 56 User Feedback: (0)	Okay with the swordtails, only the Males have the sword? because I can sex the fish, but the lps told me that the two i have the one with the sword was the male and the one w/o it was the female, what puzzles me about this is the fins on the bottom are the same in both. they both have the same fins underneath just like my mollies. That's what i was confused about :P Thanks

05-08-2007, 06:51 AM	#7
ronnfive Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 44 User Feedback: (0)	Pic would help a lot... All livebearer fish born females, then later on when they are old enough or about 2 months old or so, some of them decide to change gender and some continue being females. One of these situations is that sometimes this type of fish decides so late… and later on shows gonopodium and in your case swords. A late bloomer fish, what we called it…mostly they grow quite large that they looked often mistaken as female. I hope this help! -ronn ronn.gfxartist.com

01-04-2008, 05:02 PM	#11
elvis332 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Age: 17 Posts: 75 User Feedback: (0)	RONNFIVE YOU ARE RIGHT I HAVE A SORDTALE AND THE MALE HAS A BLACH SKINNY LINE IN ITS TALE

01-30-2008, 03:48 PM	#12
vettech909 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 18 Posts: 146 User Feedback: (0)	great info!!!now i know i have 2 females and 1 male

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