Bettas, And The Gender Of!

[8511swann]

Hi all,
A couple of months ago I set my kids up with a Betta tank each, and they have been doing splendidly. I never knew they had so much personality! Both the fish were advertised as female.

Yesterday my daughter was using a mirror to interact with hers, and it really brought its colours out, and spent ages showing off. To my surprise, I discovered a bubble nest in her tank this morning. Now, according to my very old Aquarium Encyclopedia, only the males blow the bubble nest.

I then took to the internet, and found conflicting information. This suggested that the females can make nests, but very rarely, and that the more probable answer is that I have a short tale male.

I've attached a photo of each of their fish, and wondered if anyone would care to clarify the matter for me! Sorry the photos aren't brilliant, but for someone who is a fairly skilled photographer, I am still getting the back of fish photography!

Cheers,
Shane

My daughters fish -Hanna

My sons fish - Jabanero

 

[RebeccaLouise]

Im going to be slightly useless here to help you, but i cannot help but say you have some gorgeous Bettas there 
 

 

[Paradise3]

Can you get them to flare? They both look like PK(short tailed, Plakat) Males but a flare will confirm that. If only the gill covers pop out then they are female, if the whole beard pops out(under the face) then they are male.
 
For reference, here's my old PK male and some of my females.
 
PK Male - Hades.

 
Same male, different angle and after I'd had him nearly a year.

 
Females.
HM - Halfmoon.

 
Combtail.

 

[8511swann]

Beautiful, and some fantastic photos. I will have a look at the beard/gill situation tomorrow. Thank you for the input.

 

[Paradise3]

Beautiful, and some fantastic photos. I will have a look at the beard/gill situation tomorrow. Thank you for the input.

 
Thanks Your's are stunning, especially the first one! Would love to own one like that
 
Yeah, you can sort of see the beard on my PK male in the first picture If it goes all the way under like that then they are male. If it is only at the sides then it's female

 

[8511swann]

Terrible photographs I know, but after what I've read here, I'm fairly confident that Hanna is in fact a Harry, and I'm 50/50 as to what Jabanero should be!

Hanna/Harry

Jabanero

 

[Paradise3]

Both looking very, very male to me!! Those beards!

 

[8511swann]

I think you're right on both counts. It stretches right under their body from gill to gill basically.

 

[Paradise3]

I think you're right on both counts. It stretches right under their body from gill to gill basically.

 
Yep, both looking very male Lucky they are kept separately!! Hehe!

 

[rpgmomma8404]

Beautiful fish! They look like girls to me but I'm not an expert on betta's (not yet at least). I didn't even know there were males with shorter fins until recently. 

 

[Paradise3]

Momma8404: I posted a picture of my PK male further up to compare I know he was male as I bred him to the Combtail female I also put up hehe.