How Do You Sex Ctenopoma Acutirostre ?

[STD]

How can you sex Ctenopoma acutirostre ?

I have 3 and 2 of them tend to stay together but I cant see any differences between them

They are all about 3"

 

[nmonks]

You can't really sex them. The differences are to do with patches of bristles on the scales on the flanks, if I recall correctly. I don't have my labyrinth fish book with me here, but it's in there (Bettas Gouramis and Other Anabantoids Labyrinth Fishes of The World, by Jorge Vierke). My guess is social behaviour will be the best clue without such minute observations.

Cheers, Neale

 

[dave_oddballs]

males tend to have more spines to the gill area and white outline to the edge of the fins.

 

[STD]

Thanks chaps

I've either got 3 females or I just can't tell the differnce

 

[dave_oddballs]

how big are they? the males only develop the more pronounced spines to the gill are as they mature.

 

[STD]

how big are they? the males only develop the more pronounced spines to the gill are as they mature.

They are about 3"

 

[dave_oddballs]

ah they may still be a little small to show signs of their sex, mine is just around 6" now, has smallish spines behind the gills, i would think its a female.
the spines don't stick out as such, they are flat with the body, you have to look close at the side of the fish behind the gill cover to see them properly, both males and females have them just the males tend to be bigger.
also males tend to have a whitish outline to the fins (dorsal,anal and tail), although from my experience it does tend to fade to be more transparent with age, and i have also seen obvious males with absolutely no white colouring so its not a definate way of sexing. im unsure of the differences in behaviour as i have only ever kept one on its own.

Dave

 

[STD]

ah they may still be a little small to show signs of their sex, mine is just around 6" now, has smallish spines behind the gills, i would think its a female.
the spines don't stick out as such, they are flat with the body, you have to look close at the side of the fish behind the gill cover to see them properly, both males and females have them just the males tend to be bigger.
also males tend to have a whitish outline to the fins (dorsal,anal and tail), although from my experience it does tend to fade to be more transparent with age, and i have also seen obvious males with absolutely no white colouring so its not a definate way of sexing. im unsure of the differences in behaviour as i have only ever kept one on its own.

Dave

Dave thanks

I'll be patient then and wait for them to grow a bit more

 

[indigoj]

I have 4 that were all bought together, 3 are very outgoing and one hides so much I check regularly that it is not dead.

They are around 4" now and the 2 bigger ones I'd say were males as they have distinct spines - think in terms of small flat peaks rather than spikes - and tonight for the first time show signs of having been scraping, the female is a bit smaller and the one that hides could be anything - I never see it to hazzard a guess.

These are some of my favourite fish

 

[STD]

I have 4 that were all bought together, 3 are very outgoing and one hides so much I check regularly that it is not dead.

They are around 4" now and the 2 bigger ones I'd say were males as they have distinct spines - think in terms of small flat peaks rather than spikes - and tonight for the first time show signs of having been scraping, the female is a bit smaller and the one that hides could be anything - I never see it to hazzard a guess.

These are some of my favourite fish

Yup they are great fish - none of mine are shy - always at the front of the tank waiting to be fed

They eat anything and everything

 

[DarkEntity]

You can't really sex them. The differences are to do with patches of bristles on the scales on the flanks, if I recall correctly. I don't have my labyrinth fish book with me here, but it's in there (Bettas Gouramis and Other Anabantoids Labyrinth Fishes of The World, by Jorge Vierke). My guess is social behaviour will be the best clue without such minute observations.

Cheers, Neale

Hi Neale,

I kept a pair from juvi upto about 6-8" and my two were very different in appearance, once actually had what would best be described as a horn on its nose, where the other did not. I took this to be male/female identification.

~T~ on here now has these fish as ive sold all my gear but he may be able to get upto date pics of the 2 fish in question.

Matt

 

[nmonks]

Hi Matt,

I had three for about 12 years, and to be honest, while one had more bristly flanks under some lights, especially just behind the gills, it wasn't easy to see. Perhaps I didn't have males and females after all! But one did nudge the other all the time, and since one of those was bristly, I kind of assumed there was a gender difference there.

Cheers, Neale

 

[dave_oddballs]

6-8 inch!! bloomin heck, i've never even seen another as big as mine and thats 6 inch!
i thought that was about their max size!, id love to see an 8 inch spotted climbing perch!!!

Dave

 

[DarkEntity]

Hi Matt,

I had three for about 12 years, and to be honest, while one had more bristly flanks under some lights, especially just behind the gills, it wasn't easy to see. Perhaps I didn't have males and females after all! But one did nudge the other all the time, and since one of those was bristly, I kind of assumed there was a gender difference there.

Cheers, Neale

Hi Neale

Ive had regular nudging to the same extent as well settled Kribensis pair, with one fish pretty much lying on its side in the water while the other rubs, nudges and pushes at it.

This was the "non horned" one of the two.

and i think you can just see the horn thing on this image (not the best)

and the pair er.....at it as it were!

 

[STD]

Nice looking fish