I was sure my new Betta was male

[xanthianacid]

He's turquise, got longish fins. I put him in a divided tank with another definate male. I haven't seen him flare at all, but he is definately healthy. The other fella (butterfly) flares quite regularly and is building himself a very nifty bubble nest. Its 3xhigh and 4/5x deep on the top.

I'm questioning whether the turquise is male or female mainly because
1. He hasn't flared as far as I'm aware with that extra flap of skin I mean.
2. He has those I'm not ready for breeding lines. Ok there is one very distinct one. From tip of eye to end of body.

Is it possible that I have mistaken a female for a male? It means the LFS was mistaken too, but given thats not a first...

I'll try and get a pic of the new set up anyway, just to show them off like most people do.

Cheers, Xan

 

[flautist]

my Sakana gets a line like that on his body when he's really stressed...

 

[Kiarra]

The horizontal stripes mean "I'm scared!" in Betta-speak (in adults, anyway). And vertical stripes (though most common in breeding females) can also mean "I'm dominant" or sometimes "I'm just downright mean." Males and females can get them. Males rarely ever get the vertical stripes, no matter how mean or aggressive they are...females typically get that in all-female tanks, when they think they should be dominant and want to fight. However, males WILL get horizontal stripes. Some males are more likely to get them than others---these are sensitive males, who aren't really alphas.

Of course it's possible to mistake a male for a female, and vice versa, but it doesn't sound like you have anything conclusive yet.

A picture would help. Body shape is quite revealing. Males tend to be longer and sleeker, and females tend to be shorter and more stout, especially at the belly area.

 

[xanthianacid]

I think its a boy again going by your discriptions but I'm posting the pics coz they are cute. I put lots of elodia in so they could hide from one another.

Here's the pic of the one in question, you might make out that line:

And here's a copy of his tankmate. I'm not sure exactly what he is but obviously a bit prettier maybe in their terms maybe?

I call the second one Butterfly. Any ideas on what I might call the other one?

Cheers, Xanthia

 

[mm_simb]

They are both so cute . I'm not good with name suggestions but I'm sure there are a lot of people here that are.

 

[xanthianacid]

cheers mm

 

[Raechal]

Definately looks like you have two males there. Horizontal lines on the body can mean they are stressed out from something. Maybe he just isn't being used to being around another male all the time. Can they see each other constantly?

 

[Kiarra]

DEFINITELY a boy. And they're both quite cute. The second one looks like a Mustard Gas color-wise. Maybe you can name him off that? I have a Mustard Gas that I call Cloud (derived from gas cloud), and my friend has one named Toxin.

 

[xanthianacid]

Raechal: They do have little caves to hide in and a thick amount of elodia planted on the little stressed out guys side. He sleeps in it. I think he can hide in the tank if he wanted to, was thinking of planting more elodia, maybe on the other side only allowing for the top 1/4 to be visable, as opposed to an extra 1/4 that is now visible from sand to top on one side. I hope this is explained well enough.

Kiarra: He's got the colouring of a mustard gas? Excellent. Now I'm not sure what to call him, coz that one was going to be butterfly. I'll have to start thinking. That green colour is just so gorgeous too, I thought they would suit each other!

Cheers, I suspected he was a boy, then wasn't sure so I'm glad I got that cleared up. My emerald girl's fins are quite full for a girl I think, but no where near that full.