These 2 pictures are of the same fish, 7 days apart. I thought it was a female but now that the anal fin is getting that jagged look, I am starting to question my original assessment. All the photos I see online are of fully grown adults. I can't tell if adult females get a bit of jaggedness on the fin, or if only the males get this. I am hoping to hear from folks with pearl gourami experience. Thank you!
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Male Or Female Pearl Gouramis?
- Thread starter BeckyCats
- Start date
I would suggest that this is a female, but it is still young (presumably).
Sometimes you can tell more by the behaviour of the fish towards each other. If memory serves me, you have a group of four Pearls? Sit quietly (without moving, seriously) in front of the tank for an extended period of time and observe how they interact. The males behaviour is usually evident. But you do have to be very still, as any motion will alert them to your presence which can mean food, threat, or whatever, and their response may be different.
Byron.
Sometimes you can tell more by the behaviour of the fish towards each other. If memory serves me, you have a group of four Pearls? Sit quietly (without moving, seriously) in front of the tank for an extended period of time and observe how they interact. The males behaviour is usually evident. But you do have to be very still, as any motion will alert them to your presence which can mean food, threat, or whatever, and their response may be different.
Byron.
So the females can have fringey fins? I sure hope so. I have 5 pearls and until a few days ago, only one had fringey fins. Now, three of them do. Two still have neat, tidy little rounded fins.
Behavior-wise, only the biggest one acts like a boss. But, they are still new and young, I believe, so they have time to change.
Behavior-wise, only the biggest one acts like a boss. But, they are still new and young, I believe, so they have time to change.
The top 2 photos are the same fish a few weeks later. The fringe has grown out quite a bit. Is it looking male?
The bottom photo is of all 5 together. The 2 in the upper right have not changed in appearance at all. The 2 in the middle have shown a good amount of fin fringe growth. The one in the upper left has a tiny amount of fringes just starting to show. I hope I don't end up with 3 males. That would be problematic from what I've read. Right now, they are all still getting along, but as they get older, the conflicts could start. Is this right? Any chance the fellas could get along?
The bottom photo is of all 5 together. The 2 in the upper right have not changed in appearance at all. The 2 in the middle have shown a good amount of fin fringe growth. The one in the upper left has a tiny amount of fringes just starting to show. I hope I don't end up with 3 males. That would be problematic from what I've read. Right now, they are all still getting along, but as they get older, the conflicts could start. Is this right? Any chance the fellas could get along?
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I won't guess...but I am thinking that the lower fish in the group photo is probably male...but not a definite.
It would be helpful to see how they interact over time, sitting quietly for an hour or so in front of them. This is a relatively peaceful species, and even if you have more than one or even two males, except if spawning should occur you might find them quite peaceful.
Byron.
It would be helpful to see how they interact over time, sitting quietly for an hour or so in front of them. This is a relatively peaceful species, and even if you have more than one or even two males, except if spawning should occur you might find them quite peaceful.
Byron.
DoubleDutch
Fish Gatherer
To me the three on the left are males (the bottom one 100% is). On the right are females I'd say.
Thank you, Byron and DoubleDutch for your input. It is fascinating to watch them grow and change. I really hope they stay as peaceful as they are now. They like to stay together for the most part, although they do break into smaller groups or individually to explore. The 2 on the top right are often together. I find myself calling them "the ladies."
The one with the crimp in its long fin (the one I asked about first) has shown the most changes since I got it from the store. In addition to the fins getting longer, the color in the iridescence is getting more rainbowish and its chin is getting more orange, like the biggest one. Its behavior has also done the most changing, starting out as the most shy and now being the most brave.
The one with the crimp in its long fin (the one I asked about first) has shown the most changes since I got it from the store. In addition to the fins getting longer, the color in the iridescence is getting more rainbowish and its chin is getting more orange, like the biggest one. Its behavior has also done the most changing, starting out as the most shy and now being the most brave.
DoubleDutch
Fish Gatherer
Think about giving them some (floating) plants and places to hide when necessary.
Agree, floating plants are essential with gourami. This will make quite a difference. Water Sprite (Ceratopteris cornuta) is ideal for this. Gourami browse the plants for food tidbits, and the males make their bubblenest among them.
I've been looking for water sprite and haven't had any luck. I bought a plant when I set up the tank but I put it in the sand. I don't know if I could dig it up now and let it float. I have 8 or 9 lily pads on the surface from banana plants. Also, I have a plant that I did not bury but have allowed to float. It isn't the most attractive, but I'm leaving it until I can get more water sprite. Actually, I'm feeling inspired to go out and look again. Here's what I have so far. Note, this is the view through the side.
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That's getting there, very nice too. There is more surface plant than we saw in the other photos. If you do find a Water Sprite, perfect. Too bad you don't live close to me, or at least in Canada. I toss this plant out weekly; I bought one back in the 1990's and my several plants today are descendants. Once established, they grow very fast and produce lots of daughter plants.
Thank you. I cropped the other photos to just show the fish. I keep meaning to update my journal with recent pics.
I just got back from two pet stores and neither had water sprite or any other floating plant. I'll keep looking. In the meantime, the other plants are getting taller. I have read that the water sprite gets large quickly, but I have not had that experience yet. Maybe once it hits a certain size, it will grow faster, but the one that I planted has grown very slowly. I had hornwort in there at one point but I had to get rid of it. Horrible stuff. Needles clogging the filter and getting everywhere.... Ugh! Never again!
I just got back from two pet stores and neither had water sprite or any other floating plant. I'll keep looking. In the meantime, the other plants are getting taller. I have read that the water sprite gets large quickly, but I have not had that experience yet. Maybe once it hits a certain size, it will grow faster, but the one that I planted has grown very slowly. I had hornwort in there at one point but I had to get rid of it. Horrible stuff. Needles clogging the filter and getting everywhere.... Ugh! Never again!
BeckyCats said:
Can you post a photo of the planted Water Sprite? There are three species, one (Ceratopteris cornuta) is best floating, the other two tend to do better planted. You may have the floating, and if pulled up it might take off. Might be able to tell from the photos, the fronds are a bit different.
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