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Obtaining sexed fish

1L19

Fish Fanatic
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Feb 24, 2022
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So many fish profiles will tell you to buy a certain combination of sexes. Single male, one male/three females, etc. My issue is that I've not seen a single online store, or from my two local stores, where they will sex the fish for you. It's always the same thing "We are not able to guarantee specific gender" (this from Live Aquaria). Personally I'm no expert, as far as picking fish in the store, and it's made harder by the fact that normally the fish are on the younger end and may not have developed the physical features which would allow easier identification.

If anyone has tips or ideas on how I could acquire the sexes necessary to have a harmonious tank I would be grateful. Thank you!
 
What kind of fish are you looking at getting? Sometimes you have to buy more than you want and rehome the ones that don’t fit into the preferable long term gender ratios.
 
What kind of fish are you looking at getting? Sometimes you have to buy more than you want and rehome the ones that don’t fit into the preferable long term gender ratios.
It's just a general question as change fish out a lot and, unfortunately, what you described might be my only option. Many thanks for helping me out.
 
It's just a general question as change fish out a lot and, unfortunately, what you described might be my only option. Many thanks for helping me out.
No probs all I was thinking was some species it’s really essential like rift lake cichlids or live bearers but some other species it’s preferable but not essential
 
The Petco near me usually splits guppy based on sex. I've not noticed if they do for other species.
 
For a number of species, it takes a while for genders to be recognizable. They sell them young, thus unsexed.
 
If anyone has tips or ideas on how I could acquire the sexes necessary to have a harmonious tank I would be grateful. Thank you!
This is species specific but as a general rule breeding pairs of most cichilds will not be harmonious in a community aquarium as they are territorial and will defend that territory to protect any off springs they produce. Naturally without specific species not much more can be said; for tetra the sexes tend to not be that important for a hamonious aquariums though among themselves there will be some chasing and 'bickering' dependent on the fishes sex it has never been an issue in my aquarium - though heavy planting helps - again some species are more of an issue than others in some cases.

Plecos are not so much an issue though males will tend to claim a cave (natural or otherwise) regardless if you have one by it self or a group and males can fight over a cave if you have multiple males but again exact behavior will depend on the species.

I guess what I am saying is that some general rules can be suggested but for your question to have a meaningful answer specific species come into play because there are always many exceptions to those general rules.
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As for buying sexed fishes many mail order places will do that such as
wetspot
aquaticiclarity
aquaticarts
tangleupcichild
jdaquatics
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the above is not an exhaustive list by any means - but of course some fishes will be too young to sex and some species you can't easily sex unless they are actually breeding - if someone can tell you they can sex quarter size angelfishes for example you know you are dealing with a scam artist just trying to sell you fish.
 
So many fish profiles will tell you to buy a certain combination of sexes. Single male, one male/three females, etc. My issue is that I've not seen a single online store, or from my two local stores, where they will sex the fish for you. It's always the same thing "We are not able to guarantee specific gender" (this from Live Aquaria). Personally I'm no expert, as far as picking fish in the store, and it's made harder by the fact that normally the fish are on the younger end and may not have developed the physical features which would allow easier identification.

If anyone has tips or ideas on how I could acquire the sexes necessary to have a harmonious tank I would be grateful. Thank you!
I've had the same frustration. It is about my only frustration (unless you count shipping fees) with the WetSpot. If you're feeling adventurous, many ebay sellers will sell sexed pairs or individuals. Only buy from well-established sellers with excellent reputations. (I won't buy live fish from anyone with less than about 98% positive)
 
If you want a pair of cichlids, buy 8-10 young fish and grow them up together and let them pair off naturally. Some shops will sell some cichlids as pairs (usually Apistogramma sp) but most species are just sold as is (you get what you get unless you specifically ask, and the shop knows how to sex them).

If you buy 10 tetras, barbs, danios, rasboras or Corydoras, you should get males and females in the group. All these fish should be kept in groups of 10 or more. For tetras, barbs, danios and rasboras, the females are usually fatter and the males are usually slimmer. If you look down on adult Corydoras, the females will be bigger and wider, males are shorter and slimmer.

Rainbowfish can sometimes be bought as pairs but again, just buy 8-10 and you will get males and females. Or ask the shop to get you some males and some females, or pick the fish you want. Males have more colour (or different colour) and longer more pointed dorsal and anal fins. Females usually have less colour, don't get as high in the body and have shorter more rounded dorsal and anal fins.

Goldfish can't be sexed until they are at least 1 years old. Females are usually fatter than males. Males get small white dots (breeding tubercles) on the gill covers and pectoral fins when in breeding condition.

A lot of male suckermouth catfish will develop small hairs/ bristles on the face and pectoral fins when they mature, but not until they mature. If you want to breed these types of fish, buy a group of 8-10 and grow them up.

Most common livebearers (swordtails, platies, guppies & mollies) can be sexed quite easily by looking at the anal fin. Females have a fan or triangle shaped anal fin. Males have a long thin anal fin.

Killifish are often sold in pairs but it depends on the shop.

Gouramis can usually be sexed when mature but not when young. Adult males usually have longer more pointed dorsal fins and bigger anal fins. Males of some species have different colours to the females or brighter colours.
 

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