Sexing Severums

[untitled]

Hi

Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between male and female green severum? I only have one so no comparison.

Thanks

 

[severum boy]

Males are bigger, typically around 10" when fully grown, females stay around the 8" mark. Males have longer filaments on the dorsal and anal fins, and develop a large nuchal hump and dewlap if they are dominant.

 

[Tobigara]

Males also have lots of darker colored squiggly markings on their faces and females don't.

This is an old pic of my Female. She is much bigger now

Not the best pic but if you look you can see the marks i'm talking about on this male adolescent. He's gotten bigger too. He isn't usually this dark

 

[severum boy]

Males also have lots of darker colored squiggly markings on their faces and females don't.

Interestingly, although this seems to be the most common method of sexing them, I have found on many occations that it simply does not work. There appear to my eyes to be a number of different varieties, sub-species and the like of the different Heros species, and the markings method doesent work for all of them.

 

[Tobigara]

Males also have lots of darker colored squiggly markings on their faces and females don't.

Interestingly, although this seems to be the most common method of sexing them, I have found on many occations that it simply does not work. There appear to my eyes to be a number of different varieties, sub-species and the like of the different Heros species, and the markings method doesent work for all of them.

Really!? i was told somewhere that the markings were the closest thing to 100% accurate for Heros Efasciatus.

 

[shroob]

From my readings I've found people often use the squiggly markings as a way of sexing, but not on colour, instead using the length and the 'squigglyness'.

Though I think there is no easy way of sexing for sure.

 

[severum boy]

Really!? i was told somewhere that the markings were the closest thing to 100% accurate for Heros Efasciatus.

For true efasciatus maby, but there are so many different severums out there that people dont nessiserilly have efasciatus, but another species or sub-species.
Its all a bit complicated, but I would stay away from the markings idea for sexing them. There really is no sure fire way to tell unless they breed. I know I thought I had a sexed pair, until the smaller (presumed female) killed the much larger male and its now getting loner fins and a large dewlap.

 

[Tobigara]

what's a dewlap? in regards to fish. i thought that was an extra toe for some mammals

 

[severum boy]

Nope, a dewlap is the throat extension found in many animals. Then again, it is ment to be applied to Tetrapods, not fish. But I feel the word is descriptive enough!

 

[untitled]

Thanks for the info.....i'm still not sure what mine is tho
I will try and get a half decent pic pic up asap!

 

[severum boy]

Yeh please do.
Its more than likely though that we will all be sat here arguing as to what it is!

 

[untitled]

Hi, sorry how do i put pics in the post? I looked in the FAQ but still dont understand

 

[untitled]

I think I have figured it out (sorry if this doesn't work!)

This is my green severum.......the oscars wanted in on the action too!

 

[severum boy]

It could be a female.
I dont suppose you could get a closer photograph without the flash could you?

 

[Tobigara]

Yeh please do.
Its more than likely though that we will all be sat here arguing as to what it is!

LOL most likely

i agree with severum boy. a better pic is needed to tell.