Help with sexing Blue Rams.

[spunjin]

I just bought these two Blue Rams today. I tried to pick out a male and female but they are a little young for me to tell. I figured someone here may be able to help before I go out and buy 3 more just to make sure. Thanks for the help and for looking. Enjoy.

[Cathy G]

Looks to me like 2 males... and skinny ones at that. Better get some good quality foods including frozen blood worms, mysis shrimp, and sinking cichlid pellets. If there were females in the tank, they should have pink tummies.
Cathy

[jpappy789]

:iagree:

I would say two males at this point.

[saram521]

It really is hard to tell the males from the females seeing as how the differences are so subtle, such as the length of the first dorsal rays, etc. Even if you have a male and female, that doesn't mean they will automatically pair up. I've heard that with rams it's best to get a small group and let a pair form naturally, as they're picky and won't necessarily take just any male or female. You may be able to work out a deal with your lfs where they can take back the unpaired rams after you have a proven pair. I would ask about it to see if they'll comply :)

[Reddog80p]

Male. That looks the same fish to me in both pics tho.

[spunjin]

There are 2 different fish in the tank. In the bottom picture, the ram isn't showing it's spot so I wasn't sure if this was a male or female. But since I just added the 2 and they haven't eaten yet could that also be why the color isn't that brilliant? I have read that they really show their colors in a warm (85 deg) tank. Mine is set around 81 degs. They were mostly pale yellow when I picked them up from the LFS. So there is a drastic improvement. So I guess the question is: How old will they have to be when it will be certain about their sex?

[Cathy G]

They are old enough now to be sexed...

Their colors will get better after they have gotten used to your tank a bit. Yes, warm water is better - 84-85 is great if the other fish in your tank can take it. Sometimes they have been on hormones if they come from Asian fish farms, if that is the case they will lose their colors while the artificial hormones wear off but their colors will come back as they mature. (Mature is about 3-4 months old and 1 or so inch).

I'm fairly sure you have 2 males there. In time they might start duking it out for territory. Blue dots in/out of black splotch is no guarantee of sex. If you have a male with lots of spangles all over and a lighter black splotch, they will have blue dots in black splotch. (The top picture).

I'm basing my call on the length of the anal fin, the all over color - lack of pink tummy, and the pointiness of the back of the dorsal fin.

Cathy

[jpappy789]

Cathy said it well. I am more certain that you have 2 males after looking at the pics again...what type of setup are they in???

[spunjin]

Thanks, Cathy. The info that I have received is great. The problem is I still can't tell a male from a female it the mix at the LFS. They all look the same! They are all nearly 1.5" to 2" and not that colorful (hence not being able to see a pink tummy).

Jpappy, they are in QT in a 5.5 gal planted tank. I just feed them frozen bloodworms and they ate well. Colors are starting to darken a bit.

Thanks to all again for the info.

[DavidZ]

nice GBRs, tough to pick at the LFS when you have like 30-50 in the tank, I usually ask to see them 2 at a time in a clear plastic container. Cathy is on the money.