View Full Version : Can't tell the gendre of my mollies!!
pisces11
07-19-2004, 11:28 PM
I have three black lyretail mollies in my newly set up aquarium and i was wondering about their gendre. I know to examine the fish's anal fin-rounded for females and long and narrow for males, but I can't figure it out? Does anyone know how to tell the difference??:confused:
9tails
07-20-2004, 5:26 AM
If you can't tell the difference, the chances are that all your mollies are the same sex. There is a distinct difference between the anal fin which is located under their belly. Females have rounded fins where males have a gonopodium, a thin swordlike fin which they swing forward when mating with the female.
dwayne
07-20-2004, 9:02 AM
Hey there! I just posted in your "fish aggression" thread... but here's the picture again to help you figure out the sex:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d825b3127ccebff0e6780e2c0000001610
Top red line points to a female's underside fin, the bottom red line is pointing to a male's gonopodium (sp? reproductive organ). Excellent description, 9tails!
Good luck!
~Tara
pisces11
07-20-2004, 1:28 PM
Thanks to your helpful advice I have been able to determine the gendre of my mollies- they seem to be all female, which doesn't explain their aggressive behaviour towards one another!!!