Need Help Sexing Bolivian Rams (lots of pics)

Winged

Likes being a biology major.
Jan 11, 2009
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Louisville, KY
I have some of the least cooperative fish. Wouldn't it figure that the one I'm most sure about is the one who likes the camera, and the one I can't figure out is the one that kept hiding?

Pretty sure this is a male. He's the most dominant of the three, bossing the other two around, and the most outgoing.
Male1.jpg
Male2.jpg

Female, maybe? She (?) comes to the front when I approach, but goes back to hiding fairly quickly.
BestFemalePic.jpg
Female.jpg

Not sure on this one. Maybe male? He looks really skinny. Usually hangs out alone, definitely has the poorest colouring (colours didn't show up real great in these pics).
Dunno1.jpg
Dunno2.jpg
Dunno3.jpg

BestFemalePic.jpg Dunno1.jpg Dunno2.jpg Dunno3.jpg Female.jpg Male1.jpg Male2.jpg
 
Can't say with 100% certainty. They all appear to be a month or so away from getting more distinguishable features. Bolivians are more difficult to sex (for me anyway) that blue rams. Though young, the top pictured fish does appear to be get rays on the tail fin, which indicates male. Also, first thing I noticed when looking at the pictures is that the middle and last fish have somewhat sunken bellies. This indicated to me that the top fish was the alpha male (before reading) along with the beginnings of the rays on the tail. The sunken bellies could be the result of the alpha male eating all of the food or causing the others stress. He's a little young to be mating, so you might still have a female in the group. He wouldn't deny a female food if he intended to mate with her. Also, if the other two are males they might not show their rays for some time and they'd adopt a more submissive form such as poor coloration.
 
Hard to tell without getting a good look at the vents. My female had extended rays on her tail fins so that is not always a tell tale sign. Venting is the best sure fired way to sex them. Below is a link that has a great sexing guide with very detailed pics. Hope this helps. But regardless of the sexes, that one rams looks extremely skinny. If it were mine I would move it to another tank to make sure it is eating. They have been known to starve to death.....

http://www.brc.moonfruit.com/#/sexingguide/4528902946

Another good sign is to look at the anal fins, if they stop just before the tail = female; if they extend past the beginning of the tail = male. Also, being the dominant fish does not mean it is for sure a male; my female RULED the tank! LOL
 
Hard to tell without getting a good look at the vents. My female had extended rays on her tail fins so that is not always a tell tale sign. Venting is the best sure fired way to sex them. Below is a link that has a great sexing guide with very detailed pics. Hope this helps. But regardless of the sexes, that one rams looks extremely skinny. If it were mine I would move it to another tank to make sure it is eating. They have been known to starve to death.....

http://www.brc.moonfruit.com/#/sexingguide/4528902946

Another good sign is to look at the anal fins, if they stop just before the tail = female; if they extend past the beginning of the tail = male. Also, being the dominant fish does not mean it is for sure a male; my female RULED the tank! LOL

I wasn't basing the sex on personality alone. With that one I based it a lot on his looks.

The skinny one is eating, but I don't know if it's getting enough. I'm not sure if the other non-dominant one is either. I'm thinking about moving the bossy one to my 20 gallon with ember tetras, pygmy cories, and a sparkling gourami--none of which will have trouble competing with food. Unless somebody thinks he might mess with them?
 
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