Help me sex my Cichlids

[renebow@tadaust]

hello , can anyone tell me how to tell the sex of cichlids

 

[KarlTh]

Depends on the species.

 

[Blueiz]

Did you have a specific one in mind?

 

[Pittbull]

you usually you have to vent them heres an article i pulled off the net for you.. http://www.fishhead.com/articles/ventsex.htm

 

[KarlTh]

I wouldn't say "usually". Many species are easy to sex, it's only a proportion where "only they know".

 

[mostlycichlids]

Would help to know what cichlids? Many can be sexed by size many by color and many by other physical characteristics, some need to be vented.

 

[Pittbull]

cool KarLTH glad to know we have an expert here thanks buddy

 

[Pittbull]

ok so i was clearly not 100% factual on my response what i should have said is hey you can vent fish, you can tell sex by finnage in some species and you can tell by coloration in some species, but with in mind there wasnt any certain species described by the thread starter so this could intel alot of species but as a general rule you can vent a fish with a magnifying glass for a guarantee on what sex you have if thats what the person who needs to know really wants to do, as for me i dont like to stress my fish in that manner so i go with the old age rule of buying six specimens and let whoever pairs up sort them out and then i remove the excess or not its my call, my hobby............peace

 

[Star_Rider]

Venting is probably the most effective way to sex Cichlids.

there are several species where characteristic differences between male and female is difficult to use.

some of the traditional sexing characteristics have crossed over from males to females.
the ovipositor/Papilla aka venting is near 100% (sometimes these can be mis identified )

a few species where it is difficult to determine sexes using physical traits(sans vents) Angel fish, Discus and Bolivian Rams.
or you can have 6-8 in a tank and let nature take it's course

 

[Pittbull]

Thanks star-rider for the backup aye..