Male or Female?

[Dasgruenegesich]

How do you tell if a Banggai Cardinal Fish is male or female?

Thank you. Sandra

 

[forddna]

It's very difficult, from what I understand.

 

[alprazo]

Mature males are very aggressive toward each other. If you have one, it is an easy way to find another. Some will state fin length and jaw structure - the problem is that many at the LFS are juveniles and impossible to tell apart.

Maybe someone else has something better. You could try the mirror trick and assume the male is the one that attacks it - I've never tried it though.

 

[Moonstream]

I think most people recommend getting 4-6 juvis and letting a pair bond form. you will have to remove the unpaired fish, but it is a fairly fool proof way to get a pair...

 

[crsswift70]

If you watch videos of mated pairs, they seem to have differently shaped jaws. But, as others have said, they are mature and fairly distinguishable then. My first attempt at getting a pair ended up with 2 females i think. Hard to see them at the time i bought them as they were already bagged. I'm waiting on the LFS to get some in to see if i can try identification again

 

[Dasgruenegesich]

Thank you

Would you recommend to add 3+ more to the one I have and see if a pair bonds?
Or will the one I have (in case it is a male) fuzz over me adding more?

Mine has grown quite a bit over the last 2months & it's dorsal fin is quite large/ it has grown much longer since I bought the fish.
Maybe it is a male?


LLL Sandra

 

[edsimmons]

Have you tried asking your question here?

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=86

Good Luck!
Ed