Sexing Seahorses
- Thread starter Limbo
- Start date
Its difficult to tell them apart for the first few months, since neither gender has a pouch.
I do remember DanU (I think) posting on one of the boards that you can inspect the anal opening in relation to the anal fin. If its below the fin, its a female, if its above its a male ... or vice versa ... or something like that.
Maybe he'll chime in with the accurate info.
I do remember DanU (I think) posting on one of the boards that you can inspect the anal opening in relation to the anal fin. If its below the fin, its a female, if its above its a male ... or vice versa ... or something like that.
Maybe he'll chime in with the accurate info.
There was a partial thread on www.seahorseresearch.org which appears to be a broken website: the thread was about female seahorses changing sex to become male seahorses. Seems like they are mostly female, then at about 6 weeks turn into males, with some actually swapping over post maturity.
This is common in some fish species, so it should not supprise us here. It does bring into doubt the commonly held 'tests' for sex. If a female can become male, then the position of the fin becomes irrelevant?
http://www.seahorseresearch.org/sex-change.htm
This is common in some fish species, so it should not supprise us here. It does bring into doubt the commonly held 'tests' for sex. If a female can become male, then the position of the fin becomes irrelevant?
http://www.seahorseresearch.org/sex-change.htm
panmanmatt
New member
The thread you have linked was one very unique case. The seahorse had supplied many broods of eggs before it developed a pouich. Although a pouch was present, there was no evidence of any other parts of the male reproductive tract.
Most seahorses are not able to be sexed until at least 3-4 onths of age, but like humans there are always some late bloomers.
Seahorses are not hermaphrodites like some other fish, like clowns for example. 99.999% of the time a seahorse will stay the same sex it was born as. It just takes time for the outward signs of the male to develop.
Most seahorses are not able to be sexed until at least 3-4 onths of age, but like humans there are always some late bloomers.
Seahorses are not hermaphrodites like some other fish, like clowns for example. 99.999% of the time a seahorse will stay the same sex it was born as. It just takes time for the outward signs of the male to develop.
I guess then that the websites which sell "sexed pairs" are over 3-4 months. Not a problem, except they are twice the price compared to the LFS. The LFS claim they are CB, and I believe them. I trust the guy who runs it and they are all the same color and size, further suggesting that they are from the same brood.
However... this bring another issue into my head. Nevermind buying not knowing the sex, if they are from the same brood, should they be further bred? Is that not a genetic no-no. Doing it with your sister and all that :eek2: :eek1: :eek2:
However... this bring another issue into my head. Nevermind buying not knowing the sex, if they are from the same brood, should they be further bred? Is that not a genetic no-no. Doing it with your sister and all that :eek2: :eek1: :eek2:
panmanmatt
New member
Can your LFS tell you what species and who the breeder is? If not, it is highly possible that they are not CB but rather net pen raised horses from either Sri Lanka or Vietnam. IF that is the case, you are essentially buying wild caught seahorse that eats frozen mysis.
If you don't mind me asking, what are they selling them for? Price can also be an indication as to whether they are CB or not.
If you don't mind me asking, what are they selling them for? Price can also be an indication as to whether they are CB or not.
Last week they were on sale for $19.99, this week it's $23.99. Different batch, he was completely sold out at the end of last week. They look to me... untrained... to be H. Erectus. They are just marked as "Seahorses".
I've not probed the guy too much about them. It's early days for me and seahorses. Still doing research and planning to see if it is the route I want to go.
I've not probed the guy too much about them. It's early days for me and seahorses. Still doing research and planning to see if it is the route I want to go.
It costs more than $20 in food and supplies to raise a CB horse to sellable size. I'll bet these are wild caught or those pen-raised kelloggi that are everywhere, and would stay far far away.
My advice is to pay the extra and get horses from a professional breeder. A good breeder will have livestock several generations removed from the wild, will track lineages to create genetic diversity, etc. You will end up with disease-free horses that are much more healthy and hardy.
BTW Here is the post text from DanU that tells how to sex a seahorse early on:
If you have a magnifying glass, take a close look at the anal fin area. On the female the anus and genital opening are above the anal fin. The male will have the anus above the fin and the pouch slit below it. Without the pouch being developed, that is about the only way to tell for sure.
