picking out the bees from the birds!

[fish_chic]

okay its just about time for me to take out the extra males in 55 gal. i'm just not 100% sure on IDing them from the females. i have always thought the the males would be alot darker then the females (the females being a whitish blue). but i was over at the cichlid-forum and someone had mentioned on a different thread about them, that the males have more eggspots then the females. that the females would only have one eggspot. i just wanted to check with you guys first before i start taking out fish and being unsure about my IDs.

and also wanted to now when cobalts reach sexual maturity. i know that the last batch of mbunas i had bred around 2 1/2- 3 inches ( i am pretty sure that is how big they were).

 

[SinisterKisses]

Lol so are we trying to sex the cobalts then?

How big are they now? You bought them as tiny little guys not too long ago, didn't you?

Cobalts are one of those species that are quite impossible to sex visually for most people. As juveniles, it pretty much is impossible. You'll have to vent them, and even then, if they're as small as I think they are, you likely won't have much luck. Those of us who have kept and bred cobalts for years sometimes can learn to visually pick out adult males from females, but very, very few people can do it with much accuracy. You pretty much have to let them mature and watch for holding females and fighting males, and make educated guesses They should start breeding around the 3" mark or so, depends on the individual situation. I've had females with more than one eggspot, and yes typically males are likely to have more than a female, but that's all relative - some males may only have two. Its really not a reliable way to sex them. And the males are actually lighter than the females, not darker - most of the time.

Basically my point is - at the size I think these guys are, its really not realistic, and when they get bigger, venting is the only really reliable way

 

[fish_chic]

they are about 1 1/2 inches maybe 2 inches and that is streching it. so this is probably a stupid question but what is venting? i would like to know for the furture when they are about 3 inches. this process (breeding them) has been very exciting to me and i just love it. i want to soak up as much info as possible.

 

[fish_chic]

okay i just researched venting on the net and i know what to do, not sure if i will be any good at it but i know over time i will be. just lots of practice and patience right *thumbsups. anyway just wanted some advice on the best ways and what has worked good for you guys in the past with the venting. like what type of tools and materials do you use to vent your fish.

 

[FreddyJ]

I wish you much luck in your sexing endeavor. Egg spots, as mentioned, are not reliable. Sometimes the males grow a bit faster than the females, maybe you've noticed that? Or something you can look for in the future.

 

[fish_chic]

so anyone have any advice on the venting process. and are there certain tools that i will need. and how was your experience with it, did you find it difficult sexing them. just want to get as much info on this before i try it.

oh and they are about 1 1/2 to 2 inches now. is it possible to do the venting know or should i just wait until they are 3 inches.

 

[SinisterKisses]

Anyone who isn't experienced with venting won't be able to vent them (likely even remotely accurately) at the size they're at - I know I wouldn't be able to, lol. I don't do it often and I'm not very good at it. You'll most likely have to leave them until they're bigger. A magnifying glass will help though, and a good, bright spotlight on the fish.