Sexing Rams?

[fishtrap]

Ok. I'm thoroughly confused. I'm also confused about sexing blue rams.(insert rimshot here) Seriously, every website seems to say something different, contradictory, or so esoteric that it makes no sense. TMI.

I brought home what I thought to be a male and female blue ram, but now I'm now so sure. I think I have males instead, but I can't really tell for sure. Other than seeing a pair actually spawn, HOW does one determine the sex?

I know the MTF cichlid people will know the answer. I just know it!!!

 

[Fishckabibble]

from what i know.. and have done, is that the males have most or all of the irridescent speckles INSIDE of the black spots, and the femalse have a light pink to hot pink belly. heres a pic of one of mine who i beleive is a FEMALE.

notice the pink coloration on the middle of her stomach?

 

[oscarowner559]

I thought that was with kribensis..didnt know that was true with rams too..(pink belly thing)

I have heard of that spot thing, though..also, males are more colorful..

 

[fishtrap]

Some people say that the dorsal spines are different.
Comments?

 

[ram man]

male dorsal spines are longer(the black spines mostly) the sure fire way to spot a female is the belly, always a hot pink color.

 

[Big Vine]

Dude...

I'm also confused about sexing blue rams.(insert rimshot here)

Does this mean what I think it does?
If so, then: LMFAO! *laughingc

Big Vine

 

[fishtrap]

Big Vine... ask Tweety what it means*laughingc

I'm having a bad post day

 

[Fishckabibble]

ROFL you are all horrible....

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Don't get fooled by the pink belly thing. Years of inbreeding and not paying attention by the breeder will have different effects....sometimes it may fade that color out making it a useless sexing tool.

I've seen rams with and without that belly...both being females.

The sure fire way is the spots. If there are spangles INSIDE and around the black spot, its female. If no spangles are present inside, its most likely a male. Males tend to be a bit bigger too.

 

[oscarowner559]

Im kind of having this same problem.. i bought a blue ram a couple days ago and i didnt know if it was a male or female..I think it is a male, because it is VERY colorful, and no pink with kind of long fins..

 

[Fishckabibble]

well i guess i was totaly wrong, my rams just now spawned and i assumed them to be both female, they both have the pink bellies, but lo and behold i have eggs. and the "male" is fertilizing them...

 

[oscarowner559]

well, congrats..i guess you dont need to know to sex them after all.

 

[shadypat]

is this similar with bolivian rams, i'm desperately searching for a female.

 

[wayne]

No sex bolivians on size, fin extension

 

[Pure]

CM is right. I too have had/have a male that also has a pink belly. The fins and markings is about the best way to tell.

Here is a male. You can clearly see how much longer the black dorsal rays are compared to the rest of them.

 

[kristalAK]

sorry to jump in, but I just wanted to say that is one of the most beautiful fish I've ever seen!

 

[fishtrap]

Pure, unless it's the picture, it looks like the spot is full of blue. C-Man say's in his post that if the spot has no blue it's a male. I would think thats a male by the dorsal.

Yes, I'm thoroughly confused and going insane now*crazysmil.

 

[Orion]

You have two blue rams, yes? If the first few spines of the dorsal fin are different lengths, and the fish are close to the same size then I'd say it would be safe to assume that you have one of each sex. Who cares which is which, right?

Pure: I have never seen a blue ram with that much color, and I'm glad I haven't. To me, that is one ugly fish!

 

[fishtrap]

The fish are about the same in all aspects. I think that I have two of the same sex. If I'd like to breed them I'd need to get, well, you know, a fish of the opposite sex? My tank isn't Broke back mountain