A couple ?s on pairing and sexing.

[robmcd]

I was wondering about how I will know when my juv svenis are pairing off. At what size can I start looking for pairing behavior, and what does this consist of? Also is it possible to sex them at say 3-4''? Ive got 4 of them and they are still acting like fingerlings, either always in vegetation, or frozen vertically to blend in with the valisneria grass. Thanks for all and any help. Would post pics but my ex-chick confiscated my camera. Ill get a new one this week. This is an old pic of part of the tank, the foliage has doubled since.

[Peanut_Power]

Believe me, you'll know if and when they do decide to pair up. They will follow each other around the tank, tag team any other fish they don't like, and practically be unseperable. Females will have the spot in the dorsal and the reddish belly. Probably won't be able to sex them until they are in the 5 to 6" range, and even then there might be a few mishaps...;). Patience is a virtue lemme tell ya. Hopefully you got different sex's...would kinda suck a lot if they were all males or all females...haha. Better if they were all males cuz then you would find your female a mate eh?

[robmcd]

Believe me, you'll know if and when they do decide to pair up. They will follow each other around the tank, tag team any other fish they don't like, and practically be unseperable. Females will have the spot in the dorsal and the reddish belly. Probably won't be able to sex them until they are in the 5 to 6" range, and even then there might be a few mishaps...;). Patience is a virtue lemme tell ya. Hopefully you got different sex's...would kinda suck a lot if they were all males or all females...haha. Better if they were all males cuz then you would find your female a mate eh?
This is true. With my luck they are all one sex. i recently bought 6 cons to breed for feeders, and I was wondering why there was no fry after 2 months, turns out I bought 6 males. As soon as I added 1 female I had fry 3 days later.

[Peanut_Power]

smoooooth....

[robmcd]

You know how I roll....

[Taz2478]

you should at least see some spots/markings on the dorsal if female.

gl