Determine sex of eel

[Cu455]

How do you determine the sex of an American Eel?

 

[MN_Rebel]

Unless you want to kill the eel and open up the eel to see the gonards. Or just take a blood sample to the lab. I was told that most eels in freshwater are females.

 

[youseshan]

Unless you want to kill the eel and open up the eel to see the gonards. Or just take a blood sample to the lab. I was told that most eels in freshwater are females.

Unless I'm mistaken they all start out as females but can change sex according to need


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[MN_Rebel]

Unless I'm mistaken they all start out as females but can change sex according to need


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

Well most males of this species were smaller than the females and they are usually found in the mouth of rivers that flows into the ocean.

 

[jdhuegel1]

If it's adult, size can help tell. Females near 4' in length, males are smaller. Crap I may have that backwards now I can't remember... Either way from what I understand at full grown, 10-14" or so seperates them.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[MN_Rebel]

If it's adult, size can help tell. Females near 4' in length, males are smaller. Crap I may have that backwards now I can't remember... Either way from what I understand at full grown, 10-14" or so seperates them.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

Most larger eels were found in freshwater...often surpassed 18"+

 

[jdhuegel1]

Most larger eels were found in freshwater...often surpassed 18"+

Understood. Mine is over 3'. What I meant was the female (I think?) is usually larger at full growth.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[Shenanigans]

The females are larger, males rarely(if ever) surpass 3 feet. If yours is over 3 feet and still growing, it is more than likely a female.