how big before sexed?

[señor_pescados_felices]

I purchased two WC endli congicus as a male and female "pair" from one of our vendors.... one is about 7" and the other 9-10" but the anal fin on both of them is pretty much exactly the same....

I posted pics of the smaller one in the photo lounge and was told it is definitely a female, so I am assuming I got stuck with both females.

Is it possible these are two young to sex and the male just hasn't developed his "thicker, teacup shaped" anal fin? Or is it most likely that I have both females as I mentioned?

I really want a male, I heard they grow quite a bit larger and I want to see the true full size of these monsters.

 

[Darth Scohin]

to my knowledge it is not till they are actually spawning that the males "cup" there fin but it's usually palm shaped/spade like

 

[Hao]

i think like 2-3 years or so male matured when the anal fin is like a scooping shape

 

[señor_pescados_felices]

So a 9-10" endli with a long and fairly narrow anal fin could still wind up being male?

 

[wolfsburgfanatic]

I have heard that they can be accurately sexed at 6-7", but perhaps that only applies to upper jaw species, I'm not sure. In my opinion though, if they appear to be females now, they probably are females. That doesn't mean you won't get /v\onsters though. According to beblondie:

SEX
Female polypterids generally grow bigger than males

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2984600&postcount=2

 

[señor_pescados_felices]

I have heard that they can be accurately sexed at 6-7", but perhaps that only applies to upper jaw species, I'm not sure. In my opinion though, if they appear to be females now, they probably are females. That doesn't mean you won't get /v\onsters though. According to beblondie:


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2984600&postcount=2

ah I see, thank you much, it seems I had my info mixed up, I could have sworn I read about males being the larger sex in polypterus. RELIEF!