quick Q about UMBEE's

[CubanB]

just wondering if those with females can tell me if they have any blue ''spangling'' down their bodies, like the males, only not as prominant.

i really wanna know if mine is a M or F....

thanks in advance

 

[Guapote]

They do in fact have some slight spangling but to be sure, vent it. Only sure way to tell. I have a 8" male that still hasn't colored up (he's getting there)

 

[CubanB]

eair enough. mine kinda looks female but i keep hearing they can take a while to fully colour up. i've been noticing a blue shimmer down its body lately and i'm starting to think it may be a male. fingers crossed

 

[John Rambo]

females tend to be a bit more pale but they also have that blue. Its not always true but the tail fins tend to string out a bit more on the top and bottom for males. You can refer to "my little umbees" thread. It has pics of them from 1" to 12". sexing was not easy

 

[GMFISHNUT]

Tough to sex till they are about 6" and really start to color up. Males seem a little longer bodied. Any black in the dorsal or pelvics is a dead giveaway for a female but you really don't see that till they are breeding or sometimes spooked.
Some females have quite a bit of the blue spangling on them as well. Post a pic so we can see him/her. How big is it now?

 

[CubanB]

here are some pics of it. it's around 4" TL now. you can't really see the blue in these pics as my camera drowns it out for some reason.

 

[CubanB]

anyone have any input on the sex?

 

[GMFISHNUT]

Wow, great pics Cuban B. A little small yet to really tell. Here is a pic of my female. She is about 6" now, maybe this will hlp you. I'll try to find a pic of my male when he was about 6" so you can compare.

 

[GMFISHNUT]

Now that I look at it, the spangling in the gill plates of your fish does look a little more prominent! Possible male!

 

[timeneverfreezes]

Try to look at him/her when there is a territory confrontation. Most females that I have seen turn a lighter shade of yellow like Rambo's female, with that characteristic single spot in the middle. The colors return to normal on a fish this small after the fight but if you can catch a glimpse of them then its probably a female.