Sexing a GT

[NCStateFisher]

Hey guys, I know some of the more obvious signs for sexing a GT are the start of the forehead hump and the dorsal fin extening, how big do these guys usually need to be before these signs start appearing? I know I could just check the vent but I don't really want to take em out of the water just to check. I think it's a female but not positive, probably about 3" long at the moment and has a good bit of blue on the cheeks and gill plates with a few spots behind the eye and a bit of orange lining the tail and dorsal - would the hump already be forming at 3"? thanks

 

[Just Prince]

If the dorsal fin is long and extends almost as far as the tail fin it's a male.

 

[NCStateFisher]

If the dorsal fin is long and extends almost as far as the tail fin it's a male.

and the dorsal would already extend that far at 3"?

 

[Just Prince]

Maybe can't remember what size my male was when I could tell. Post a picture.

 

[convictpleco]

Mines only about 3'' or less and everyone was able to tell.

 

[Sarah88]

some show the fin extensions at 3in but some are later bloomers, best way to tell when they are under 3.5-4in is if they have shiny metallic green coloring on their sides and if they have designs within their unpaired fins, some females will have this trait but its quite rare, most often it will be males that have this coloring in their fins, the female in a pair i used to have actually got trailers before my male did but she never got that coloring within her fins or as shiny of a body color as the male

 

[Angler]

Don't be fooled by the long fin and head shape. I had a great looking GT once with long fins and a hump. I was positive it was a male, until it laid eggs. Only real way to tell is to vent.

 

[NCStateFisher]

wow I bet you were surprised with the eggs haha - thanks for the tips guys

 

[Just Prince]

Don't be fooled by the long fin and head shape. I had a great looking GT once with long fins and a hump. I was positive it was a male, until it laid eggs. Only real way to tell is to vent.

The because your fish had a sex change operation.

 

[NCStateFisher]

Hope these 2 pictures can help somebody give me a definite verification, i'm pretty sure it's female but just wanted to make sure