yellow lab sexing

[Salty]

I was just given a healthy looking bright yellow lab, of about 4". I decided to keep it. I have it in a 45g. high tank, with 2 small convicts as backround fish. I just recieved the new tfh mag. in the mail, and it has a profile on labs, but it says that it is very difficult to sex them by appearance. Is this true? I've had africans before, and thought that pointy dorsal, and anal fins helped. I also thought that alot of egg dummie spots, or anal fin spots meant male, but its so hard to tell. This lab def. has a very pronounced dark streak on its dorsal, does this mean male? or what? any help would be appreciative? thanx.

 

[Super G]

Males have more black trim.
Generally

 

[SinisterKisses]

You absolutely can not sex a lab visually. The amount, thickness, or whatever, of the black stripes means nothing. The only sure way to sex a Lab is by venting it.

 

[Super G]

Males have more black trim.
Generally

Not always.

 

[Salty]

Thanx super g. your 135 g. is crazy! I cant believe how stocked it is. My problem is, I dont have any females or males to compare it to, though. Your tank has inspired me to get a few more.

 

[searcyb]

I have seen the term "venting" a fish what does that mean exactly?

 

[johnnylaw1984]

you must vent the fish, but in my experiance, the males have had more black trim then the females. its not a gurantee, but it is a start

 

[stingray4540]

I have seen the term "venting" a fish what does that mean exactly?

Venting is the same as turning over a puppy to see what sex it is. In the case of fish, the underside of a female will look like this Oo and the underside of a male will look like this oo. In otherwords it's just like anything else, the female has one big hole and one small hole, wheres the male has two small holes.

 

[Salty]

what's the best way to go about venting? Should I just net it, n check it out or what? do I need a magnifying glass? or is it pretty noticable Oo female, oo male right? I've netted and grabbed a hold of larger cichlids like jags, n oscars, but they are big n meaty, I dont want to hurt it, I mean this lab is only like 4", ya know? I just dont want it to get crushed or injured, thats all.

 

[stingray4540]

Yes, just net it then flip it over in the net while it's still in the water. You shouldn't need a magnifying glass. Just make sure your hands are wet when you handle the fish, and only use as much pressure as needed to keep it in the possition you want. Good luck trying to net it lol.