Banggai Cardinalfish Question

uall8up · Jul 7, 2012

Is there any particular way of telling the difference between a male and female? I have 2 that came from the same tank raised batch and one is double the size of the other. The larger one is also slightly darker. Any help would be awesome!!!:help:

chris13115 · Jul 8, 2012

it is very very hard to tell, but males have squarer jaws and there short fin is longer then the females. The male holds the eggs in his mouth so watch for that, if you do breed them, then put the fry in a 10 gallon tank and feed baby brine. How long have you had the cardinals? that can help you even more.

landlord · Jul 8, 2012

I have also noiced that when cardinals pair up and are close to breeding the males will often swim behind and under the female. Essentially positioning himself to catch released eggs. I find this to be quite apparent in the smaller cardinals like A parvulus and A margaritophorous for certain.

laskopyre · Jul 8, 2012

The only way to sex bangaii cardinals that has not been disproved is the vent method. Look at your cardinal's belly just in front of the anal fin. There will be either 1 or 2 little nubby things sticking out. These are its vents. Females have one and males have two. Individuals as young as 5 months can be sexed this way. Just feed them a lot to get the vents to stick out. Hope that helps

Steelerfan747 · Jul 8, 2012

laskopyre said:
The only way to sex bangaii cardinals that has not been disproved is the vent method. Look at your cardinal's belly just in front of the anal fin. There will be either 1 or 2 little nubby things sticking out. These are its vents. Females have one and males have two. Individuals as young as 5 months can be sexed this way. Just feed them a lot to get the vents to stick out. Hope that helps

Another way you can do it is look for the one wearing the skirt unless you live in Ireland or Scotland, then you have to look for the nubs. Lol

uall8up · Jul 8, 2012

LOL Steelerfan!!! Thanks everyone....off to look at the nubby things!!! lol

Ace25 · Jul 8, 2012

Here you go. Article was just posted 2 days ago. ;)

How to determine the sex of Banggai cardinalfish — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

uall8up · Jul 8, 2012

Thank you Ace! I tried looking but I fed them earlier and they are not working with me. I will wait til feeding time tonight and check again. Thanks again everyone!!