Venting fish

[BigDaddy]

Didn't want to jack the thread, so I thought I'd start a new one.

Jen (and or others if your experienced), how good are you at sexing fish by venting them.  Is it somewhat species-specific as far as what you can sex, or could you vent just about any larger cichlid to determine sex?

[pegasus]

It's species-specific but after looking at a breeding pair or a group of 6 or more young adults you could get a good idea of what your looking for/at.

[oenology]

The only fish I have vented are the fronts and some at 3" are still "undecided" - hopefully females. It seems to take a while for some individuals to "open up".

[hummer]

how do you vent ? what is the process?

[BigDaddy]

how do you vent ? what is the process?

"But again, how do you know they're all female?  Does someone go into the park and, uh  - - lift up the dinosaurs' skirts?" - Ian Malcolm

Venting is the equivalent of lifting up skirts :lol:   An examination of the vent can reveal the gender of the fish.

[hummer]

big daddy, if you vented frontosa's before around what age can you vent them ?

[gvv]

how do you vent ? what is the process?

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/gender.php
Regards

[BigDaddy]

big daddy, if you vented frontosa's before around what age can you vent them ?

I've never vented fish.  I just know that its a procedure that is relatively effecient in determining gender in species with little or no sexual dimorphism.

[pegasus]

how do you vent ? what is the process?

"But again, how do you know they're all female?  Does someone go into the park and, uh  - - lift up the dinosaurs' skirts?" - Ian Malcolm

Venting is the equivalent of lifting up skirts :lol:   An examination of the vent can reveal the gender of the fish.

You need a reference ( a known male or female) otherwise you can only assume that they are the same gender or still just juveniles.

[oenology]

http://www.fishhead.com/articles/ventsex.htm
Great article with many examples.