MALE or FEMALE

Magpie · Post by **Magpie** » Sat Jun 22, 2024 8:05 am

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and hoping for some assistance. I have 2 discus, both around 6" and 18 months old, and I'm trying to determine their sex. I've attached some photos for your reference.

Thanks for your help in advance.

knight · Post by **knight** » Sat Jun 22, 2024 8:24 am

Re: MALE or FEMALE

The white discus seems to be female. I'd like a better look at the red one to determine its sex.

Blossp · Post by **Blossp** » Sat Jun 22, 2024 8:47 am

Re: MALE or FEMALE

Sexing discus is like trying to predict the weather - it's all just guesswork. In my opinion, you can't be 100% sure unless you see one actually laying eggs - that's when you know for certain it's a female. And even then, if you have fry, that's when you can confirm the other one is male.

blueguy · Post by **blueguy** » Sat Jun 22, 2024 11:33 am

Re: MALE or FEMALE

I agree with Blossp's point. Sexing discus can be quite tricky and almost impossible without a clear sign like eggs. Anything else is just a guess.

Magpie · Post by **Magpie** » Sat Jun 22, 2024 11:46 am

Re: MALE or FEMALE

It seems like sexing discus is quite the challenge. I was mistaken in thinking the tube could give us a clear answer. Would you mind sharing what led you to believe the white pigeon might be a female?

paddlepop · Post by **paddlepop** » Sat Jun 22, 2024 12:48 pm

Re: MALE or FEMALE

I'd like to correct that - you can actually determine the gender based on the tube. I didn't see any tubes in the photos, just the vent. Females have a larger tube with a squared-off tip, while males have a smaller one with a rounded tip. You might find this thread helpful - it's about the discus breeding apparatus.

Magpie · Post by **Magpie** » Sat Jun 22, 2024 1:40 pm

Re: MALE or FEMALE

I'm curious about the discus' development. When can we expect to see the tube? Does it only appear during spawning, or is it visible at a certain age?