identifying the sex of a betta

[riverside]

Hi everyone,

I recently got this betta and it's listed as female, but honestly I'm not entirely convinced. I'd really appreciate some input on this, any help would be awesome.

[CasCat]

Looking at your photos, I think I can see the triangular outline of the ovaries, which is a pretty distinctive female characteristic. The males don't have this pointed bulge shape - theirs are more rounded.

[coltin]

From the pictures, I notice a few things that might help determine the sex of your betta. The fish appears to have a beard, which is the black bit around the outer edge of the gill cover, and a long anal fin - these are typical characteristics of a male betta.

One way to be more certain would be to see if it builds a nest. If it does, that's a pretty strong indication that it's a male.

Additionally, take a closer look at the ovipositor, which is the vent area where the fish poops from. If it's white, that suggests it's a female, whereas males have a darker ovipositor.

[CasCat]

From the pictures, I notice a few things that might help determine the sex of your betta. The fish appears to have a beard, which is the black bit around the outer edge of the gill cover, and a long anal fin - these are typical characteristics of a male betta.

One way to be more certain would be to see if it builds a nest. If it does, that's a pretty strong indication that it's a male.

Additionally, take a closer look at the ovipositor, which is the vent area where the fish poops from. If it's white, that suggests it's a female, whereas males have a darker ovipositor.

I've noticed some females displaying similar characteristics too, like having a beard or a longer anal fin. The beard on your betta does seem a bit short for a male, though.

It's great that you brought up the egg spot on males, by the way - I've rarely seen anyone acknowledge that. Usually, people just say males don't have them and that's it.

riverside, try viewing your fish under bright light from behind - you might be able to see the shadow of the ovaries. If you can, take a photo for reference.

[florax]

From the pictures, I notice a few things that might help determine the sex of your betta. The fish appears to have a beard, which is the black bit around the outer edge of the gill cover, and a long anal fin - these are typical characteristics of a male betta.

One way to be more certain would be to see if it builds a nest. If it does, that's a pretty strong indication that it's a male.

Additionally, take a closer look at the ovipositor, which is the vent area where the fish poops from. If it's white, that suggests it's a female, whereas males have a darker ovipositor.

I'm not convinced this is accurate. I once had a male with a white ovipositor, and I was certain I'd been sold a female. I sought advice on TTF, and essjay suggested that the 'beard' is the most reliable way to sex betta. When my male flared, its beard went all the way around the bottom of its head - essjay told me this is a characteristic of males. I used a small mirror to get a better look. I've never seen a flaring female to compare, though, so I'd love to hear from someone with experience.

[florax]

Looking at your photos, you can see the triangular outline of the ovaries. This is something only females have, with a pointed bulge shape. Males, on the other hand, have a more rounded appearance.

[riverside]

Hi everyone,

Thanks again for all the great information. I really appreciate it. I tried to get some better pictures for you, but I'm not sure if I was successful in getting a clear shot of the ovipositor.

Earlier, I did see my betta flare, and I'm pretty sure there was no beard.

[CasCat]

The ovary shadow is unmistakable, a clear giveaway that this betta is indeed a female. Males just don't have this characteristic bulge or shadow.

When comparing to a male, there's a distinct shape you'd look for in the boys - a rounded appearance, not this pointed outline.

With all the fancy strains around, it's getting harder to rely on fin shape or color to sex a betta. Some females are just as colorful and have longer fins, and a few even sport a slight beard, although it's always shorter than a male's. And let's not forget, females can flare up too - I've got a wild phenotype plakat that's quite the firecracker when she flares.

If you're still unsure, try looking at your betta backlit - that's when the internal organ shape becomes visible. Longer-bodied labyrinth fish like bettas often have those distinctive trkento4gular ovaries that can be seen in mature fish.