How can I distinguish between male and female Frontosa ?

[RedWild]

Dear Community !
I am planning to buy 4 Frontosa. I saw in a local fish shop today has a batch of them , 1 to 2 inches, around hundreds of them in a tank. But the thing is I want to buy 2 pairs ( 2 males and 2 females ), but I am new to this kind of fish so I have no idea how to regconize which one is a male or which one is a female, since they're small too.

Or I just have to pray for luck and randomly pick the fish ?

Thanks alots for ur helps.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

At that size you'll just have to hope that your lucky. When they get bigger males tend to get bigger humps on their head but i've got a 10inch female with a bumpon here head thats just as big as full gorwn male. The only sure way is to vent them.

 

[toehead11183]

i bought 7 fronts 5 months ago. i have two that are much bigger than the rest. it's safe to assume those are males. if you get four, you have a good chance of have at least one male or one female.

 

[Oddball]

Fronts are accurately sexed by 'venting' to check the size of the reproductive organs. However, even experienced breeders have a difficult time venting specimens under 4 inches.

 

[mike dunagan]

also, I have heard or been told that fronts breed best in colonies. 2 males to 4-6 females. Just what I have seen. I have seen single pairs, but never actually seen those spawn.

 

[RedWild]

Fronts are accurately sexed by 'venting' to check the size of the reproductive organs. However, even experienced breeders have a difficult time venting specimens under 4 inches.

That's right. Even the fish shop owner told me he couldn't identify which one is male or female by that size.
Anway, thanks alot for all your guys helps, great community.

 

[Oddball]

Here's a comparative pic. However, my experiences in venting have shown the differences to be much more subtle in pre-spawned adults.

 

[RedWild]

awesome, thanks alot.