Magenta Dottyback / Flame Hawk question

I recently acquired a magenta dottyback. Knowing that many species change sexes along the way after birth etc....I was wondering if there was an easy way to know if this fish is a male or female?

For the record - it has a flat edge to its tail and brilliant color of course - I love the ease in which it darts and glides in and out of my rockwork. It seems to be one very self-assured little fish. (i knew enough not to get two of them or to put it in my tank if i had any other fish that resembled it in size and shape).

Along the same lines - any easy way to know the gender of a Flame Hawk?

Thanks in advance - so much to learn..!

 

your guess is as good as mine

 

Found this on a website:

Unlike most pygmy basslets, the Orchid is one species that is easy to sex. The main difference is in the shape of the tail. In the female the tail is perfectly round. In males the tail arches and meets at a sharp point. This gender difference appears to develop early. When I obtained my trio the fish were only 1" to 1¼" long and the difference in tail shape was readily apparent. The fish have now grown to 2 ½" in length, on their way to an adult length of 4" and the tail shape has not changed. These basslets are cousins to the much larger groupers, which change sex as they get larger, and some may eventually change sex later on.

 

kcbrad,

I had to chuckle having read your response - it would appear that I need to look AT the tail, not UNDER the tail!

Having gone by your tidbit of info, it would appear that my dottyback (Zen) is a male. We consider him our hot pink & purple ninja master of the tank.

thanks again and i love your avatar. +K

 

Most fish you can't tell the sex of, so I was excited that I could provide you with an answer! Such a gorgeous fish, I think you should post a picture of him so I can be envious.

That's my doggy, CoCo, in my avatar. Last year we had 26 inches of snow and she was in Heaven - she wanted to be outside all day.