ID cac sex please

[Boupette]

Hi! I have a new pair of cacatuoides, can you tell me if I really have male and female, cos I think the 1rst 2 pics is looking quite like a male but the seller told me it's definitly a female. What do you think? Thanks!

Female?

Female?

Male

 

[wethumbs]

You got a 'brokeback' pair. The 'shemale' is also stunted or is a runt.

 

[Boupette]

What is a 'brokeback' pair?? I would appreciate that you explian why you say it's stunt ou runt? Thanks.

 

[Mike Wise]

Brokeback as in the movie Brokeback Mountain (2 males living together). The problem with domestic color strains of A. cacatuoides is that females develop many masculine attributes. Your 'female' shows attributes of a male (extended anterior dorsal spines, caudal fin tips, no black on the ventral fins) but also a female (blunt dorsal and anal fin tips, deeper less elongated body shape). Behavior often can be used to determine sex when other features don't. How large are your fish?

 

[Boupette]

I understand Mike thanks. The male is about 2". and the female bit less than 1½".

 

[wethumbs]

The color on the ventral fins tell me it is a male. I have yet to see a 'super red' female with that feature. Only males develop that coloration on the ventral. The reason I said it is stunted is due to the eye size to body ratio. But as Mike said, behavioral interaction will help give you clue about their sexes. Ultimately, they should be spawning very soon at that size if he is indeed a she. I am still putting my money on them as 'brokeback' pair.

 

[Boupette]

They don't show yet any particular breedind behaviour. I have another female with them but this one is really a "normal female" cacatuoides but she's smaller. But again no reaction from the male nor the females. I never saw this, completly denatured. I hope it's gonna change cos' they really beautiful.

 

[Boupette]

Here's an update of what my "supposed female" looks like today, do you still think it could be a female?

I'm looking for another female cac and someone wants to sell me this one, can you tell me if it really is a female cacatuoides?

Thanks for you help!

 

[wethumbs]

Like I said before, you got a 'brokeback' pair. A very nice looking cacatuoides 'Super Red' male tho.

 

[Boupette]

So the last pic is a cacatuoides??

 

[Mike Wise]

So the last pic is a cacatuoides??

No it is not!

 

[Boupette]

Thanks Mike!

 

[Boupette]

You won't beleive it!!! Here's again another pic of what became my "shemale" of my initial message!! Looks like a pentacle red - quadruple red?? Doesn't even look the same at all!!

 

[Boupette]

Here's another pic of what became my "shemale" !!!