Electric Yellow's

[SKISWETPETS]

Sooo im pretty sure I know the answer here but I might as well ask. Is there any visual way to tell male from female? Just wanted to ask, it seems that one of the larger ones in my tank has sort of an egg shape spot on the anal fin...Thanks...
SKI,

[beach]

Not always, but sometimes the females will have less black on their dorsal and pectoral fins.  Usually I just wait til I see one holding - then you know for SURE!   

[mightieskeeper]

Hi SKI I have some labs with egg spots that are male and some males with thicker darker black markings.  You would be better off sexing by vent then with physical characteristics.

[Ron]

As Mighties Keeper mentioned, vent sexing is the most accurate.

IME growth rate, color, and behavior can serve as good clues, but you typically have to watch the fish for a while to see them, which makes it hard to figure out in 5 minutes at the LFS which ones are males and which are females.

[SKISWETPETS]

Thanks guys.. Figured I would ask again. A couple of them seem to have very dark lines and a little larger body than the rest. Im sorta thinkin they may be the males.

[Regalblue]

The dominant one is most likely male. Separate him for awhile&  wait for the next one to step up.

Or... Learn to vent them.

[beach]

Maybe this video will help you with venting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPtENJYXf9k

[JeffroM]

Maybe this video will help you with venting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPtENJYXf9k

That is a good video.  Thanks for sharing it.

[SKISWETPETS]

Thanks Beach.. I really never knew it was that simple...

[beach]

Thanks Beach.. I really never knew it was that simple...

   Sometimes its not!! (or maybe you were being sarcastic?   )  I  have to see both male and female in order to tell sometimes, which is VERY inconvenient when you have to net them out of a big rock-filled tank!!   And as far as yellow labs go, they are by far the smartest at avoiding my nets!  lol     I think I would just watch them a lot and when you see one 'shivvering' you'll know its a boy.  When you see one nosing around the food but not eating, its a holding female.  Yellow labs are pretty good about keeping the eggs in their mouth while you chase them and net them, so once you think she's holding,  I'd try to wait an hour after lights out and net her into a hanging breeder net-box while she's still groggy so you can strip her easily when its time.  : )     

Good luck!  babies are the BEST part of this hobby in my opinion!!

[SKISWETPETS]

No sarcasm... It actually seemed easy by the video, im sure it isn't always like that. I probly won't try venting, just gonna let things happen on there own. My yellows that are in a tank of there own are VERY skittish.. Scared it seems all the time, hardly ever out just free swimming. And when I feed them its a race out for a bit of food and right back under a rock or something. They really don't like beeing watched at all.

[beach]

aww...  go to your LFS and get 3-4 giant danios - they are very cheap and fast enough to outswim any yellow lab ambush  lol
and they'll be out all the time and will draw out your yellows.  They'll see the other  fish out & about, and feel safer.   

Plus the giant danios are dumb and easy to net out when you dont need them anymore.  (bring back to your LFS for credit )

I move my danios to the tanks holding the "new guys" and it works every time.  It may take a few days...

[SKISWETPETS]

No local fish store up here yet... One is actually supposed to be opening soon tho in our mall. I posted something here about it I think. Anyway I changed the tank a little, gonna see if it helps.