Male or female- how do you tell

[blue acara]

Just bought my first tankfull of domestic discus. I said to the owner I wanted a good mix of male/female. He could point out the sex of these 3-4 inch discus in seconds and I believe him. Ive looked at the fish at home and the only difference that my eyes can see is a slight extension in the anal fin of males, compared to fairly rounded anal fins of suspected females. Males brighter colour?
So...discus pros... how do you tell the sex of a discus and at what size, age is this reliable?

couple of the new beauties and what he sex he said they were

male
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m72/blueacara/male.jpg

female
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m72/blueacara/female.jpg

didnt say...I suspect male
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m72/blueacara/huhuhu.jpg

[Tito]

For what its worth:
http://www.zestweb.com/articles/sexing/sexing.html

By the way - he may be right according to the methods in the link.

[Eddie]

I can't really tell but I try use Andrew Soh's method of concave and convex. Its something I can't actually point out but it's basically the section between the ventral fins and the beginning of the anal fin and it depends on the location of the tube. He explains this very well in his book.

From what I can see and this is just a guess on the pictures you've posted, they all look like females but since I can't actually get a good look at the particular section of the fish, it's merely a good guess. :D

Eddie

[DiscusKeeper403]

Honestly, you can never be sure until you see them breed.

[jaykne]

I can't really tell but I try use Andrew Soh's method of concave and convex. Its something I can't actually point out but it's basically the section between the ventral fins and the beginning of the anal fin and it depends on the location of the tube. He explains this very well in his book.

From what I can see and this is just a guess on the pictures you've posted, they all look like females but since I can't actually get a good look at the particular section of the fish, it's merely a good guess. :D

Eddie

Really Eddie, you think they are all females? You have allot more time than myself but I have done allot of reading on it and I really think the first one is a male, and not to sure about the last one, but leaning more towards a male, and second does look like a female. But just guess from what I have been reading.:D

[steve.ryall]

Who did you buy them from ?

[Roxanne]

haha...I think the second one is a male..go on, "flame" me..:D

can you get close up pics of their thingys?...IME...if there's something sticking out and points backwards it's a male....

Rox

[blue acara]

Who did you buy them from ?

There from Chens discus. I was impressed with their set-up and the quality of the fish.
The only other discus Ive kept is wild Heckels and I must say its a joy to see discus swimming about freely with the light on and with ppl walking about. Something that my Heckel would never do.


haha...I think the second one is a male..go on, "flame" me..:D

can you get close up pics of their thingys?...IME...if there's something sticking out and points backwards it's a male....

Rox

As I look back at the pic I can see what you are talking about, there is a little thingy :p there. I just tried to get some close ups with the macro lens but they didnt like the flash so close. I will try again tomorrow.