lunk71

we just purchased our first oscar... how can we tell if its a male or female?

Jim

unfortuanately, there's almost no way to sex an oscar until it pairs with another oscar (I think when they're about 6") Even then, it's not easy. Unfortunately, the sad fact is, the only real definite way to sex an oscar is to get it to pair up with another and watch which one lays eggs.

Dino

You can tell by their tubes.

Males are shaped more like a pencil, females are shaped more like the bottom of an ice cream cone.

Also, females generally have more body mass.

Jim

True, but if they're not paired and ready to lay eggs, you won't see the breeding tube. And if you don't know how old an oscar is, it's hard to judge what it's body mass should be.

Dino

Well I did not want to come out and say it but here it is.

Females are chunkier than males.
Especially once they are adult size.

COBettaCouple

Female Oscars everywhere are offended.

Dino

I am sure they are.

Jim

Oh no... nutra-fish weight loss plan

No, all I meant was that unless you know oscars REALLy well, or have 2 oscars side by side, it's really difficult to determine "chunkier". Thet're already a really muscular, chunky fish to begin with.

Dino

I agree.
But after keeping fish for almost 30 years, I can pretty much look at an adult oscar and tell you what sex it is.

Jim

then I would definitly put you into the "know oscars REALLY well..." catagory. Unfortunately, almost everyone else in the world is in the other catagory...

Dino

I guess it's a gift.

voiceless_kat

Hmm, I think I heard that somewhere before??