Sexing GBR

[Fishkeeper26]

How do you tell the difference between male and female German blue rams? Also if I get one male and one female will they definitely pair up? Thanks!!!

 

[jetajockey]

The only definite way to tell is by looking at the black spot in their side, if it has any blue spangles in it then its a female, if not, its a male.

All of the other methods are hit and miss because these fish are so inbred/line bred that the males/females often share traits like finnage.

 

[Fishkeeper26]

Thanks! Will they difinately pair?

 

[jpchin]

here's a picture of my male blue ram. the males are more colorful and they have the solid black spot on the side. the female are less colorful and the spot on the side has some color showing through. when i got mine they said to get 1 male and 2 females and they would develop a pair. however they gave me 2 males and 1 female and the female died the next day but i've had the males for 6 months now and they are doing great. i think the female died from the stress of the move to my aquarium. hope this helps.

 

[jetajockey]

if the fish are healthy and mature I've never had an issue getting mine to pair up, I would pick the best looking of my group and match them up.

 

[Fishkeeper26]

Thanks!!!! I'll most likely be keeping them with neons and cardinals in a 20 long

 

[Shetland James]

With Bolivian Red Rams - obviously this might be completely wrong for GBR's - where the tail meets the body is an indicator. Look for overall general roundness. I'm not home ATM so I can't post but one of my females is just plumb, while the male has a more slender body.

 

[CharlieB]

This is the post that helped me learn;
Sexing German Blue Rams - Aquarium Forum

Also the males do sometimes have slightly black on their pelvic fins when fully mature.

If they are not mature then the easiest way to tell i think is the pelvic fins, because the female will already have the black line and the male will have no black line at all

 

[Fishkeeper26]

Thanks I'll keep that in mind