Gold ram - male?

[allysonwonderland]

I picked this little one up the other week. He was the dominant one in the tank at the store, but paled after I brought him home to my community tank. I have a female GBR that's been in the tank for months and she chased him away whenever he went near her.

Recently I got an ich outbreak...so up the temperature went. And with it, his color came back, partly at least! I even saw him(?) chasing my female earlier today. And he finally posed for a phone quality picture.

From what I've read online, I think it's a male, but can I get some confirmation?

And a bonus (again, iffy quality) pic of my female defending a shrimp pellet from the insatiable guppies.

 

[Brookster123]

Nice looking ram! What was the.temp set at before you turned it up? I'd guess it's a male..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[allysonwonderland]

Thanks! I was never really interested in golds until I saw him..didn't realize how bright they could be!

The temp before was 79*F. I wasn't sure if his lack of color was due to stress, or no longer being the dominant ram (my female can be a playground bully) or what...I first noticed he was bright again when I went to turn it from 84 to 85. It could have happened at a temp before that and I wasn't paying attention.

 

[Brookster123]

Probably a combo of new rank stress and the fact they do prefer a higher temp, even 80.5 will make a difference..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[allysonwonderland]

Someone on another site says female because the end of the dorsal fin is round and there might be some pink shading in the belly.

I was basing my male guess on the length of the ventral and anal fins and the elongated 2nd and 3rd dorsal ray.

I can't tell if the slight pinkness is due to my light or not! I'll try to get another picture.

 

[allysonwonderland]

Probably a combo of new rank stress and the fact they do prefer a higher temp, even 80.5 will make a difference..

After the ich has cleared, I might leave the temperature at 80-81 if it'll make them happier.