Sexing Angels

[tracygh]

I think it's safe to say that forehead shape isn't a reliable sexing tool, and the only other thing I have heard to look for/at is breeding tubes. Can someone please define these for me, and what characteristics lend themselves to each gender? Picures or references would be awesome too.

TIA

Tracy

*of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most

 

[dskidmore]

Most of what I've heard is just buy 6 angels and see what ones pair up. Sexing angelfish is just nearly impossible to do reliably.

 

[tracygh]

I already have 4, I'm sure they are over a year old. I am pretty sure one is a female, she looks like she's swallowed a pea, so I'm presuming she's full of eggs. I'm *thinking* the ohter 3 are male, but one of them has a slightly roundr belly area....
I think I found the breeding tubes, and I *think* I can see a slight difference, at least in the big-bellied one. What I am seeing are very short (a couple of millimetres) tube like things protruding from near the tail on the underbelly of the angels. Two of them are definitely a bit larger, and very straight, angling to the front just a wee bit. The big belly one has a smaller tube, and it seems to end on an angle, pointing somewhat backward. The other one is modest and won't let me look LOL.
Are these breeding tubes, and am I looking at them correctly?

Tracy

 

[Jchillin]

I think you have it right. Here's is a pic of my angel during spawning time...the tube is small but the area is clear.