What is this? Help

[TheresaMcmurrough]

 

[Rivercats]

Sorry but what are we suppose to be looking at?

 

[TheresaMcmurrough]

The clear thing coming out of the fish. It is not a fin it is the size of thick fishing line.

 

[TheresaMcmurrough]

Right above the arrow

 

[TheresaMcmurrough]

Other than this the fish is normal eating and swimming

 

[Piratechest]

Other than this the fish is normal eating and swimming

looks like his anal fin. Haha

 

[TheresaMcmurrough]

This is new and not a fin, it's clear and pointed at the end, it has become longer over the past hour

 

[Jbrock]

Male parts?

 

[Rivercats]

Yes it is the males gonopodium. Females don't have them.

 

[TheresaMcmurrough]

It had never been there before though? Does it stay inside and come out?

 

[Rivercats]

Don't quote me on this but if memory serves me molly males develop their gonopodium at around 3 months of age. So I would imagine other livebearers like platies would be around the same. I haven't kept livebearers except for Endlers since the 80's so I'm pretty rusty when it comes to information like that about them.

And for the record, no they can not retract their gonopodium.