Polypterus Gender Differentiation
 

Many bichir fanatics have been asking how to differentiate the gender between polypterus. This is a brief explanation of how it can be done.

The writeup below is also applicable to other species of the Polypterid family. It would be more accurate to differentiate gender for lower jawed species (lower jaw protrudes past lower jaw) at 12"-14" and 6"-8" for upper jawed species (upper jaw protrudes past lower jaw), as many a time a female turns out to be a male after it has grown to a larger size and thickening of its anal fns.


Male E.Endlicheri
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/5458/p1010544ko3.jpg

A male E.Endlicheri has a broad and round anal fin. During mating it will get extremely swollen, shaped like a cup for capturing the eggs which females release and fertilize them in his anal fin. However, this is only true for matured males and not the young ones.

Also, males seem to have thicker dorsal spines than the females, though normally, females tend to be larger than the males.


Female E.Endlicheri
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/443/p1010546vm6.jpg

A female E.Endlicheri on the other hand has a thinner and much more pointed anal fin compared to males. Females which are generaly larger than the males

Once matured and ready to mate, you would notice a swelling of the abdomen. This is caused by the eggs of which can be be over 300.

Lower jawed species matures mainly on the age of 4-6 years and 1-2 years in the case for upper jawed species .


For more breeding info, pls refer to bro Koji's writeup
http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=182531


Cheers and happy bichir keeping to all! :)

Video of a Male Polypterus
 

Here u can see that a male's anal fin is shaped like a cup for capturing the eggs which females release and fertilize them in his anal fin. this doesn't happen often, a sight to treasure :)

YouTube Video

enjoy!

mature male sengelus will also constantly cup their anal fins when they mature
no need stimuli of female....:p

wld love to hear abt endies mating in singapore as i believe endi keeping shld have reached some sort of maturity in singapore as u can se many 16-20" ard

definately all male species do cup their anal fins even without females. above vid explains all ;)

although many in sg are at that size doesn't mean that they have the right environment and at right age to start mating. but do hope ppl with mating experience to come forward to share :)

thanks for the picture..got picture got talk now i noe how to tell liao!!

Male hybrid bichir mating with platinum senegal
 

a short vid of how a male bichir mates with a female

YouTube Video

Horny male:D

congicus flexing its ****
 

this is a very helpful thread at sexing bichirs! thanks shifus!

Advice
 

Hi all, at how many inch or big will I be able to tell the sex apart from the fin ? Now both also like look the same leh :(