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How Do You Tell The Difference Between Male And Female Goldfish?

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Greg Allen Profile
Greg Allen answered
The easiest time to tell the difference between male and female goldfish is during the mating season of the fish.
The male goldfish show signs of white pustules on their gills during this time, whilst the female goldfish do not. The mating season of goldfish can occur at the following times:
  • After the age of four months old
  • Four to five months after being introduced into a tank or aquarium
The white pustules can also appear on the fins of the male at these times, and the female is unaffected.
If two goldfish are the same age, the fins can also give a clear indication of the sex of the goldfish. If the fin is longer, then the goldfish is a male. The body of a male goldfish is also generally longer than that of a female. The female body of a goldfish is more rounded, and the fins are normally shorter.
Goldfish are a freshwater fish and are the most common form of domesticated fish. They were first kept as pets in China and vary greatly in size, shape and color. Most goldfish are orange, although it is not uncommon for goldfish to have elements of red, brown, yellow and black.

A goldfish can live for up to 10 years and they can be kept safely as pets as long as certain important procedures are followed. The most important procedures to follow when keeping them as pets are:
  • Change the water regularly as this will prolong the life of the fish by reducing the chance of infection
  • Keep an eye out for fish that are introduced to the tank, they can be bullied by the other fish
  • If the fish are bullied by others, then the bully should be removed from the tank
Shelagh Young Profile
Shelagh Young answered
This is not easy as these fish do not have distinctively gendered genitals in the way that mammals do. Male gold fish, shubunkin and carp are generally more slender in shape than females. Females tend to be chubbier and almost pear shaped. However, as fish do not eat in the colder months and survive off their fat reserves their shape will be misleading outside the breeding season. In the warmer, breeding months the males develop distinctive spotting around the gills and on their heads. These little bumps are white and quite noticeable during the breeding season. Watching their behaviour at this time will also offer clues to gender. The male fish try to stimulate breeding by chasing the females around the pond or aquarium. They deliberately bump into the females to stimulate spawning. However, if you wait until you see these signs it will be a little late to start a selective breeding programme. Once the female has spawned the male will quickly deposit his milt over her eggs. Fertilisation only takes 20 minutes and so, by then, it will be far too late for the fish keeper to intervene.
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Anonymous
Anonymous commented
It may it may not
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
Thank you for the help. I have one goldfish, but when I got the fish it was small and brown. Now the fish is gold and has gotten fat like a balloon getting ready to pop. It's eyes look like they are going to pop out of it's head. It 's beginning to get brown spots on it, and the other fish keeps eatting off some of it's fins. The other five fish are spotted, and one orange and white. So is the one with the big belly going to have babies and how long will it be for me to wait, and what should I ?
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
1. Mid line ridge: Male goldfish have a ridge running through the back of pelvic fins to their vent opening on the underside. The ridge is either completely missing or smaller in females.

2. Firmness of abdomen: The area between pelvic and anal fins is pliable for females but very firm for males.

3. Shape of the vent: Though difficult to figure out, the female vent is rounder and convex, whereas the male vent is thinner and concave.

4. Shape of the pectoral fins: Male pectoral fins are pointed with stiffer leading ray and female pectorals are rounded, shorter with finer front fin ray.

5. Features: Females are brighter colored and are more active. This could be a difficult way of pointing out a female but you could try!

6. Check out: One theory says that you can introduce a known female into the tank and watch for the reaction of fish. Males will check out the new fish but the females will show no interest!
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Female has fat , chubby, over-weighted body. Males have skinny , slick ,and slight than females.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
First if you have a 25 gallon tank only 2 fish can be in the tank and they spread a chemical that can kill each other and thats probably why your fish are looking weird and if you are wondering if your goldfish is a male or a female the male"s back fin is pointy and a females back fin is a round shape and if you find a bump on one of your goldfishes sides probably that goldfish is a girl and if you have a 10 gallon tank you can only have one goldfish because goldfish need 24 in. Of space in their tank so thats why your goldfish looks like its going to explode.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Man this place is really good to get information!
thanked the writer.
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
I still cant tell between the differance my gold fishes are named Nemo and Gloria. Gloria is white with red on the top of his head and Nemo is plane gold but hes fat and Gloria is small and skinny but i still cant tell the differance between the who's the boy and who's the girl.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Okay well boys have dots during mating season on their fins and gulls and gills are fatter
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
My goldfish one yellow one orange.
I am checking on this just because my whole family wants my goldfishes to lay eggs.
I'm sure they will lay eggs. I THINK the yellow one must be FEMALE
I am talking rubbish because I am OOPS!! I big letter.... Never mind. I am seven years old.
Typing very slow..... Typing all kind of rubbish....oh you! I can sew. Yesterday.... Forgotten. I think not yesterday... Aya never mind... Just use yesterday. Yesterday I sew something for my fish tank decoration and I went out to collect some small stones for the fsh tank too.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I have 4 goldfish
-black moore age 3 years
-calico fantail (I have 2) both are still babies
-another black moore still is a baby to
I'm thinking that the size and color of the goldfish depends
(for example) all most all my gold fish are bright colored but my 3 yr. Old moore has a dull color and is really fat
I actually came here to find out the difference between the 2 but size and color are the the 2 that over rule the others.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I just started getting fish today I have a 15L tank I think I need a bigger 1 I have 4 fish 2 are gold fish and 2 are red and white fish(don't have a clue) and I really want them to have babies but I don't no how to make them mate, so can I have some help, if they mate and I find that 1 is pregnant then I will buy a new tank but at the moment I need help, and quick please help.

What should I do?
Holly Harkins Profile
Holly Harkins answered
I have 4 gold fish, 3 orange/white and 1 white. 2 have long kinda pointed fins and 2 have shorter curved/rounded fins. I have read several things saying the males have long tails and females have short tails, while some said just the opposite. One of the ones with shorter/rounded fins has been nudging my other ones is this a sign saying he/she is a female of not?
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I'm so confused because I have a shubunkin and a yellow comet and they both look the same but they are acting weirdly as if they were in love thing is I don't know which one is a girl and which one is a boy!
Help please!!
From  a young fish owner
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
How do you tell a female goldfish from a male goldfish, Is it the color, Is it the body and shape
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Females are bigger and have less color, Males are small and usually have 2 fins on there back unlike females.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I'm trying to find that out too. Apparently the only way to tell is during breeding season when the male chases the female. So I would just pick randomly and put 2 fish together.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
You people are so DUMB!!! (no ofense...) anyways, you can compare a male and a female by.....
A female has a bigger stomach and the fins are smaller.
And the MALE has a small stomach and the fins are HUGE! Okay? I hope you understand! :D thanks! BYE!
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I have a comet fish and a paradise fish and a yellow goldfish  and I have spotted a diffrent the yellow goldfish seems to be mach   more  active.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I have 5 goldfish every body Relay helped me when I was ready every bodys input about how to tell them apart it Relay helped.  Thanks
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I don't know how to tell the difference because my goldfish look alike. There names are Charlie and
Oscar.

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