How to distinguish a female scalar from a male?

One of the most attractive representatives of aquarium inhabitants are scalars. Scalaria belong to the cichlid family. They are also called angel fish due to the unusual structure of the body, similar to a wing, a leaf.

In the wild, this species is found in the river basins of South America, the Amazon and Orinoco. Angelfish are found in slowly flowing reservoirs, which allows them to skillfully maneuver in the underwater kingdom.

The first mention of this species was made in 1823 by zoologist Martin Heinrich Karl Lichtenstein. And in 1840, Hekkel classified the scalar into a separate genus. The rather unusual structure of the body provides them with the constant attention of aquarists - so in almost every pet store there is a wide selection of these fish. Breeding in aquariums scalar began in the late 20-30s of the last century.

If we talk directly about the structure of the body of scalar, then it is worth highlighting their rounded body compressed on the sides, giving the fish a flat look. The fins - anal and dorsal - are elongated, which gives the fish an aesthetic appearance. The color of the fish is most often found silver-gray, this determines their ability to successfully mask. There are also marble, black, pearl, striped, leopard and other colors. An adult can reach a length of 15 cm and a height of 25 cm.

With proper care, they can live in the aquarium for more than 5 years.. It should be borne in mind that the recommended aquarium volume is 50 liters per individual. When breeding this type of aquarium, you should choose from 100 liters in volume.

If you are thinking about breeding scalars, at the initial stage it is recommended to acquire young individuals, an average of 6-8 pcs. Puberty in this species occurs by 10-12 months, so the acquisition of young individuals in such an amount will increase the chances that you will have both males and females. Next, you will need to determine the gender of individuals, which is a rather complicated process.

You can distinguish between a boy and a girl after passing the maturation period, at the age of 12 months. Although at first glance the fish look the same, an attentive aquarist can easily identify the main differences. Before reaching puberty, it is not possible to distinguish a boy from a girl, due to the absence of certain differences.

Sex can be determined by the following criteria.

• Sizes. Like most representatives of the water world, males slightly exceed the size of the female, and their age must be taken into account. This fact is not mandatory - perhaps your fish has features similar to the individual characteristics of people. However, for representatives of the same age, the difference will be immediately apparent.
• Forehead. Females have a hollow, wavy forehead, while in males it has a well-defined hump.
• Fins. Females have a flat front fin, while in males it is bifurcated. The dorsal fin in girls is less elongated than in boys. Moreover, on the dorsal fin there are strips with gaps. Girls have a maximum of 6, boys have more than 7.
• Chest keel more pronounced in males than in females.
• Between fin and anus scalars have an outgrowth (papilla), in girls it is thickened, in boys it has a backward orientation and pointedness. This moment is clearly visible after puberty.
• In males, the keel grows from the papilla.
• The males have a sharp vas deferens and females have a wide ovipositor.
• From the back, you can also find out what gender you are dealing with. So, the back line in males makes a kind of angle when meeting with the dorsal fin, in females the opposite structure is observed.

Aquarists identified cases where females of this fish species mimic the behavior of males. In this case, the fish also lay eggs, but it is not fertilized. Such couples need resettlement. But it should be borne in mind that fish, like all living things, also have male infertility cases.

The flocking lifestyle characteristic of scalars changes when the breeding season is reached. So, when forming a pair, you can notice that it will swim separately, while choosing the place in the aquarium that is most suitable for laying eggs. Therefore, an observant novice can also adhere to these features of the behavior of these decorative fish.

Follow the formed pair must be most carefully, since they are monogamous. If one of the individuals dies, then it is possible that the second will not survive the loss. This happens if the remaining fish begins to try to injure itself, both against the aquarium walls and other surrounding objects. Thus, it is not recommended to separate and settle settled couples.

The ability to reproduce fish is affected by the quality of their care. You should choose high-quality food, in this case it is recommended exclusively lively. In addition to suitable food, clean water is a prerequisite for favorable spawning. The water temperature should be 28 degrees.

It is noticed that the most frequent time for laying eggs is the second half of the day. The spawning process itself takes place on average an hour and a half. During this period, you can notice how the female is pressed to the surface of the aquarium, then begins to spawn in rows. The male, at the same time as the female, imitates her actions and fertilizes the eggs.

Spawning can occur every two weeks, in this case, caviar should be quickly collected and transferred to a separate container. Separate space for eggs ensures successful rearing of fry.

Cases of infection of fry are not excluded. In order to avoid adverse effects, it is recommended to add funds for the destruction of fungi and other bacteria into the water. Signs of water pollution are its turbidity. Bacteria in their development reduce the level of transparency.

Attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the soil, as food debris begins to rot, so the amount of feed must be controlled. The development of algae changes the color of the water to greenish or brownish, and plaque also appears on the walls of the aquarium. In these cases, antibiotics, as well as 3% hydrogen peroxide, help well.

Transparency of water is the key to establishing microbiological balance in the aquarium. Therefore, there is a simple way to determine acceptable water quality. You should draw a small amount of water from the aquarium into a transparent glass - high-quality aquarium water in the light will have a slight yellowish tint.

You should also take care of the availability of oxygen at the stage of formation of fry from eggs. In this case, place the eggs near the aerator, but avoiding getting bubbles directly onto the masonry.

For how to determine the sex of scalar, see the next video.