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How do you know if a goldfish is male or female?
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How to know if a Goldfish is female or male.

Sexing young goldfish can be difficult, but not impossible. It will depend on whether you buy an adult fish or very small young fish. If you get young fish (highly recommended) you have to wait until the fish reaches breeding age, which is about a year old.

Goldfish kept in outdoor ponds reach breeding condition about once a year (every spring - during the warmer months). Goldfish kept in indoor aquariums may come into breeding condition at any time, depending on foods and how warm their water is kept.

Here are some ways you may be able to tell if you have a female or a male goldfish:

  • The female will generally have a fuller abdomen. If you view the fish from above the aquarium, the female will be fatter on one side of her body than the other. (A male fish tends to have a more even shape when viewed from above).

  • If you look closely, the male goldfish will develop tiny tubicules (Little white dots that look like tiny pimples) on the gill covers, and along the front edge of the front fins.

    You will have to look carefully though - and please keep in mind that some male fish may display these signs, whilst others do not. In which case, the chasing usually gives them away! Males always chase females around the aquarium most of the time. So the chaser is nearly always male, and the one being chased is usually female.


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First answer by daniel alempijevic. Last edit by Stillxsarah. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 261 [recommend question]

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