Split tail gourami??

[Eric Schreiber]

My local PetSmart is selling fish they're labeling as "male split tail
gouramis". They're selling them next to their male bettas, in the same
sort of cups.

I bought one without reading the label a few weeks ago - it looked
(and still looks) to me like a very nice *female* double tail betta. I
only noticed the 'gourami' label when I was in the store today.

The fish I bought has two basic color schemes - most of the time a
mixed blue and red, very much like a male betta, but occasionally very
pale colored with a distinct black stripe running from the mouth, back
across the eyes and all the way to the tail. The body shape is very
betta-ish, and I've seen occasionally gill flaring at male bettas in
the tank (a divided ten gallon). The fish is smallish - I assume a
juvenile or young adult.

I'm 90% sure this is a female betta. Is there any gourami that might
look like this?


--
www.ericschreiber.com

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Split tail gourami??
>From: Eric Schreiber
>Date: 12/26/2003 4:26 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>My local PetSmart is selling fish they're labeling as "male split tail
>gouramis". They're selling them next to their male bettas, in the same
>sort of cups.
>
>I bought one without reading the label a few weeks ago - it looked
>(and still looks) to me like a very nice *female* double tail betta. I
>only noticed the 'gourami' label when I was in the store today.
>
>The fish I bought has two basic color schemes - most of the time a
>mixed blue and red, very much like a male betta, but occasionally very
>pale colored with a distinct black stripe running from the mouth, back
>across the eyes and all the way to the tail. The body shape is very
>betta-ish, and I've seen occasionally gill flaring at male bettas in
>the tank (a divided ten gallon). The fish is smallish - I assume a
>juvenile or young adult.
>
>I'm 90% sure this is a female betta. Is there any gourami that might
>look like this?
>
>
>--
>www.ericschreiber.com
>
>

Hi Eric.
There's no such thing as a split tail Gourami. PetDumb has labeled them wrong,
and they know it and don't do anything about it.
The problem with these doubletails (or split tail..same fish-2 names) is that
they're so young. Some are females. I've seen a few.
Check tosee if they have an egg spot or not.
Having their color blanched out isn't a factor in determining sex, as both
sexes can and do do it. Also, younger fish start out life barred, and then
color up. Some of the 2-3 month old fish I saw in PetSmart should have been
there. They were just too little.

[Eric Schreiber]

(TYNK 7) wrote:

>There's no such thing as a split tail Gourami. PetDumb has labeled
>them wrong, and they know it and don't do anything about it.

Thanks, that's what I figured/hoped. And I also figured you'd be the
one to answer me :)

>The problem with these doubletails (or split tail..same fish-2
>names) is that they're so young. Some are females. I've seen a few.
>Check tosee if they have an egg spot or not.

The one I have is definitely on the young side. I've been trying to
see if there's an egg spot, sometimes I think I see it, other times I
don't. If only the dang fish would hold still a minute.

Regardless of gender, it's a really pretty and personable little fish.

--
www.ericschreiber.com

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Split tail gourami??
>From: Eric Schreiber
>Date: 12/28/2003 11:12 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
(TYNK 7) wrote:
>
>>There's no such thing as a split tail Gourami. PetDumb has labeled
>>them wrong, and they know it and don't do anything about it.
>
>Thanks, that's what I figured/hoped. And I also figured you'd be the
>one to answer me :)
>
>>The problem with these doubletails (or split tail..same fish-2
>>names) is that they're so young. Some are females. I've seen a few.
>>Check tosee if they have an egg spot or not.
>
>The one I have is definitely on the young side. I've been trying to
>see if there's an egg spot, sometimes I think I see it, other times I
>don't. If only the dang fish would hold still a minute.
>
>Regardless of gender, it's a really pretty and personable little fish.

Yes, I think they're pretty too.
However, for some reason I don't like adult double tailed males, but love how
the females look.