is my goldfish male or female?

[goldfish_lover]

is there a way to find out if my goldfish are female or male...besides the fact that one lays eggs and the otehr doesnt???

[t_chelle16]

Like I mentioned in your other thread, when they're getting ready to breed (usually when they're around 3"+ and a year or two old), males will get little white bumps on their gill plates & the 1st rays of their fins.



The only other way I know of to tell the difference (and even this is really difficult to do, especially on fish smaller than 3") is to look towards the rear of the belly. If there's an indented area (or might look flat from the side), it's a male. If it sticks out a little, it's a female.

Male:


Female:

[goldfish_lover]

well im not planning on breeding them so im just gonna leave it...but im gonna look to see it i can tell...
thanks!