Can Betta fish change gender? The magnificent and fiery betta breed has captivated fishkeepers for more than a millennium. Particularly the males are as graceful and attractive as they are ferocious. Numerous experts have tried to unravel the Siamese fighter fish’s sex-determination process because fish aficionados prefer the flamboyant male. Gender reversal in female betta fish was one of the topics covered in that research.
Betta fish can change from male to female and even have healthy progeny. The testes-like structure that reversed “Neomale” bettas develop serves as a gonad & produces sperm for fertilizing female bettas’ eggs. Without extensive hormonal therapies, this is highly unlikely to occur naturally.
The process of determining sex in betas comprises environmental factors as well as hormonal and biological factors that are secondary to genetics. Although many betta specialists assert to have seen sex reversal among their fish, there is very little chance that this will ever happen.
Betta Fish And Sex Determination
The elegant betta fish has experienced quick evolutionary alterations from the wild in a way that would have Darwin grin.
A ground-breaking discovery was made as a result of two independent investigations of betta ornamental & wild habitats carried out in China as well as at UC Berkeley. The DMRT1 sex gene has evolved in the 1000 years since the ornamental betta was domesticated.
Bettas and the DMRT1 Sex Gene
The DMRT1 gene includes two alleles: one on the X chromosome, found across both males and females, and one on the Y chromosome, found in males. However, it has been discovered that male bettas without hormonal treatment have XX chromosomes, whilst females have the male XY genome. This proof demonstrates that sex in bettas is determined by factors other than genes alone.
Environment and Bettas Sex Determination
According to the aforementioned study, betta sex determination is more complicated and subject to environmental influences. According to a recent study investigating the impact of temperature on betta fry sex determination, larvae maintained at temperatures between 25 and 30 Celsius produced the largest percentage of male fry, about 67%.
Hormone-Induced Sex Reversal in Betta Females
In a 1988 study, female bettas had their ovaries removed, and researchers injected them with testosterone for nine weeks. They saw that the females’ body colors and fin lengths changed, and they also acquired male gonads. They also display aggressive masculine behavioral traits.
Nearly 50 percent of the females transformed into men with working sex organs and testicular function. Three of the eleven spawnings produced both male and female progeny after they paired the neo-males and female bettas.
The research reveals that a portion of the betta’s brain regulates its sex because the flipped females gave birth to both males and females. The female hormones created in the ovaries sustain the sex after it has been initiated as a female.
How To Tell Male And Female Gender In Bettas?
Fighting fish are well-known as betta fish. You might assume all Betta fish share the same overall appearance and behavior because they are frequently offered in individual containers. Contrary to what you would observe in pet shops, male and female Bettas are very dissimilar. You can distinguish between their sexes by looking for subtle distinctions in their behavior and physical appearance. When selecting whether and when you should breed the pair of Bettas, identifying the sex of the fish is essential information.
Male Bettas
Betta fish males have stunning, free-flowing fins in every color of the rainbow, making them like the peacocks of the aquatic world. The betta females, in contrast, have short fins and muted colorations, making them look somewhat uninteresting.
Betta fish with longer fins and larger bodies than females are known as males. When they attempt to intimidate another male, male bettas may flare their operculum, a membrane located under their gill covers.
In terms of behavior, the male betta distinguishes out as being extremely aggressive than the female. The Siamese fighter fish breed wasn’t given its moniker because it was adorable and cuddly! Primitive domestication of the bettas’ breed has been employed for a fishbowl form of pit fighting as a sport, similar to the present pitbull breed. As a result, more ferocious males were bred to improve combat skills.
Female Bettas
Betta females are identical in length to the males but thinner in diameter, making them appear somewhat uninteresting next to the male showboats. Even though the female has a membrane beneath her gill covers as well, it is often held there and is not used during displays.
A white patch, often known as an egg spot or an ovipositor tube, can be seen near the base of the female betta’s front (ventral) fins. During the mating procedure, the female delivers her offspring from this tube.
Sexing A Betta By Appearance
The gender disparities are more pronounced when bettas flare up. Women have significantly smaller, less noticeable beards than men, who often have larger beards. Males do not have a head-down posture during flaring, although females occasionally do.
Wait Until Characteristics Begin To Develop With Age
When young, male and female, Bettas might resemble one another greatly. This is because their bodies have not yet reached the stage of development where sexual features may be seen. Wait about two months or until you can discern male characteristics before having sex with your betta.
Observe The Size And Shape Of Their Fins
Typically, the top, bottom & tail fins of male betta fish are very lengthy. Frequently 2-3 times or more their body height. The length of the dorsal, as well as caudal fins, causes frequent drooping. Fins on female Betta fish are often shorter, measuring as long as the fish itself or less.
Do not presume that your betta seems to be a female simply because it has shorter fins because Plakat Betta Fish also have shorter fins. The ventral fin of a female Betta may frequently mimic a hair comb. Breeders offer for sale long-finned female betta fish. Short fins may be a sign of female sex, although more definite sexing requires additional data to support this claim.
Note His Or Her Colors
Bright hues are generally found in males. Typically, women don’t. Pet store females typically have muted or pale colors, especially on the body. Breeders do, however, sell multicolored female betta fish. Betta fish females aren’t always lifeless. A male Betta can be identified by his body and fins’ vivid, striking coloring. Depending on the fish’s level of stress, colors can change. When anxious, female Bettas will exhibit more vivid colors than unstressed females.
Look For The Egg Spot
The ovipositor tube, a little white patch on the underside of female Bettas, is visible. It will look like a salt grain. Likewise, it is situated between the head of the Betta as well as the end of the ventral fin. It may not be the most accurate method to use an egg spot to identify sex in male bettas since they can grow a false egg spot.
Finding this region may be challenging for younger girls whose prostate glands have not fully grown. The ovipositor canal will get bigger and be simpler to observe as the fish develops and gets bigger. Consider feeding or getting ready to feed your fish if you are having problems seeing where the spot is. The fish will probably climb to the top & position themselves so you can see the area more clearly.
Compare Their Body Shapes
The body shapes of male and female Bettas are slightly different. Males are often tall and lean. The average female is shorter and fatter. There is a slight difference here. To use this approach to sex Bettas, you should probably become familiar with clearly male Betta fish. Comparing body shapes, female Bettas almost resemble stubby males.
Put A Mirror Beside Or In The Tank
Bettas will scream when they see other men. Betta fish exhibit aggressive behaviors in both sexes. The likelihood of aggressive behavior is, however, generally higher in men. Your Betta will recognize another Betta when a mirror is placed next to or within the tank. For dominance displays, males frequently expand or flare their gills. The mirror might even come under attack.
Sometimes, female Bettas will flare to assert their authority. They are less focused on their efforts, though. Males frequently become fixated on the presence of another male nearby. Keep the mirror out of the tank for short periods. Even while it’s entertaining to see your male Betta act aggressively, this stress may negatively impact your Betta’s health. Fins of male Bettas, in particular, may begin to shorten as a result of prolonged high stress.
Sexing a Betta by Behavior
Males are more likely than females to act aggressively. Your Betta will recognize another Betta if you put a mirror next to or inside the tank. To assert their authority, males frequently expand or flare their gills.
Consider The Method Of Purchase
You can learn a little about your Betta’s sex based on how you acquired it. Due to their vivid colors and expansive fins, male bettas are often only offered for sale in traditional “pet stores.” Since these are traditionally masculine characteristics, most pet retailers only offer and sell male Betta fish. Betta females are often sold by aquarium hobbyists or upscale aquarium retailers.
There are many employees at pet stores that know more about animals than you do. However, their pet interests could restrict their expert knowledge. When requesting information on the gender of a Betta from a pet store employee, you might want to inquire as to whether they have ever bred Bettas themselves or if they need to examine the label first. Always presume a fish is male when in doubt.
Look For Bubble Nests
Males often produce bubbles on the water’s surface when they’re ready to mate. They produce tens of thousands or more clusters of small bubbles. This is being done to care for fertilized eggs. Usually, male Bettas are the ones who look after their young the most. Be aware that female bettas have also been observed creating bubble nests.
Check Your Betta’s Gills For A Beard
Under their gills, Betta fish have quite a membrane that is a distinct color from their bodies. The beard typically has a brown or black tint. Compared to women, men often sport thicker beards. If you look closely enough, you might be able to observe the female’s beard while her gills are closed. Even with the gills open, males typically stand out more.
Sexual Dimorphism In Bettas
The phrase “sexual dimorphism” is frequently used in writings about tropical fish, particularly bettas. Sexual dimorphism essentially refers to how significantly males and females of such a species differ from one another. The sexual dimorphism of a creature is also referred to as being “weak” or “powerful.”
It is true that wild betta fish exhibit a minimal degree of sexual dimorphism. In other words, it’s challenging to distinguish between the sexes. However, since the male of the species differs significantly from the female in appearance and behavior, captive-bred betta fish exhibit high sexual dimorphism.
This is because captive bettas are raised for their magnificent finnage and spectrum of colors, which includes metallics. Wild betta fish have dull colors and short fins & tails by nature. Over time, enthusiasts have tinkered with the basic betta genetics of wild fish to produce the stunning aberrations that result in the potent sexual dimorphism of today’s captive-bred bettas.
FAQ
Can a male betta fish have babies without a female?
Betta fish don’t require partners to produce eggs, but without a male present throughout the fertilization process, the eggs will never hatch.
Can you put 2 female betta fish together?
Girl betta fish generally get along with each other, as opposed to male bettas, who frequently fight virtually every other male fish which enters their domain. So the conclusion is that yes, two female bettas can coexist in the same aquarium. When they’re able to establish a “pecking order,” female bettas can even communicate with other fish.
Can one male and two female betta fish coexist peacefully?
Bettas that are male and female rarely coexist because the males, despite being naturally kind, are hostile toward the ladies. But occasionally, as when one party has to clean the other’s tank, special arrangements must be made.
In these situations, it is better to limit this to a short time and keep an eye out for symptoms of aggression.
Conclusion
Although it is physically possible to turn your female betta into a male betta, you may need an extremely small scalpel and steroids to do a mini-hysterectomy. (Please understand that I’m joking.) It is feasible for a female to acquire functional male reproductive organs, according to studies. Therefore, your betta may be able to change sex.