To distinguish the sexes of small hypostominae loricariids

Often many holders of Loricariids wait in vain for a successful reproduction.
Sometimes it just does not happen. But so many have been waiting in vain because in his group there were only same-sex plecos. How can you distinguish males and females in permanent small plecos such like Hypancistrus, Peckoltia, Panaqolus, Dekeyseria, Lithoxus, Pseudolithoxus, Zonancistrus? Unfortunately, the sex-characteristics of young plecos are often not or only partially formed.

Body shape

Very useful is a view from the air to the plecos:

You can see in these pictures the different body shapes:
The male has a broad head and a slender waist. In contrast, the head of the female is narrow and the waist is noticeably wider. This observation applies to many other permanent small hypostominae plecos. Examples:

Panaqolus sp. “L 403”, male / female

However, in males, which have already been held a long time in the aquarium, it always comes before time that this may have somewhat thicker due to generous feed gifts.

Other characteristics to differentiate the sexes are:

The genital papilla

Sometimes the genital papilla of a pleco is clearly visible. The genital papilla of males is more pointed. In contrast, the genital papila of females is tubular:


Hypancistrus sp. “L136”, genital papilla, male


Hypancistrus sp. “L136”, genital papilla, female


Baryancistrusbeggini (L239), genital papilla, male


Baryancistrusbeggini (L239), genital papilla, female

Unfortunately, the genital papillae are not always readily visible.

Odontodes behind the opercular

In plecos of the same age, generally males have longer and stronger odontodes behind the opercular.


Hypancistrus sp. “L136”, Odontodes behind the opercular, male


Hypancistrus sp. “L136”, Odontodes behind the opercular, female

It can happen that when “disputes” between the plecos the odontodes are highly stressed and then break. Until these are grown, it may take a few weeks.

Pectoral fin spine

In plecos of the same age, generally males have strong pectoral fin spines. On the pectorals spins of males there are longer and stronger odontodes.


Baryancistrusbeggini (L239), pectoral fin, female

Odontodes on body and caudal peduncle

On the body and caudal peduncle of males (compared with age-matched females), often there are more and longer ondontodes. In some species these odontodes are only temporarily.


Peckoltia sp. “38”, odontodes on caudal peduncle, male


Peckoltia sp. “38”, odontodes on caudal peduncle,female

Tentacle

Only bristlenose (Ancistrus) have tentacles. Generally males have more and longer tentacles as females. Often females have only short stubs around the mouth.


Ancistrus sp. “L 338”, tentacle, male


Ancistrus sp. “L 338”, tentacle, female

Renewals of ventral fins

In some species, for example Dekeyseria and Zonancistrus, the ventral of the males are extended.


Zonancistrus brachyurus (L 168), ventral fin, male


Dekeyseria scaphirhyncha (L 216), ventral fins, male / female

Conclusion

There are several characteristics where you can determine the genders of permanent small hypostominae plecos. Especially in young animals the characteristics are not yet or only partially formed. We check possible several of the above characteristics and forming an overall opinion.
A reliable determination is often, but not always possible.

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