Male or female mandarin

Kirstin · Apr 24, 2021

Hi, can anyone tell me if my mandarin is male or female? There is no real dorsal fin just the small spike pictured. I have had “him” about a year. Thanks

VanDalsenReef · Apr 24, 2021

I'd say female, but if you're trying to pair get a female and see how they act. Or get a male and him in a small critter keeper so tgey can see eachother first incase its a male but males usually have wider fins even if their longest spine is damaged

Kirstin · Apr 24, 2021

VanDalsenReef said:
I'd say female, but if you're trying to pair get a female and see how they act. Or get a male and him in a small critter keeper so tgey can see eachother first incase its a male but males usually have wider fins even if their longest spine is damaged

Thank you

Tamberav · Apr 24, 2021

Probably can’t be 100 percent certain as it looks like the dorsal was damaged at some point. When mandarins fight they will latch on to each other’s fins and rip parts off in some cases.

Beahvior wise a male may try and show off and intimidate its reflection.

Kirstin · Apr 24, 2021

Tamberav said:
Probably can’t be 100 percent certain as it looks like the dorsal was damaged at some point. When mandarins fight they will latch on to each other’s fins and rip parts off in some cases.

Beahvior wise a male may try and show off and intimidate its reflection.

We got Spock at about 1” long and the fin has always looked that way. It rarely postures at its reflection. We had a scooter blenny that would regularly posture and strut. This mandarin does not show that behavior.

Tamberav · Apr 24, 2021

Kirstin said:
We got Spock at about 1” long and the fin has always looked that way. It rarely postures at its reflection. We had a scooter blenny that would regularly posture and strut. This mandarin does not show that behavior.

Probably female then based on behavior