Female betta - NOT!!!

My beautiful red female betta (Ruby II - named after my dominant female Eclectus Parrot) - who has been the dominant woman in the planted tank. Well, after moving her to my daughter's 10G so that I could put the meek-tempered new 'white/yellow' females in the planted tank - I watched her.

Totally ignoring the two other females in that tank - Ruby II focused all of her attention to the sides. The tank is insulated with a silver reflective 'emergency blanket', so fish can see their own image. And you guessed it! This 'female' was fighting with herself like a male. Totally ignoring everything but the red betta that was actually willing to 'fight' back.

So I removed Ruby II, and put 'her' in one of my male betta show tanks. 'She' immediately reacted to the Copper male on the other side of the divider. Yep, 'She' is a 'He'.

Ruby II's body shape has been changing rapidly since purchase a few weeks ago. Finnage is growing as well. I know he is not a CT or a ST - and I'm suspecting he might be a Delta or Super Delta. Haven't researched finnage enough to know, so I'm learning as I watch him grow up.

He does have a nice iridescent purple body and red finnage. He'll be pretty against some Flame moss once he's matured. I was just expecting a nice VT red female - not another male! I'm gonna have to custom-build a 15L 'male betta' planted tank w/several dividers now that I have a troupe of males.... grrrrr...

But they'll be fun to watch and be much happier having 5G of room per fish, plenty of moss to balance nutrients - and 'challenging' each other through the dividers when they feel like it. And I won't have to change water so often...

These pics are from my planted tank after introducing my daughter's steel blue female - but right before I removed Ruby II. The blue females found Ruby II very interesting, but then left 'her' alone after she chased each one ONCE - I had originally thought they were challenging 'her' for dominance. But now I realize they were actually checking the 'young man in the tank' out.

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Just by looking at him you can tell he's a male. Those young ones are sometimes a mystery especially short finned males.

yeah, his body shape has changed dramatically in the last two weeks. He's educating me a lot about male betta development!

Here's what 'she' looked like a few weeks ago, when I posted her picture along with my other females pictures.

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That's what I love about this hobby always something to learn.

I've had that happen too. Sometimes you just get a slow maturing male. We used to call ours the He/She just because we weren't sure what it was. Did turn out to be a male. I did breed him and here is his son. He may be going to shows this summer.

Now he pretty!

Yeah Vix that's what I'm hoping the judges will think too. LOL

I'm sure they will.

He would be considered a delta - right?

No he's a Multi HM.

Hi. I'm new here. I think I have one of these He/She Betta. She was in an un-labeled glass vase at the pet store. I asked if it was a male since she was so dark and pretty large, but the lady said it's female. I may have to relocate it into a divided tank with a male and see what happens.

How long did it take for yours' fins to change? I've had her for less than a week. She's pretty fiesty in her little half moon tank.

joodie color has nothing to do with whether it's a male or female. Look under the belly just behind the ventral fins. If you see a little white egg tube then it's a female.

it'sa girl-thanks!!

Think that 'Meanie Purple CT' is a girl - since Ruby II is building a bubble nest in the compartment next to her.

BTW Joodie, Ruby II had short fins, looked like a female just a month ago. Now he's getting bigger fins every day - and obviously starting to think like a more mature man. Still waiting to see what type of finnage he'll end up with.

Psst, the original Ruby (my eclectus parrot that I named the red 'she/he' betta after) has decided to start laying eggs. No doubt as to HER sex!

2S good luck with those parrot eggs. Can you post a picture of the parents?

No luck with those parrot eggs. Ruby I is a single pet. No male for counties around. She's tempermental enough without a man to make her springtime hormones go in even higher gear!