The difference between...

...a female flaring and a male flaring??

Iv been looking for photos to compare the difference and only been able to find male betta pictures flaring.

Am i right in thinking a female when flaring only flares with her cheeks and a male flares with his cheeks and an extra round beard underneath?

I only ask as i have 2 white female bettas which have been at one anothers throats (so to speak!) and when watching them last night in a big squobble one flared at the other many times but i then noticed not only was she flaring with her cheeks but she has a clear beard which comes out from underneath her cheeks...she's still very small so cant see properly but im keeping an eye on her!

She was very aggressive towards the other white female and bit the other female right in the mouth...but typical female flaring of fins/tail and the stand off.

Yeah males will have the beard underneath where as females only flare af the sides of there gills although i think they can sometimes have a tiny beard but not sure.
Sounds like a male then. Do you have a pic? If its got a clear beard and is being very aggressive i would say male.

Sounds like a male to me, maybe separate into a breeding net and see if he/she nests? With the extra beardy bit it does sound male though

ha ha deffo sounds like a little boy......

Be warned though that some females can build nests as good as males.

This was one we bred and who I thought was male after finding this. Then 3 weeks later she started dropping eggs

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cute bubble nest!

yeah, females only flare the cheeks, while males have the beard under their head. my CT girl builds a cute little nest on the side of her tank, so bubble nesting isn't a good way. i'd say look for an egg spot, but you said they're white! lol

Even the egg spot isn't accurate! Haha Netty bless, that's one happy girl there then

silverrabbit wrote:Even the egg spot isn't accurate! Haha Netty bless, that's one happy girl there then

Definately agree with you silver cant go by egg spot either as one of my males has what looks like an egg spot.

The 'naughty bullying boy' hasnt bullied the poor little white boy and i havent seen any squobbles since maybe they know im keeping an eye on them,lol!

Hahaha....pick a second betta and try breeding conditioning and see if your betta acts more like a male or female, if it gets VERY eggy or flares and nests. Even though both ways are inaccurate, I think when it comes down to breeding conditions it should be easy to tell.

The betta is still very small and looks quite young as does the other white female so going to wait and see!

Managed to get some blurry photos of the white female thats picking on the other females in the tank,the betta is really quite small so been unable to get a front view photo.

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Can you see the clear beard bit underneath?
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Well what do you all think? I just dont know!

Looks like a young male to me. I would septate it as soon as you can before it does any damage.

I dont half pick them eh!!!

Haha. At least you will have a good choose of males if you do try breeding.

Haha well now you mention breeding i bought a new tank on Monday just for that reason...only trying when i get back from my hols in Ireland.

Well if he does turn out to be a boy iv got my white boy iv always wanted and a white girl!

ooohhh beautiful little boy there....

Nataliey wrote:Haha well now you mention breeding i bought a new tank on Monday just for that reason...only trying when i get back from my hols in Ireland.

Well if he does turn out to be a boy iv got my white boy iv always wanted and a white girl!

Sounds great. How big is it?
I thought you got 3 white girls? Isnt that one in the 3rd pic?

No iv got 2 solid whites and a white with cellophane/pearly finnage.

I also have a feathertail female white with dark purple trim on tail.

Nataliey wrote:No iv got 2 solid whites and a white with cellophane/pearly finnage.

I also have a feathertail female white with dark purple trim on tail.

Oh fair enough i get confused which ones you have now haha.

The new tank is a Clearseal tank measuring 60cm long and 20cm wide & high
this is it:
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