Instructions
Look carefully at the fish. The female Sunset Wag is larger and rounder than the male. The female may have a distended abdomen when pregnant and will often retain the round shape after giving birth.
Observe the color of the fish. Male Sunset Wags have brighter colors than their female counterparts do.
Inspect the lower side of the fish. Female Sunset Wags have two rounded anal fins. Male Sunset Wags have a single fin that appears rolled up against the body. This organ, called the gonopodium, deposits sperm in the female's organ.
How to Tell Male or Female Sunset Wag Fish
Sunset Wags are a type of platy. These tiny tropical fish originate in Mexico and are a mainstay of many community fish tanks all over the world. Platys are non-aggressive, so they co-exist with both larger and smaller fish. Sunset Wags get their name from the distinctive colors on their bodies and tails. The fish have golden tones that gradually turn orange and then red along the length of the fish's body. The term "wag" is given to all platy's whose tails are a different color. In the case of Sunset Wags, the tails are black. Like all platys, Sunset Wags are live breeders.