A couple more holdbacks.

[acanthurus]

Hi all,

Here are a couple of other little ones that I am holding back for now, although may need to sell due to running out of space. Pics are of parents and babies. Both these little ones were born extremely late (June), so haven't had second shed yet (weigh around 180g each). I'm really excited to see how the little male turns out especially.

Male 1 (unfortunately had his tail nipped by dad soon after birth but I expect after next shed scar will be almost gone). Check out his solid orange and white legs...





Mum



Dad



I expect him to become much brighter as they do, and the dark bands to thin out like his fathers, although should stay more orange like his mum - hopefully will end up looking like my old male I had to sell (right of pic), if he does he will be paired with my little orange holdback female from other posts...



Holdback female - I mostly held her back for her eye colour. They are truly unique iridescent gold (difficult to see in pics)





Mum



Dad



I expect her to redden up like her parents and the banding on her back and tail to become brighter.

[Jeff]

Isn't it a pain when you have so many goldfields that you run out of room. I think I would buy a bigger house!

They are both beautiful! How long are you going to keep them? If there was only a way to ship CBB out of OZ!

How do you sex the babies?

[Katrina]

Unbelievable! Can't believe that one hasn't had a second shed yet. The colors are unreal.

The parents do have a much darker red to them, interesting to see the progression. Thanks for sharing, I hope you find room to keep the second holdback!

[mark_w]

Absolutely stunning!!!!!!

Mark.

[acanthurus]

Thanks guys,

Jeff I sex them using the vein popping technique for males.

I am going to hold them until after their second shed to give a better idea of their adult colours. My problem is that I'm now up to 15 animals. I'm trying to concentrate on line breeding certain colours and traits and I'm hoping to create some solid red and solid orange animals. It gets really difficult this time of year when I am trying to separate all the animals into the groups I want to breed.

To be honest if I could I would love to hold on to them all, but I guess there are alot of breeders who feel the same way

[Nae]

Acanthurus, if you ever need anyone to take any off your hands, Im just up the road Hahaha, as much as Id love to, I honestly couldn't afford them anyhow

I just want to hug them all, they are all so gorgeous!!

[Zach]

Thanks guys,

Jeff I sex them using the vein popping technique for males.

I am going to hold them until after their second shed to give a better idea of their adult colours. My problem is that I'm now up to 15 animals. I'm trying to concentrate on line breeding certain clours and traits and I'm hoping to create some solid red and solid orange animals. It gets really difficult this time of year when I am trying to separate all the animals into the groups I want to breed.

To be honest if I could I would love to hold on to them all, but I guess a there are alot of breeders who feel the same way

Johan posted long ago about the vein method with shinglebacks. I'll see if I can't get him to post a picture or two.

These animals are stunning -- thank you for sharing.

[Jeff]

...I sex them using the vein popping technique for males...

How can you be sure that you have a female if you don't see the vein? Don't you wonder if you just didn't get a good enough view? I am still trying to learn how to do this right. I am pretty confident that I have seen enough of my baby coastal's insides to know that there is not a blue vein present, but I still have my doubts about my competence with this method. I wish there was someone who could show me in person exactly how to do it. I do know what I am looking for, and I have seen plenty of pictures of it, I am just not sure exactly what it takes to positively reveal the vein, or lack of it.

[acanthurus]

Thanks Nae, hopefully this season will be a good one for babies and maybe there will be an extra you could hold on to for me (so long as I can maybe borrow it it back for breeding )

Jeff I have found the vein method to be very reliable, although I must admit I have been wrong with a couple of little ones in the past. The most important thing is to make sure the animal is as relaxed as possible to give a good view. This can be difficult as I'm sure anyone would be up upset about having there tail lifted back and there bits exposed. If there is any doubt I try and go as slowly as possible and let them relax over a few minutes. It also seems to help if they are a bit warm (i.e. not cold and stiff).

[Nae]

Ooo, I would love to! Only, it would have to wait until I finally have a few blueys of my own, so I wont get too sad when it comes to him/her going home

[Pipa]

.

[mark_w]

This is turning into an excellent post. Great pictures Rolf. A question; if this can be done with rugosa, why not with regular blue tongues? Is it the risk of tail dropping?

Mark.

[Pipa]

.

[Katrina]

Excellent information - thank you so much for sharing!

Would you mind if I used those pictures in the Advanced Discussion Forum for a sexing thread? Obviously they would be credited to you. I'd like excellent information like this to not be buried by all the other threads.

[donpermana]

wow.. thanks for the sexing information..

[Pipa]

.

[mark_w]

Yes, off course it works in any bluetounge.
There is no risk, since you just open the "shingles" (scales) that cover the cloake.

Okay, thank you. I will try this right away!

Thanks again,
Mark.

[acanthurus]

Hi Rolf,

Just wanted to say thanks for the ongoing great advice. It was your posts that originally put me onto this sexing technique. It is always great to hear from the experts in the field.

[Jeff]

Hi Rolf,

Just wanted to say thanks for the ongoing great advice. It was your posts that originally put me onto this sexing technique. It is always great to hear from the experts in the field.

Agreed 100%! It is your pictures that l have been going off of for years Rolf. Thank you so much for your contributions.