I can say with definite certainty that Aladdin is a male! I've just found breeding stars on him...there are only a couple that I can see on one of his gill plates, but they're all the way down both of his pectoral fins. I know he's had them for a while on his fins, but I didn't realize at the time what they were.

How long will this last? Do the breeding stars go away after a period of time, or will he have them from now on? How long does the "breeding season" usually last?

I am sooo kicking myself for not buying another when I got him...I'd love to have a mate for him! Although not knowing at the time how to sex them, I might have ended up with two males. I may go back to the lfs in Mobile this weekend and see if they have any more. Would it be too late this time to try for babies? If it is, there always next time.

I am so excited!

That IS exciting! Good luck with your fish!

I'm thinking how long the breeding stars lasts depends on the fish...? I've really only looked year round at the breeding stars of one of my fish, because he had them so thick on his pectoral fins it almost looked like fungus. He has stars all year round, but he can also be very grumpy and territorial, so I think he may just have a lot of testosterone.