red honey gourami colors?

[Celeste]

i've had my red honey gourami a few weeks now. he's settled in well, eating, swimming around, chasing the tetras. but he still is a bland brown with a dark stripe down his side. my gut is that he's a male, because the females are so hard to find of any gourami (here at least) and i know that young red honeys are all this color, females stay this bland color, and males brighten up to a beautiful deep orange red with blue on their face when they're old enough and in a breeding mood.

so my question is, will my gourami brighten up as he gets older without the presance of a female, or will i have to hunt down a girlfriend for him to get his pretty colors? if i know that, then i can figure out if he's male or female. if he should brighten up by himself, but doesnt, then i know he's a she, then i can just go buy a male (and get a filter for my 20 gallon.....)

 

[Celeste]

bump. anyone?

 

[DarkEntity]

I dont currently have a tank (sob) moved house, but most fish will brighten up if they are totally settled into the tank, its well planted and suited to that fishes living requirements. When i kept Rams, Firemouths etc, it took 2 weeks for my ram to go from grey to the lovely blue gold colour.

so it may take time, certain fish just need more TLC than others. Also good food helps settle them in.

 

[Celeste]

my water peramters are...

0 ammonia
0 nitrites
10-15 nitrates
7.8 pH
medium planted. i've got about 6 plants in there, its a 10 gallon.
temp is 78-80

as far as i know, that's what gouramis like. he's got a broken flower pot to hide in, and he's been eating algae and i've been feeding them color-enhancing flakes and frozen brine shrimp as a treat every couple days

 

[Hurley]

From what I understand, if it’s a male, it should eventually reach its adult coloration. One way to absolutely make sure it’s a male gourami is by looking at the dorsal fin. It will be longer and more pointed if it’s a male and shorted and rounder if its a female.
What I’ve noticed with my dwarf gouramis is when the female is around the male does tend to brighter and more vibrant colors but he is still fairly bright without her as well.
If anything I would just give it time because as they grow their characteristics become more prominent. I had the same trouble with a young honey gourami a little while ago. Good luck!

 

[RockabillyChick]

i can't use the dorsal fin because i have no female to compare him with... they're literally impossible to find in this area, otherwise i would set up my 20 gallon and get him a girlfriend or two.