Anthias ID

[RBTA]

Well I have this anthias I would like a correct ID on.
It was sold to me by a LFS as a Tri-Spot Anthias. I believe its a Lyretail Anthias, but what specific one I dont know. It looks like a Maldives Lyretail. But it is starting to change color a bit, and I have that area circled on my photo.

The spot circled in the last photo, is the part that is changing color. It was orange just like the rest of the body ad now its turning purple.
I apologize for the cruddy pics, I am new to aquarium photography, and this guy would not settle down!

Any Idea?
Thanks
-Chris

 

[sunfish11]

Looks like a lyretail to me. It is in the midst of change from female to male.

Lisa

 

[RBTA]

Thats what I thought. I mean I had a hard time deciding if it was the orange maldives male lyretail.. or female changing to male. I am by no means an expert at these guys.

 

[CarlC]

Looks like a almost fully changed squamipinnis from the Maldives.

Nice!

Carl

 

[RBTA]

My question now is, can I add other Lyretail Anthias, if this is the one that stays orange, is it okay to get one that becomes a purple male? ((Sorry for lack of terms thats pretty much all I know them by)) Or do I have to stick with females only?

 

[triggerfish1976]

No. Male Lyretails generally fight to the death. That is a problem with trying to keep a small shoal of these guys because the females are constantly changing into males and the group eventually dwindles down to a trio or pair.

 

[RBTA]

Alright thanks, I'm happy with just my one Anthias, he's gorgeous.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[CarlC]

Once this one is fully changed you should be ok if you add a couple of very young small females. If you keep your group small and if your current male is assertive you might not ever see any of your girls change. This species is not as prone as bartletts and dispar to change at the drop of a hat.

Carl

 

[SDguy]

Hey Carl, any more info on perhaps a slightly different location for these bright red versions. I know the pics I have found as "Maldive" lyretails have looked more like mine....almost maroon....

Maldive:

Mine:

Bright red one:

 

[CarlC]

I would put the first 3 as from the Maldive region. Depending on the reef they are collected on this area shows the greatest variance in color.

The last one humm? That is a stunning fish! I saw some that were labeled Kenyan that were very bright red instead of maroon but the yellow was more washed out. I saw a similar color type while swimming on the NW coast of Madagascar near Ambanja. The red was intense but I couldn't really tell the body color without goggles and I was interested in looking out for sharks.

Today while picking up my melasonoma I saw a new color form I haven't seen before. The males had the typical maroon head and tail but the body was a very deep green. The females were almost a pinkish color with a yellow belly.

Also a new color form of dispar. Only females came in from what I could tell. They only had a small portion of yellow on the body towards the rear. The rest was a dull pink. They had an very prominant stripe from the jaw to the pectoral.

I had to leave before I spent every cent I had!! I"ll try to get some pics when I go back Sunday.

Sorry to take this off topic.

Carl

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11076435#post11076435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CarlC
I would put the first 3 as from the Maldive region. Depending on the reef they are collected on this area shows the greatest variance in color.

The last one humm? That is a stunning fish! I saw some that were labeled Kenyan that were very bright red instead of maroon but the yellow was more washed out. I saw a similar color type while swimming on the NW coast of Madagascar near Ambanja. The red was intense but I couldn't really tell the body color without goggles and I was interested in looking out for sharks.

I saw a few of these come in maybe a year ago at a LFS here. Very bright red bodies with yellow scales. Very much like the pic LiveAquaria has of its "Maldive" male lyretails:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1512

This LFS does often get "african" fish.

 

[cgh38]

SDguy, where's your Lyretail from?
Thanks.

 

[SDguy]

Maldives.