Can a male flame wrasse go terminal in captivity?

[holdyourlight]

I know this has been discussed throughout the years, but i'm not sure i've heard a definite answer.

I've heard people say that true terminal (supermale) males are only wild caught.

I think what most people think is a supermale really is not.

So the question is: will my 3" phase one male progress to a 5" terminal male with 4 females present in a 125g?


This is what i consider a supermale:

 

[ALH]

I misread your title. I'm a hospice nurse so when I read *terminal* I think of something else entirely. Don't know the answer, but that's a pretty fish.

 

[mallorieGgator]

Well, I don't know a hole lot about this but I do know that a supermale is a genetic mutation where the male has two YY chromosomes. I did a study on YY tilapia in high school, out YY males were born YY out of a cross between a male and female that were carrying the genetic mutation (I believe almost 100% of the offspring were born YY supermales). I don't believe the gene could just turn on in your tank. The fish will most likely already be a supermale and then just continue to grow so you know for sure that it's a supermale.

 

[snorvich]

Well, not exactly. A female wrasse can change to a male wrasse and in the presence of females will become a terminal male.

 

[holdyourlight]

Well, not exactly. A female wrasse can change to a male wrasse and in the presence of females will become a terminal male.

so...
i can get a stage 1 male to look like that picture?

 

[nikon187]

possibly with others females present.

 

[snorvich]

possibly with others females present.

Exactly. The more females, the greater the likelihood.

 

[betamed]

Well, I don't know a hole lot about this but I do know that a supermale is a genetic mutation where the male has two YY chromosomes. I did a study on YY tilapia in high school, out YY males were born YY out of a cross between a male and female that were carrying the genetic mutation (I believe almost 100% of the offspring were born YY supermales). I don't believe the gene could just turn on in your tank. The fish will most likely already be a supermale and then just continue to grow so you know for sure that it's a supermale.

He means supermale as in alpha male which are extra pretty.