Chances of a female flasher turning male?

[redlion1968]

I was wondering if anyone had any views on the chances of a female flasher wrasse turning male? the fish is question was part of pair but male didnt ship well .

My main tank holds a number of other wrasses including some similar fish that might impact any change, these are -
Paracheilinus attenuatus - 1M + 2F
Paracheilinus mccoskers - 2M (they play well together but one may be turning back to F)
Cirrhilabrus cf. lanceolatus - 1M + 2F - different species but very similar to the female flasher.

The female in question is very nice in her own right but is quite similar to the ones listed above, its also quite a rare fish with a price tag to match so i am trying to get an idea of the chances of it changing in the company of similar wrasses,

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Ian

 

[jvdub20]

From my understanding of other threads I have read, they do turn male over time.

 

[evolved]

In my experience, all those female will eventually become male...

 

[eatbreakfast]

In my experience, all those female will eventually become male...

Even when kept with other males they usually turn.

 

[redlion1968]

Hi, thank you all for responding so quickly .... any indication on the time frame? i know some can turn in a few weeks but some will take a fair while longer?

 

[snorvich]

I am not sure that a female absent another female of the same species will necessarily turn male.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I am not sure that a female absent another female of the same species will necessarily turn male.

It may not be a certainty, but if a female did not into a male, that would be a rare exception. IME a female turns into a male usually pretty quickly, anywhere between 3 weeks to 3 months. In some cases it may take longer, but usually in that window.

 

[Marshall O]

One example of an exception is my LFS has a display cube filled with wrasses. There is a fully grown P. bellae female that has been in the tank for a couple of years now. There are no other female Fairy or Flashers in the tank. Males include a C. johnsoni, P. attenuatus, and a couple others I am forgetting. The P. bellae is the same size as the C. johnsoni, easily the largest female I have ever seen. No signs of it changing.

 

[albano]

Amongst my 30+ wrasses, I have 2 F hooded and 1 very large F flame, that are all close to a year and longer in my tank without changing... I know that they will...but when they want to!

 

[redlion1968]

i have still to decide if i am going to pick up the female hemitaeniatus, perhaps i am kidding myself into thinking / hoping it will develop into a male with so many other similar fish / females around but i wanted to say thank you again for sharing all the views.

I will decide in the next few days as i have heard that my LFS will be recieving an import tomorrow with a few other rare flashers on that i have been told i "may" want to pop down to see

Regards
Ian