How do you tell

[sailfin3]

A male and female lyretail anthias? Please help

 

[tangers]

the male will have a long spike on it's dorsal fin and will be red/ purple color as opposed to yellow/orange.

 

[tangers]

liveaquaria.com has a good reference if you look up lyretail anthias. they have a picture of both male/female

 

[achilles1]

If you buy all females, the dominant female will change into a male. Doesn't take long and is cool to watch IMO.

 

[tangers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12045274#post12045274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by achilles1
If you buy all females, the dominant female will change into a male. Doesn't take long and is cool to watch IMO.

second

 

[sailfin3]

thanks for the info

 

[Me No Nemo]

I agree on the most dominate female changing. I had a female squareback anthias for about 5 years by herself. I added a much smaller female thinking I would start the harem then add a super male. By the next day, the female I had for so long was already showing a purple square. Within a week of adding the new female mine had completely made the change to male. It was astonishing to watch! I added a second small female and my males colors are amazing.

Female about 2 years ago:

Same female beginning change (note purple square on back starting to form. Smaller female in backround):

Fins elongating and changing color (about 3 days after adding new female:

 

[sailfin3]

me no nemo that is great thanks everyone for the info. I have a male