A have a couple thoughts. First, with respect to simple "attention" from the male, in whatever form, IME, barletts are much worse. The male CONSTANTLY bothers, harasses, displays to, brushes against...you name it....the female(s). This has been the case for all the bartletts I have kept.
This is my first experience with lyretails. I had always heard they were aggressive. I'm not seeing it. I started with 3 females. One turned into a male. Not even a nipped fin among them the entire time I've had them. The male only occasionally chases/displays to the females. Maybe it's becuase they are from the Maldives? Not sure if region plays a part in aggressiveness, though I do know Maldive lyretails are less common.
Another thing I have noticed....anthias are VERY aggressive to other anthias that are even slightly sick/weak. The smallest of my lyretails never ate dry food. Consequently, she soon became weak/thin. The aggression started immediately. So I target fed her in her little corner, frozen food only. Soon she was back swimming with the others, with no aggression from them. I am a firm believer that many of these stories of males/females killing subordinate females is really a case of healthy killing weak/sick....little to do with social structure, per se. When I added a healthy, tiny, female lyretail from anothers tank to my trio...no aggression at all.
All JMO of course
