Lyretail Anthia changing from F to M back to F?

[Zalick]

I have a couple Lyretails in QT. They had flukes and possibly some other secondary bacterial infection. When I got them at the LFS one had the elongated spine but no other changes. It was also bigger than the others. This was presumably the mail since the spine is a sign of changing I'm told. I've also been told that once they start the process, its a one way ticket.

Well fast forward 2 months. Still in QT due to the infection. Lost one and have two left, the larger male and a small female. The larger one is still very dominant BUT he's lost the elongated spine. He looks just like a normal female now. He lost the spine while he was really sick and I didn't think he was going to make it. He looks much better now and is pretty close to full recovery.

Is it possible for them to change back to female?

 

[MondoBongo]

i don't think it's possible for them to change back, at least not as far as i've read.

during the change they do get the elongated spine, but they also change color. they move from the peach color of the females, to this very pretty pink/orange color while in transition. then eventually becoming more pink, and developing the big pink spots on the pectoral fins.

did yours show any kind of color change? perhaps it was just starting to change, but the infection halted that process?

 

[Zalick]

i don't think it's possible for them to change back, at least not as far as i've read.

during the change they do get the elongated spine, but they also change color. they move from the peach color of the females, to this very pretty pink/orange color while in transition. then eventually becoming more pink, and developing the big pink spots on the pectoral fins.

did yours show any kind of color change? perhaps it was just starting to change, but the infection halted that process?

No color change then or now. Just the elongated spine. I've never heard of such a thing. Pretty odd.

 

[Moort82]

By the sound of it you had a transitioning female that was starting to get male characteristics but wasn't male yet. I've seen this before and for some reason the change didn't continue. You see this when there is another male present which prevents the change (or the new transitioning fish challenges the male) but I haven't seen one revert back but rather remain the the middle with mostly female characteristics but elongated dorsal or perhaps a slight colour change.

 

[Zalick]

By the sound of it you had a transitioning female that was starting to get male characteristics but wasn't male yet. I've seen this before and for some reason the change didn't continue. You see this when there is another male present which prevents the change (or the new transitioning fish challenges the male) but I haven't seen one revert back but rather remain the the middle with mostly female characteristics but elongated dorsal or perhaps a slight colour change.

Interesting. I think this is what happened. We will see how it plays out over time.