Lyretail Anthia Question

[brannock_16]

Hello Everyone,

I have had a trio of femal Lyretail Anthias now for about 3-4 weeks. Before I bought them, they were in the LFS for about 1.5 weeks together. I wanted to know how long it typically takes for the dominant female to change into a male?

As of now, non of the three exhibit any color changes, fin elongation or any such physical appearance changes. My LFS has a beautiful male in and I wanted to know if I should purchase the male to push my females, or if I should wait longer for one of my females to morph into a male.

I thank you in advance for letting me hear your experience and opinions.

Robert

 

[xxtriggermanxx]

I would wait, shouldn't be a long wait ether...

 

[Amoore311]

If there is absolutely no sign of the females turning male you could add the male.

How big is the tank these guys are in? You can keep multiple males if the tank is on the larger end. I have 3 males and 7 females in my 180.

 

[Alex T.]

I have had three females for over two years. The largest of the three is starting to grow the plume off the dorsal fin that indicates the slow transformation. Also, the face is turning a more purplish red color. I don't know what triggers the change. Personally, I don't think it's a guarantee that it would ever happen, but who knows.

If you're dying to have a male, I would do it sooner rather than later.

 

[MrTuskfish]

If there is absolutely no sign of the females turning male you could add the male.

How big is the tank these guys are in? You can keep multiple males if the tank is on the larger end. I have 3 males and 7 females in my 180.

I agree. Watch your trio closely, often you can tell the morphing male by its behavior before you really notice appearance changes. I've added adult males to groups with several anthias species with no real problems.

 

[Apercula]

I bought a lyretail trio in July '08, I put them in my display at the end of August, at the end of September my male died from a bacterial infection, at the beginning of December the dominant female started to change and by the end of December '08 he had completed the change and had full male color pattern.

 

[Amoore311]

I have had three females for over two years. The largest of the three is starting to grow the plume off the dorsal fin that indicates the slow transformation. Also, the face is turning a more purplish red color. I don't know what triggers the change. Personally, I don't think it's a guarantee that it would ever happen, but who knows.

If you're dying to have a male, I would do it sooner rather than later.

How long did yours take to transform?

From the first sign of the dorsal spike -> complete male transformation only took my 1 fish about 1 week.