Lyretail Anthias : Should I get 3 females or 2 female & 1 male?

[rgonzalez]

So I am looking at picking up some Lyretail Anthias'. However, I want to know if I should get 2 females & 1 male, or if I can get 3 females and watch the dominant female turn into a male.

Anyone have experience with this?

 

[stunreefer]

Three small females is the way to go IMHO.

 

[L8 2 RISE]

+ 1

 

[corigan]

I have 1 male and 3 females in my setup.

 

[CarlC]

1 fully mature male and 2 small as you can get them females.

Carl

 

[skibum9884]

my vote would be for 3 females

 

[itachi]

+1 , 3 females would be best. You should decide if you want indo or maldives variants tho.

 

[solitude127]

I bought 3 females and 1 male and I think one of my females already started it transformation into a male and killed of the male I bought. Go with 3 female and eventually 1 will turn to a male.

 

[rgonzalez]

What is the difference between the two?

+1 , 3 females would be best. You should decide if you want indo or maldives variants tho.

 

[stunreefer]

Well to state the obvious their collection points, but they have different colors as well.

 

[rgonzalez]

Yes, the parts of the world they are collected from was understood I wanted to know if one was a better aquarium fit vs the other, or if one had brighter colors, etc.

Well to state the obvious their collection points, but they have different colors as well.

 

[itachi]

This thread has a fairly documented case of females turning male and picture of both variants. I don't think behaviorally there is any difference between the two variants. Mostly if you want a purple male or a red one.


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=972936&page=2&highlight=lyretail

 

[rgonzalez]

Maybe I'm an idiot, but I can't see which one is which? Which one turns to purple?

This thread has a fairly documented case of females turning male and picture of both variants. I don't think behaviorally there is any difference between the two variants. Mostly if you want a purple male or a red one.


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=972936&page=2&highlight=lyretail

 

[Apercula]

Peter's (SDguy) male Indo anthias, purple in center of picture

He's really starting to look good!

My Maldives male,

 

[rgonzalez]

Nice - thanks!

 

[curlykid]

IMO maldives looks better and supermales have larger and more full dorsal fins.