Mystery Wrasse sex?

[inselaffe]

Does anyone know how you can tell the sex of a mystery wrasse? there have been a few popping up over here with out the white bars so i was wondering if this has anything to do with it. I would live to get a partner for mine but understand there is very little info on them living as pairs. (that i can find anyway)

Many thanks from over the pond.

 

[somosomo]

maybe its a mystery....

 

[inselaffe]

lol i was going to put that in my post.

 

[somosomo]

sorry..it was just a bad pun waiting to be made

 

[29reef]

It has to do with the size of the fish. There's very little visual specifics that you can use to distinguish the two. The bars show up when the fish is stressed or showing off. The best way I can explain it is think like a clownfish. Only with 5bars the males are bigger. If your trying to come up with a pair; purchase two 2" or smaller specimens and they will sort out the male/female on their own.

 

[inselaffe]

ok then i think its to late for that as i have had one for almost 2 years now.

thanks

 

[LemonLemon]

the bars is an ange/geographical variant thing. nothing to do with sex.

i realize specimens from hawaii lose their bars with age. specimens from vanuatu keep their bars all through adult hood.

 

[29reef]

You could try a small 2" specimen, but your male could just pick at it or even try to eat it. If it were me I would put the new smaller fish in a acclimation box or fish trap and observe how they act.