sexing McCoskers Wrasse

[ezhoops]

I need to know how to tell the difference between McCoskers wrasse genders. I realize the male is more colorful but if the LFS has all males them I will not know what a female looks like, sounds silly perhaps.
If you have any pics that would be helpful, or basic description.

Thanks

 

[SushiGirl]

Can't guarantee that these are all McCosker's since they were sold to me as Carpenter's years ago, but the male was definitely a McCosker's, and when he died, one of the females changed into a male that looked just like him.

Male


Female


Female turning male


Don't ask me why some show up as thumbnails & some as links, I've not figured that out yet!

 

[sTefaniA]

My females looked like this but you can see it was starting to change into a male. (male in the background)

males are a lot more colorful

 

[ezhoops]

so more of a blue coloration, more colors overall and a lengthened dorsal spine.

What happens if you end up with all males?

How long does it for a female to change into a male? and is this a one way trip like clowns?

Why do females change when a male is already present?

 

[TheH]

I think only males display? Like in the third picture?

 

[ezhoops]

i know that males only display but do they change back to females?

 

[LukFox]

Juvenile/female:

More mature female:

Mostly male:

Dominant male:

My female ended up turning male in the presence of a dominant male, and the two males could not get along in my 155g. I don't know why the female turned male, as they were courting and the male would always display for her. Once she began to change, there was chasing, nipped fins, and disturbed scales from the aggression and I had to separate them. As to the above question, a full male cannot revert to being a female. The change is pretty fast, just a few weeks or so. For what it's worth, my male has not lost any of his color from being the only flasher in the tank. He flashes less, but he is still a stunning fish.

 

[ezhoops]

when you say the only flasher in the tank, do you mean he is the only flasher wrasse you have and yet he still flashes? Who or when or why does flash for? just curious

 

[LukFox]

He seems to flash at the other fish and his reflection perhaps.

 

[dnsfpl]

my fav flasher

5 star thread

 

[TheH]

Very nice progression in the pictures; well documented.