Sexual Dimorphism changes: Crosshatch and bluethroat triggers... in differnet tanks!!

[jlnielsen13]

Hello,

I made an interesting observation that I wanted to run by you guys!

So I have had a blue throat trigger in my 140 gallon reef for 5 years. He was beautiful, but unfortunately quickly lost his MALE coloration after about 7 months and has lived this way for the past 4 years in this system:.

Fast forward to 2 months ago when I introduced a HYBRID pair of Crosshatch/blue throat triggers into a 300 gallon system across my house (not within sight of original trigger) .


Two new arrivals:

MALE:

FEMALE:

Important note, these tanks are connected in the basement fishroom so act as one system..

Guess what happened..... The original blue throat trigger has regained his male coloration. NO changes in diet or water quality, just the additions of the crosshatch pair in a different tank (same system technically water wise).

So what do you guys think? The only reason I bought a pair of crosshatches is because I didn't want the male to change cause they are sexually dimorphic..

Was something in the water from the 300 gallon that "triggered" (pun intended) the original male bluethroat in the 140 to change back to male?

Let me know what you think-

JIM

 

[billsreef]

Quite possibly hormones released into the water by the new pair influenced the crosshatch in the other tank

 

[CuzzA]

Very cool and interesting observation. Proving we have so much to learn.

 

[jlnielsen13]

Quite possibly hormones released into the water by the new pair influenced the crosshatch in the other tank

Yeah,

I was thinking the same thing that some that it had to be a chemical message like a hormone! Pretty cool stuff!

 

[CyclistMT]

That's very cool and has me hopeful.

Got any pics of dull coloration and then the transformation?

I have a male that is very dull and thought it was just genetics. Wondering now if he'll color up if I get him a female or two.

 

[nuxx]

That's awesome!

Any I have to add your 140 is stunning! Makes me hate looking at our display... just one year in and just started adding coral, but still wow!

That's a very interesting observation though.

Finally think our small Crosshatch pair are making their minds up.

When they went into QT the male had a red tail and yellow fins, then female yellow tail and red/brown fins.

After going into the display with pretty dominant tangs, the male lost a lot of his color and his tail went yellow, still yellow fins.

Now about 6 months later, the male has gotten much darker, still has yellow fins and tail though. So besides his yellow tail, he looks like a real male. Just wish the red would show up

 

[jlnielsen13]

Any pics of your pair??

Thanks for the comments!

That's awesome!

Any I have to add your 140 is stunning! Makes me hate looking at our display... just one year in and just started adding coral, but still wow!

That's a very interesting observation though.

Finally think our small Crosshatch pair are making their minds up.

When they went into QT the male had a red tail and yellow fins, then female yellow tail and red/brown fins.

After going into the display with pretty dominant tangs, the male lost a lot of his color and his tail went yellow, still yellow fins.

Now about 6 months later, the male has gotten much darker, still has yellow fins and tail though. So besides his yellow tail, he looks like a real male. Just wish the red would show up

 

[nuxx]

Any pics of your pair??

Thanks for the comments!

Older pic when they first went in the display:

 

[alton]

Peter that is an awesome story, thanks for posting.