Transitioning Male Lyretail Anthias

[Apercula]

Back in August I purchased a trio of lyretail anthias online, upon arrival the larger of the "females" in the trio had full female coloration, but an extended dorsal spike, so I guessed that I had a female and a submale.
About a month after I moved the trio from qt to display, the male delveloped a bacterial infection and I was unable to save him. The submale maintained its appearance until the last few weeks, then began developing the pectoral spots and pelvic fins began darkening. Within the last couple days he is starting to show full male coloration.

Late August, the day after being put in display, submale closer, female behind, full male was in the tank but not the picture.

December 6th, the submale beginning to show signs of male coloration transititon.

December 15th, male coloration pattern established, but not fully colored up.

Sorry the last pic isnt the greatest, it was feeding time and the only spot he would pause for any time was the food corner.

 

[sunfish11]

I hear it takes about 2 weeks for the full change to happen. I have a foursome in my tank. The original male is still with them and 2 of the females had small dorsal fins developing when I got the group nearly 4 years ago. They have stayed exactly as they were over that time period. One of the partly transformed females is actually bigger than the dominant male. Once she/he challenged the male over the course of a week and she/he lost. That was the end of it for the last year. They are very interesting fish. Mine spawn almost nightly/. The male and the female with absolutely no dorsal seem do do the most of the spawing behavior. Enjoy, they are great fish.

Lisa

 

[SDguy]

It's really neat to watch it happen in your tank!! Congrats! Here you can compare to when mine did it:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=972936&highlight=lyretail+anthias+male

 

[Apercula]

Further update, taken today:

 

[MattL]

I don't remember how long it took mine, but it did happen very quickly once they were added. In my case, I had bought females, and supplemented the females I bought with supposed females online. These females purchased online turned out to be submales of varying extent. Still, everything worked out. The most dominant submale became male, and the remainder of the submales have stayed submales for 6+ months now.

Matt

 

[BucNtears]

i have a quick question for you guys. If i were to purchase 4-5 smaller ones will just 1 turn out to be the male... Kind of a stupid question I know.

Thanks

 

[Apercula]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14019874#post14019874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BucNtears
i have a quick question for you guys. If i were to purchase 4-5 smaller ones will just 1 turn out to be the male... Kind of a stupid question I know.

Thanks

Not a stupid question. If they are all full female when purchased then the most dominant will eventually turn male, if any have started the gender change, then the most dominant will turn full male and the submales will stay submale as MattL's have.(hopefully)

If you can view the "females" in person before purchase look for an elongated dorsal spike, in my pictures you can see it on the full male easily, and he had it in the oldest pic, but its lying back so just barely visible. If I wanted to develop a harem from females I would make sure that either one or none had the spike.

 

[Apercula]

Update, a year later, I still only have the pair as far as anthias go, but Im a bit overstocked on fish. The male will dart at the female but Ive never seen any damage on her, he is second or third on the pecking order in the tank, my centropyge is the most aggressive.

An updated picture from a month or so ago.

 

[SDguy]

Beautiful colors!

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

That is a great looking male!

 

[VAHeatt]

Ive recently purchased a female. I waited for months to purchase atleast 3 or 4 but the LFS hasnt gotten any in for months and had had the same one for a lil while,So I bought it hoping,I could purchase a few more asap!my tank is 180 so I know I have size but What Im worried about,is if my female will turn male by itself with no other anthias in the tank?

 

[sanchoy]

i hate sub-males.

I have one that has been stuck in the transition for over a month now.. not good.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Interesting to see the term submale being used recently... I've always just called them dominant females. As far as I'm concerned female color with a dorsal spike is just dominant female, or calling dibs on next in line. Once the color change starts happening, particularly spots on the pectorals, the change to male is happening. Now this is all of course speculation, I havent cut any of my fish open