Which angels change sex? Experts chime in please!!!

[ghstrider]

I was wondering which (if any) of the following angels will turn male if left solo and at what size do u have to acquire them to ensure they do go male. Scribbled (i have a 5-6" female), personifers, chrysurus, blueline, conspics,etc.

I would love to get a male scribbled for my female but the small ones all look female. If i get a 3-4" female and pair her to mine will the smaller one go male?

Ccampbell? Copps? Any other crazy angel enthusiast?


Thx in advance
Eddy

 

[ghstrider]

Anyone???

 

[Chelsey]

As far as I know (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong ), ALL angelfish are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that all fish start out as FEMALES and then turn into MALES.

That being said, I've seen Genicanthus go from female to male and then back to female, so multiple sex changes are possible, at least the APPEARANCE of being one gender is possible (I did not dissect the genicanthus to see if the internal organs matched the color/pattern of the fish). Some centropyge (C. ferrugata and possibly others) can also go from female to male back to female.

Hope this answers your question

 

[copps]

Hey Eddy, it is generally believed that all species in the angelfish family are sequential protogynous hermaphrodites, and it's been proven in three of the seven recognized genera. This means that juvenile fish will develop female reproductive organs first, with the potential for those to change male under certain circumstances later on.

The key word for us as aquarists is "potential". As many of us hardcore angelfish enthusiasts are finding out, forming pairs and harems of anything but the genus Centropyge is never a sure thing in home aquaria. The circumstances that induce sex change in the wild are not fully understood or studied. In fact, we as hobbyists have witnessed many times sex reversal from male fish back to female, something that has also been documented in the wild in the family.

So, while it is easy to answer which angels have the potential to change sex, it is much more difficult to determine what will happen in our tanks... but for many of us, that is cool! We are able to find things out and answer some questions that have yet to be answered...

Copps

 

[ghstrider]

Copps and Chelsey thx for the well written response. In your opinions, is there a decent chance that if I buy a small 3" scribbled to pair with my current one that the new one will turn male since the one I have is close to 6"? I know there is no guarantee but what is your opinion?

 

[DjScRiBbLe]

Old thread, however. Copps don't you have a pair of chrysurus? What was your method of pairing them? Add a smaller juvi to larger sub-adult or adult?

Thanks

 

[copps]

Old thread, however. Copps don't you have a pair of chrysurus? What was your method of pairing them? Add a smaller juvi to larger sub-adult or adult?

Thanks

Yeah... I own over fifty angels, and most are in pairs or harems I've had for many years... Centropyge I have the most of between all genera... but I have many larger pairs/ groups... a clarion pair I've had for years (male is a deeper orange which is cool), Christmas Island emp pair, majestic pair, regals, and a bandit pair I've had for years that I grew out from small, which you could see in my TOTM from 2011. The bandit pair I just moved into the 1300 last weekend and they travel around together... it is very cool and rewarding.

What I recommend for pairing of larger angels is similar to that of Centropyge...

1. Do a full QT separately... using an eggcrate divider between them allows them to get to know eachother a bit while in QT.

2. Be sure there is a size difference between the two... so much of the aggression comes from when each fish thinks they could get the upper hand... but a noticeable size difference usually takes this away.

3. Add them together... or add the smaller fish the day or two before to the display. All of the Centropyge I am adding to the 1300 will be on the same day... along with my Zebrasoma group, which includes all five non sailfin species including gemmatum, rostratum, scopas, flavescens, and xanthurum, along with some hybrids in the genus.

I prefer to start with juveniles or subadults rather than adult fish.

Copps

 

[DjScRiBbLe]

Thank ya I'm familiar with centropyge and have read most your threads on your collection and would like to pair my chrysurus. Its a sub-adult and going through qt now so I'll try and acquire a smaller juvi or smaller sub adult and attempt to pair like to suggest. Thanks!