Male Lyretail Anthias +1

[Skidazl]

I currently have a female lyretail and would like to get her a male. Can I just add a male Lyretail? What do you think would happen?

Also, I saw what I thought was a male lyretail at my LFS but its fins had red spots on them, they looked very cool, but hadn't seen that before. Was that a lyretail or a different anthias?

Thanks, Dave

 

[jdbox]

Males are colored differently from females and usually have some red coloration throughout the body and fins.

 

[Skidazl]

Thanks, yeah, i've seen males before so i know the color difference, just never saw the spots on the fins before. I won't buy this one, that LFS is way over priced($35 for a female) but just not sure if that was a lyretail or not...

 

[Skidazl]

That LFS still has that male, not surprised at that price, but what a sweet looking fish. But I think i am either going to have to add 2-3 more lyretails or stay with the 1 female and hope she changes. Speaking of the latter, does anybody know any way to entice them to change? Thanks, Dave

 

[SDguy]

Is that your current female in your avatar? If so, she is already on her way to becoming a male, judging by that dorsal spike. Just get one or two more smaller, no dorsal spike, females, and your old one will complete the change. hth.

 

[Skidazl]

Is that your current female in your avatar? If so, she is already on her way to becoming a male, judging by that dorsal spike. Just get one or two more smaller, no dorsal spike, females, and your old one will complete the change. hth.

Thank you for the reply, SD. Yes that is her. That pic is from September, does it usually take that long to change over? She looks exactly the same today.

 

[SDguy]

Thank you for the reply, SD. Yes that is her. That pic is from September, does it usually take that long to change over? She looks exactly the same today.

She won't fully change without any other females present.

You can see how quickly mine did it here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8548052#post8548052

I still have that male...he is a BEAST now!

 

[Skidazl]

She won't fully change without any other females present.

You can see how quickly mine did it here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8548052#post8548052

I still have that male...he is a BEAST now!

Oic, so she will stay in the "transitional" stage until i get a smaller female for her. I was told the aggression would be way too much for one female and that i should get at least 2-3 more females to spread the aggression around. So if that is true, I need to figure out whether i want to use up the rest of my bio-load on anthias, or stay with the one and get the other 3 fish on my list, putting me at 9 in 90 gallons...