Anthias Sex Transformation??

[Nighthawk26]

Ok, so originally had 7 Lyretail. 1 was male, rest were female. Had some issues and lost 3 of them. One being the male. At the time I had them between the quarantine tank, and my frag tank where they were in the latter for close to 2 months before I finally a few weeks ago moved them to the Display Tank thats finally up. Everyone in the previous tanks as well as Display got along perfect. The 4 Anthias, 4 Green Chromis, Solar fairs wrasse and 2 clowns. That was until about a week ago. There are 2 certain larger ones, and 2 certain smaller ones. In each of those pairs one is SLIGHTLY larger than the other. Last week, the largest one started being a real asshole to the slightly smaller of the 2 larger. Was all over him. Poor dude could hardly rest. For sure odd behavior with all 4 where they clearly were acting weird. Yesterday I notice the back of the dorsal fin, and the tips of the pectoral fins are blackening, also slight around it's head and face. More so now this morning. Although the abuse is still going on, it's not QUITE as bad as it had been over the last week.

Is this my largest Lyrtail transforming to a male?

 

[SamB]

Quick answer is Yes
Without a male in a harem of females the most dominant female will transform into a male
During this process, the dominant fish will keep the others in line to make sure that they know who's boss or who is going to be the boss
The pestering is all part of that process and will continue as this fish transforms into a male as he has to prevent another dominant female from turning into a male and kicking him off of his throne
Anthias are hermaphroditic and this is how it goes with this type of fish

 

[Nighthawk26]

Thanks SamB. Yeah, I know all that stuff. GThe theory of all of it anyways. Just making sure what I'm physically seeing in behavior is in line. Also what he/she is physically looking like. The blackening is literally over night. No dorsal spike on the fin yet, and really it's more just black. More and more spotted on the face and head area. I have also read that the transition doesn't always happen fully and or the same in captivity as it does in the wild. Hopefully he doesn't just turn into an ugly bastard. Hahah Do we know how long the process usually takes? It's pretty cool.

 

[AdInfinitum]

BTW it will never be over. People tend to think that if they have a colony established with a dominant male and a group of females that they will remain like that until the male dies. Actually the nature of them is that there will constantly be challenges as sub dominants constantly rise up and try to split the group. Lyretails are particularly prone to constant conflict and the near constant weeding out of the weakest.

 

[Nighthawk26]

Oh good. Something to look forward too. Guess we shall see with time and as things evolve in the tank. More than anything, was making sure it was nothing wrong with the system or it was a symptom of another issue. Nothing I could find. In terms of the actual gender transition, is there an approx time? Like is it days, weeks, months?