female lyretail question

[Benny Z]

last night i picked up 4 female lyretails for my male.

i noticed that they all have the spike at the front of their top fins. they have no other male markings, however, and are about 2/3 to 3/4 the size of my male.

will the females lose the spike?

thanks!
- ben

[SDguy]

They won't lose the spike. As long as the male asserts his dominance, the females will not change, and the spikes will stay as they are.

hth

[Benny Z]

thanks much!

[Benny Z]

here are some pics...

male, hoping he will turn to the full purple coloration soon:

http://www.bnarc.com/bennyz/images/fish/malelyretail.jpg

females:

http://www.bnarc.com/bennyz/images/fish/femalelyretail1.jpg

http://www.bnarc.com/bennyz/images/fish/femalesandexquisite.jpg

[SDguy]

Very nice. Actually you have some Indian Ocean/Red Sea area specimens. The male will be red with yellow scale highlights, as yours is. It will not turn purple.

hth

[Benny Z]

no way!!!

the whole reason i wanted lyretails was for a purple male! lol

grrr...

do you have any pics of adult males from this region?

[brad23]

doh

[SDguy]

Do a google image search by latin name pseudanthias squamipinnis.

Purple male from pacific:
http://www.ryanphotographic.com/images/JPEGS/Fairy%20basslets.jpg

Red male from IO/RS:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1512

My male that changed color in captivity (from the Maldives):
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Lyretailmaledisplayagain1-9-07.jpg


FWIW, I prefer the kind we have, over the purple one. And was very happy when mine changed to the color it did.

[Benny Z]

yeah, he looks really nice!

the purples seem to be more common...i'm not disappointed with what i have, was just expecting the purple.

i'll keep you posted as he continues his transition.

would a squareback pair (male/female) be a good idea to try along with the lyretails? how about dispars?

really appreciate your input!