How to tell if your wrasse is a super male.

[triggerfreak]

I have heard the words super male when it comes to leopard wrasses.I have a ornate leopard that i have had for around 6 months or so and he has grown a little and seems to be changing some of his colors.How to you tell what a super male is.And can they turn into one.

[Luiz Rocha]

All wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, they are all born females and when they become adults they turn into males. Some people call the males "super males", others just call them "terminal males". Wrasses usually organize themselves socially in harems, with one terminal (or super) male dominating several females. When the terminal male dies, the largest female turns into a male. In your case, with time your fish will turn into a male, but the difference between male and female in this species is very small (well, that's if ornate leopard = Macropharyngodon ornatus).

[SDguy]

He wears a cape.

[cwoods8]

And open tops is his kryptonite.

[bradleyj]

He can leap tall canopies in a single bound.

[myerst2]

Wow Luiz. I will say again. If they had an award for the best new member, you got it. Great info. T

[Luiz Rocha]

Wow Luiz. I will say again. If they had an award for the best new member, you got it. Great info. T

Haha, I thought I was supposed to be serious, but look at the other answers :lolspin:

He can leap tall canopies in a single bound.

And open tops is his kryptonite.

He wears a cape.

Oh, and I just realized, the "super male" terminology may come from the fact that in a few species there are some males that don't change into the terminal male coloration. Some Thalassoma for example spawn in groups with males/females looking the same, but also have the super males controlling harems and spawning in pairs with one female at a time. So I guess the "normal" males are those that look like females and spawn in the groups and the "super" males are those that change color and control harems.

[triggerfreak]

I am pretty sure the leopards i have are Macropharyngodon meleagris.So the female and male are noticeably different.I have had a male for 6 months and his colors have gotting brighter and starting to change.I just got a female about 2 weeks ago.I will see if i can get pics of them tomorrow.

[triggerfreak]

Hear are the best pics of the male and female.The first pic is of the female by herself.And the other pics are of both of them together.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q266/Triggerfreak/SaltwaterShots2007.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q266/Triggerfreak/SaltwaterShots2008.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q266/Triggerfreak/SaltwaterShots2009.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q266/Triggerfreak/SaltwaterShots2010.jpg