How to tell if your wrasse is a super male.

triggerfreak · 11/24/2009, 03:57 PM

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 · 11/24/2009, 04:07 PM

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 · 11/24/2009, 04:22 PM

He wears a cape.

cwoods8 · 11/24/2009, 05:51 PM

And open tops is his kryptonite.

bradleyj · 11/24/2009, 06:19 PM

He can leap tall canopies in a single bound.

myerst2 · 11/24/2009, 06:21 PM

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

Luiz Rocha · 11/24/2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myerst2

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradleyj

He can leap tall canopies in a single bound.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwoods8

And open tops is his kryptonite.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDguy

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 · 11/24/2009, 08:35 PM

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 · 11/25/2009, 11:13 AM

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.

11/24/2009, 03:57 PM	#1
triggerfreak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, MI Posts: 1,032	How to tell if your wrasse is a super male. 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.

11/24/2009, 04:22 PM	#3
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	He wears a cape. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

11/24/2009, 05:51 PM	#4
cwoods8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: boston Posts: 518	And open tops is his kryptonite. __________________ My Angel does the fraggin!

11/24/2009, 06:19 PM	#5
bradleyj Reefkeeping Mag Staff Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Murray, Utah Posts: 3,454	He can leap tall canopies in a single bound. __________________ Murray, Utah 335G reef, 72" Maristar, Deltec AP702, PF601S , 2 Darts 4Vortech MP40's 18,000 Gph Feb, 2012 RC TOTM Current Tank Info: 335g Leemar

11/24/2009, 06:21 PM	#6
myerst2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: East Hampton, Long Island Posts: 2,341	Wow Luiz. I will say again. If they had an award for the best new member, you got it. Great info. T __________________ "Those who teach must constantly hold up the challenge to study nature, not books." -Albrecht.

11/24/2009, 04:07 PM	#2
Luiz Rocha Salty Dog Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 818	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).

11/24/2009, 08:35 PM	#8
triggerfreak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, MI Posts: 1,032	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.

11/25/2009, 11:13 AM	#9
triggerfreak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, MI Posts: 1,032	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.