Genicanthus melanospilos sex change?

[npaden]

In my research I found references to the fact that this genus is a sex changing genus from female to male. I added a male first that seemed to be rather young - much smaller than other males I had seen. After 3 or 4 months it started to lose some of it's stripes and had an increase in the yellow at the top of it's body. I was wondering if possibly the fish had not completely finished it's sex change and was reverting back to a female? I've since added a medium sized female thinking this might get the male to regain his stripes. They have been together for a little over a month now and no real change in the males stripes one way or another.

Here is my male angel when I first got him:

Here he is 4 months later:

You can see the difference in both the lost stripes and the increase in the yellow coloration on it's upper body.

I guess it could be a nutrition problem, but I do try to feed a variety of foods, and he has actually grown a bit while I've had him.

Since I've added the female he hasn't gotten anymore yellow, but hasn't regained his stripes either.

Any thoughts?

Thanks, Nathan

 

[GSchiemer]

It's common for male Genicanthus angels to revert back to female coloration in aquariums. We rarely keep Genicanthus angels properly in aquariums. Males usually "defend" a large harem of females in nature. Even if they're maintained as pairs, the males often lose their coloration. I had this happen to me with a pair of G. watanabei. The male reverted to female coloration after a few months in captivity. This same phenomenon occurs with Cirrhilabrus (fairy) wrasses.

Greg Schiemer[/i]

 

[npaden]

Greg, thank you very much for the quick response! That isn't the answer I was hoping for, but it is nice to know this is something that has happened to others. The information I was able to find made only a vague reference to the fact that this genus was in fact sex changers, no mention that they could revert back to the female state, but it makes perfect sense. The angels are in my 415 gallon reef tank. It is close to fully stocked but I might could swap out a couple other fish for a few more female angels. Do you think this would reverse the process?

Thanks, Nathan

 

[GSchiemer]

The angels are in my 415 gallon reef tank. It is close to fully stocked but I might could swap out a couple other fish for a few more female angels. Do you think this would reverse the process?

Thanks, Nathan

Nathan,

It's possible. If you add three more females and wait patiently, it is possible that one of the females will change to male coloration or the exisiting "male" will change back to its full male coloration.

Greg

 

[L.Foley]

Greg,
I've also had G. caudiovitatus revert back to a female while with another female. What gets me is at Waikiki they had a pair of female G.personatus, and one changed to a male. Also at the Dallas World aquarium, they had a pair of G.wantanabe that, they supposedly have had for quite some time, and the male looked great, except for he was missing an eye.<G> I have a pair of wantabe's in my store right now, that I hope won't change, but I guess time will tell.
BTW, hows that Acro looking that you got a MACNA, the pink w/ green tips?

-Leland Foley

 

[npaden]

I tried a male and a female angel and they weren't accepted then added a much larger male and everything seems good to go now. I've had it for nearly 6 months and everything seems stable.

Here is a pic of my current trio:

FWIW, Nathan

 

[GSchiemer]

Greg,
I've also had G. caudiovitatus revert back to a female while with another female. What gets me is at Waikiki they had a pair of female G.personatus, and one changed to a male. Also at the Dallas World aquarium, they had a pair of G.wantanabe that, they supposedly have had for quite some time, and the male looked great, except for he was missing an eye.<G> I have a pair of wantabe's in my store right now, that I hope won't change, but I guess time will tell.
BTW, hows that Acro looking that you got a MACNA, the pink w/ green tips?

-Leland Foley

Leland,

Don't count on the G. watanabe's. I had a pair and the male reverted to female coloration in a 120 gallon aquarium. In addition, they both picked at Acropora corals to the point where I had to remove them. I think the key to Genicanthus is to keep them in a group, similar to Anthias, Fairy wrasses and Flasher wrasses. That's your best bet at having tha male retain his coloration.

Oh, the one Acropora that I kept (I gave the other one to Terry Siegel) is very healthy and has grown some, but I'd be lying if I said it was still pink and green

Greg

 

[L.Foley]

Greg,
I keep you posted on the wantanabe's, I hope your wrong.<G> I brought back a frag from MACNA that was being called A.tenuis that has a echinata like growth form and brilliant highlighter blue tips. So far it's grown slowly but the color has remained. Will you be at IMAC?

Leland Foley

 

[GSchiemer]

Greg,
I keep you posted on the wantanabe's, I hope your wrong.<G> I brought back a frag from MACNA that was being called A.tenuis that has a echinata like growth form and brilliant highlighter blue tips. So far it's grown slowly but the color has remained. Will you be at IMAC?

Leland Foley

Leland,

It seems you did better than I in picking corals at MACNA.

I won't be able to make the IMAC conference. Sounds like it will be a good one though.

Greg