Female changed sex!!???

[dwarflover]

Alright, so I have a trio of Orange Flash Apistos. Both of which females have spawned and raised fry 1-2 times before I put them in my 20 gal community.
They have not spawned in atleast 2 months.

In the past week or two, I've noticed one of my females has completly changed. Her fins filled out in orange, and the front is elongated and pointy like a males. Her tail is also filled in orange. Her body isn't very yellow anymore either. The male and her are tolerant of each other. I've seen him even display. She didn't have much of a reaction though...

Is it possible she could be changing to male?!? And why would this happen? I know it can be caused by a loss of a male, but, my male is still here and completly dominant over the whole tank.

If a pic is need I will post a comparison pic.

Thanks!

 

[Cooder]

Wow sounds very interesting, i know that it can happen, and often does but i dont really know, im keen to hear what more experienced people have to say

 

[Mike Wise]

It's also possible that this female is getting old and taking on masculine features, sort of like fish menopause. I'd like to see a photo!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

It's also possible that this female is getting old and taking on masculine features, sort of like fish menopause.

I think Mike is right. I've got 2 old female cacatuoides that have developed male features at the moment. I'm not sure quite how old they are, but it will be some-where in between 3 and 4 yrs old. I've never had a male live anything like that long.

This is an old "masculine" female from a few years ago.

cheers Darrel

 

[Mike Wise]

To be absolutely sure that a true sex change occurred the female needs to have produced fry first. Then, after the change, the fish must be the only male with a known female (that has previously produced fry) and produce fry with her.

 

[dwarflover]

I will post a picture tonight. She's had fry before, so check.

But I'm really hoping just taking on male appearence. She was a great mom

 

[dwarflover]

Okay, heres some pictures. Male or Female??

These were taken when the light came on, so the line across her body is not visible, but yes, she/he has one.

How she USED to look. if you look closely you can see tiny babies. theres two or three in the pic..kinda blurry.

 

[Apistomaster]

I agree with Mike.
Are you 100% certain this is the same female? You said you had two females. If you lost track of which one was the proven female that you previously bred it is possible the other was a latent male or masculinized old female.

 

[dwarflover]

100% both of my females have broods before. this one has had two. i know they both have had broods as they were in seperate tanks. with broods.

 

[Mike Wise]

Try to breed this fish with a female who has produced fry previously. If they produce fry, then there has been a sex change. Otherwise ....

 

[dwarflover]

If I can catch the darn fish I will give it a go....I managed to get the female over to a new tank...

 

[cichlidmac]

Guys I know you probably won't believe this but it looks like my 1 year old female is turning male lol. She's a cacatuoides but she's getting bigger and becoming covered in the males checkered pattern and her dorsal rays are getting huge. I thought this was impossible buy now I'm wondering.
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[cichlidmac]

I'm thinking maybe its just something about the domestic strain. She's not old but she's definitely looking masculine and hasn't been interested in the male, their last spawn was months ago.

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[dwarflover]

Same with me cichlidmac, Mine is about a year old, and randomly did this....So weird. Last spawn was three months ago or somewhere around there.

 

[cichlidmac]

My female.

And the male

Do you suppose her change is from domestic breeding? I mean she's really changing.
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[Mike Wise]

The masculine traits are completely separate from actual sex change. Many domestic color strains produce more masculine colors in females than those seen in wild specimens. Specimens of both sexes often develop longer fin extensions, too. We see such fin extensions especially on macmasteri-group species. There are only 2 ways to prove a true sex change: 1) a lone female and a lone male breed in an aquarium and produce viable fry; then the sex changed female is put in an aquarium only with another female who as produced viable fry and this pair produces viable fry and 2) dissection of a female who has produced fry, and then changed sex; if the sex organs are gonads then there has been a sex change. Any other methods leave sex change up for question.

 

[cichlidmac]

I understand that, its just wired she doesn't show her yellow shade at all anymore and seems to be getting bigger and she's only a year old.

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[dwarflover]

Alright, hey everyone. Been a couple more weeks now. The female/male has now FULL ornge fins and are extended a little ways more. She/he has developed male behavior too. I have had my other female seperate from the male and the possible new male for about two weeks. I am now going to try and put the changed fish in with my other orange flash female. If they spawn, that will seal the deal as a sex change...Will post new pics later on how the fish has changed.

 

[ADC Nederland]

Your first post was on march 10... your april fools joke was way too early this year Hahahaha

No but seriously... This is a really bad joke... But seing as Mike took this seriously I am flabbergasted.

 

[cichlidmac]

Your first post was on march 10... your april fools joke was way too early this year Hahahaha

No but seriously... This is a really bad joke... But seing as Mike took this seriously I am flabbergasted.

?

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