[weez1959]

Can you tell me at what size a Bartletts anthias will change to male? I have 4 - 2"ers on order and was told that one will change to a male after a while but how do I know this hasn't happened, Is it an age related thing or something else.
Also should I have gotten 3 instead of 4, they will be going in a 90 gallon. Just for reference, this was asked in the last page of Blowing money left and right E-I-E-I-O
Thanks Lee!

[leebca]

It is the size which determines the hierarchy. That is, the largest female turns male and if that male dies, the largest female turns male. And so it goes.

The best grouping is 4 or 6 BUT of different sizes, IMO. I like these these numbers since then the females are kept at odd numbers. If you get them all within 0.25 inches of each other there will be a problem for them to decide who's the biggest and there will be a lot of stress. If you can get 4 or 6 of them, more than about 0.3 inches difference in length, that would be good. They should go into the display tank at the same time. That meas separate quarantine tanks, where they will not interact.

These Anthias mature at about 1.5 to 2" or so. They max out at about 3 to 3.5 inches. I've seen them actually larger when they have been kept well. That being said, it isn't size which dictates maturity -- it is age and hormones. I think you can count on your 2" ers to fight it out (not literally) and then one will begin to change within a few months.

If they are the only ones in the aquarium, they will do well in the 90. They are one of the easiest of all the Anthias to keep.

Good luck!

[weez1959]

Thanks Lee!