[naser]

i got 4 of these. all appear to have male colors. anyone know if the3 less domminent will return to females? i beleive the fish store had them all separate, and the began to all turn male.

[Ninong]

Naser,

I was waiting to see if someone with actual experience with Pseudanthias huchtii would answer your question, but it looks like you aren't getting any takers, so I'll tell you what I think, FWIW.

There was a very good reason the LFS had them all separate. P. huchtii is one of the most aggressive anthias species. How are they doing in your tank? Are they showing signs of aggression towards each other?

It is true that in the wild nonterritorial males (subordinate males) will sometimes change back to females if the ratio of females to males somehow gets out of whack. The normal ratio is probably more than 10-1 (females to males). However, I don't believe that territorial males (supermales) can change back to females. With all anthias, supermales are more brilliantly colored and have longer fins than subordinate males.

In case you don't have the coloration descriptions, this is what Scott Michael has to say: "Male P. huchtii have a red line on each cheek and are greenish yellow overall with red margins on the fins. Females are yellowish orange or greenish orange, with orange stripes on their cheeks."

Here is what Scott Michael has to say about their captive care: "This is a hardy and aggressive anthias species. It is best to keep solitary individuals, unless you have a large aquarium. If you want to keep a group of Redcheek Anthias, it should consist of one male and eight or more females, and be housed in a tank of at least 180 gallons. Be sure that the females that you introduce are not undergoing sex changes if they are going to be housed with another male. Because of its pugnacious disposition, it is also risky to keep P. huchtii with most other anthias species or with peaceful zooplankton feeders (e.g., dart gobies, fairy wrasses, and flasher wrasses). An interesting aquarium display might be made up of three or four female Redcheek Anthias, five or more female Lyretail Anthias, and a male of either species. If fed frequently, the Redcheek Anthias can be expected to do well in both the shallow-water and the deep-water reef aquarium."

Ninong

[naser]

they all get along fine there is only one with the extra spikey fine so im assuming hes the top dog. also the rest seem dull in comparison to the one. they all eat and swim together peacfully. the only fight was when i put them all together, the bigger male with the extra spike fine beat up all three, since that theres been nothing but peace.

[Ninong]

Sounds like you might have one male and the rest females.

Good luck,

Ninong

[naser]

alls i can say is that the fight was awsome. never seen two fish lock jaws before.

[Ninong]

I guess there's no question who the top dog (male) is but they will still work out a social hierarchy among the three females. You will have the alpha female, the beta female, and the gamma female. If the male dies, the alpha female will change to male in as little as two weeks.

Ninong