Super male Wrasse question

[150 Gallon Reef]

I am interested in a super male rhomboid wrasses for a very good price. Are getting super males worth bringing into home aquariums? I have heard there are acclimation issues with rhomboids. Are super males more difficult? They are considered"terminal" phase, but does this actually mean they are close to passing away? Any other info about them would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[AZMSGT]

@evolved Please help this person. Thanks

 

[alton]

I am new to the Wrasse thing, but I would never buy a super male anything. To me its like buying a 10" Angelfish. All mine where purchased as females or sub males. I have read that some Wrasses do not live very long as compared to other saltwater fish, why buy something that maybe near death?
Evolved is King when it comes to knowledge on Wrasses

 

[150 Gallon Reef]

Probably best bet is a sub male then?

 

[nereefpat]

Terminal, in this case, just means they won't turn back to female. "Super male" is a bit of a marketing term, imo.

But, it probably makes sense that it wouldn't ship as well or live as long as a young male.

 

[calvertc425]

If I buy a rhomboid wrasse I wouldn’t pa extra for a super male that is bigger the smaller size u get the longer u will get out of them imo the bigger the fish the older it is don’t see the charm in super males

 

[evolved]

Are getting super males worth bringing into home aquariums?

That's a subjective question. Depends on what your goals are.

I have heard there are acclimation issues with rhomboids. Are super males more difficult?

There have been collection issue in the past, but those are several years behind us to my knowledge. Terminal males do not always ship as well.

They are considered"terminal" phase, but does this actually mean they are close to passing away?

Ultimately, yes.

Check the Fish Discussion forum - lots of sticky threads there. This is a good one to start on.

 

[albano]

They are considered"terminal" phase, but does this actually mean they are close to passing away?

Ultimately, yes.

I agree with the expert!

I’ve been saying ‘forever’ that terminal phase, usually means that the super male will be ‘terminated’ ... usually by the next up and coming male wrasse.


FWIW, just about every hobbyist with a male wrasse tells everyone that it’s a SUPER male. I’m gonna start carrying Kryptonite with me to verify these claims!

 

[alton]

I ordered a Diamond Tail Sub adult and got this from LA back in May. Came in around 2 1/2". On the website they show a max size of 3", but when I moved him last week to my 310 he has grown to almost 4"

 

[albano]

I ordered a Diamond Tail Sub adult and got this from LA back in May. Came in around 2 1/2". On the website they show a max size of 3", but when I moved him last week to my 310 he has grown to almost 4"

Everything is bigger in Texas!

 

[nereefpat]

I ordered a Diamond Tail Sub adult and got this from LA back in May. Came in around 2 1/2". On the website they show a max size of 3", but when I moved him last week to my 310 he has grown to almost 4"

whoa

 

[150 Gallon Reef]

I ordered a Diamond Tail Sub adult and got this from LA back in May. Came in around 2 1/2". On the website they show a max size of 3", but when I moved him last week to my 310 he has grown to almost 4"

When you ordered it, did it come in looking like that or has it grown to look like that? I have a diamond tail male waiting to finish qt

 

[Triggreef]

I have a diamond tail like that too. Awesome fish but extremely difficult to get a photo. So credit where it's due!

To answer the op.... Terminal phase just means that it is full male and can no longer change back to female. The dominant wrasse generally becomes the terminal male. Can happen any age so doesn't really determine age or life expectancy. A sub male is in transition from female to male but can still change back to female so there is no guarantee. It also can happen extremely fast like overnight. I recall when a female leopard wrasse I had changed from female to male it was literally overnight. All of a sudden I had a completely different fish.

 

[alton]

When you ordered it, did it come in looking like that or has it grown to look like that? I have a diamond tail male waiting to finish qt

I took that picture the day he came in, started flashing at my clownfish who stay in the frogspawn

 

[alton]

Unless he is flashing his normal color

 

[Triggreef]

Mine always stays near the top. And jumps around when I feed. I have a canopy so not much worry there although some have found their way around it.

 

[150 Gallon Reef]

That's a subjective question. Depends on what your goals are.

There have been collection issue in the past, but those are several years behind us to my knowledge. Terminal males do not always ship as well.

Ultimately, yes.

Check the Fish Discussion forum - lots of sticky threads there. This is a good one to start on.

What have they done differently collecting these guys, as opposed to past collecting ?