Wrasse gender change in ONE WEEK

[artieg1]

I wrote a month ago about how my male leopard wrasse (housed with two female leopard wrasses) had started going bananas and adopted a mating ritual that involved swimming at the top of the tank and splashing as much water over the sides as he could. Water was everywhere, salt stains all over the glass and floor constantly. So I caught him and put him into the sump 10 days ago, while I figure out where to rehome him. No more splashing.

I was out of town for a few days and came back yesterday and saw the male in my display tank! I walked down to the sump in the basement wondering how he could survive being sucked into the pump and through 20 feet of plumbing. But no, he's down there in the sump. I go back upstairs and realize ONE OF THE FEMALES HAS CHANGED INTO FULL MALE COLORATION AND PATTERN IN 10 DAYS. I had no idea mother nature worked that fast. INSANE. Is this typical? 10 days?

 

[P-Dub]

I don't think there is a "typical" and it likely differs between different types of wrasses but mother nature sure is awe-inspiring...

 

[evolved]

It can even happen faster than that, in 2-3 days.
There's not really a "typical" duration here - it depends on a lot of factors.
~2 weeks is pretty common, though.

 

[eatbreakfast]

The change in social circumstances likely kicked the transition into high gear. There was a vigorous male, then suddenly he was gone. The vacuum needed to be filled pronto.

 

[ngoodermuth]

It could be also, that the female was already challenging his dominance prior, and perhaps starting to transition already.

Could be why he was causing such a fuss

 

[eatbreakfast]

IME wrasses can definitely tell when another is changing gender, but that usually leads to relentless chasing, forcing the subordinate into hiding.