Sex Change

[Orodreth]

Hello,

In the larger of my tanks I have six Platys. Five are female and one is male (used to be two males but one died). Two of the females are black and yellow, two are blue and the male is yellow/orange. On one of the blue (and maybe one of the black) females I have recently noticed that the fin used to identify their sex had completely changed shape and now resembles more closely the male version. I didn't really think much of this and thought it was just a visual thing however tonight I saw one of them trying to mate with the other one whilst my definite male just watched... In fact, it is still going on right now.

Have they actually become males or is it just a psychological thing? Will they actually be able to reproduce? Or...am I just seeing things?

Thanks.

 

[jourdy288]

I heard about swordtail females becoming males, but only in old age. And I never heard of them being functional.

 

[helterskelter]

How old are the fish, as many are what called "Late developers" these are suppressed males that will not mature due to factors like other larger males, this hase been noted in fish up to almost a year old.

The are always male and never produce fry, but they look like femles.