[Dewdrop]

Hubby got 3 little auratus close a year ago. Everything was fine until recently when 2 of them started turning male color. I had to return the subdom one to the LFS (after removing him to another tank to grow his tail back).
The 3rd auratus, that I thought was female, started getting a little darker color on it too a few days ago, so I've been watching it closely. Sure enough it's now colored male color too. The subdom male we had never got as dark as the dom male but this last one looks like it's going to be even darker than the original dom male.
What puzzles me is that there isn't any trouble between the 2 yet. I think I'll keep the first one that turned male color for the all male tank, when it comes through (waiting on a 5ft. tank) and return the other to the LFS.
Any guesses as to why these two are fine with each other? Is it possible that the last one is really female and just taking on male color for some reason? In the long run I don't guess it matters as I'll only be keeping the one but I like to understand them as much as I can. It's really a big part of the hobby to me. opcorn:

 

[steveangela1]

My guess is some males can get a long if raised together, however I wouldn't say that when they get older you won't have all out war in your tank. I had a breeding pair and I just got rid of them due to the heck they raised w/ every fish I had in my tank. When the kenyi was even getting picked on I said enough!

Some do transform their colors slower to show their male/female forms also. My male kenyi was slow changing. My husband kept making bets that I messed up and bought a female, and low and behold he finally changed bright gold/yellow.

I say if they look like a rotted banana peel they are a male (thats my ******* description of a mel aur.) I love them, I wish they could have worked in my tank.