[zlatan2601]

I noticed some of my opae have really big claws, others have really small claws. Can we learn something of it? Is it age related? Gender related?

[Algae In Space]

I rarely pay attention to their claw size difference but if I remember correctly male claws are bigger than female ones.

Are the big claw ones in your tank more translucent too?

[zlatan2601]

Translucent as in being transparant? Possibly, i would need to have a closer look again. I have around 5 mature opae ula, 2 have really big claws. One is really big and completely white, the other is a bit smaller and red/pink. I have also mature red ones without the bigger claws. And i already saw some smaller opae but also with big claws or without the big claws... So it doesn't seem to be age related.

[Algae In Space]

Hmmm interesting. Would be nice to have pictures!

[Arnold]

Big claws supposed to be females, small claws supposed to be males

[zlatan2601]

@Arnold are you sure?

@Algae In Space yeah but unfortunately i don't have a good camera, it's not clear on the pictures I take... Once i have berried females, i will follow it up very closely...

[Algae In Space]

Maybe you got some Metabetaeus lohena in there with the regular Opaes? Are they way bigger in size? This would explain it all

[Algae In Space]

Big claws supposed to be females, small claws supposed to be males

As I don't have a macro lens I wonder how one can tell if this is true? Have you examined yours? I can't remember if there is something written on it in the holy book. What does OUR say?

[zlatan2601]

Fyi i have examined thel with my eyes (but my eyes are quite good) and with a loop...

[zlatan2601]

They are definetely opae, as they come out of a tank only containing opae for several years. I call the claws big but it's relatively compared to others... For some opae they are more pronounced than for others...