OK well I decided to get two Ocellaris clowns and they have been in quarantine for a month and will go into the main tank once the live rock has cycled, any good suggestions for a next fish.

I read different things about Orchid dottybacks, some say they are peaceful, some say they will eat your cleaner shrimp, I don't know whether to get one or not.

The six-line wrasse seems to be the fish-du-jour on Reef Central the past few months, however I have read these can be aggressive and may eat the shrimp too.

I've always wanted a pair of Coral Banded shrimp but I've read about these hunting down and killing fish.

Anyway I can see the upside and downside to different kinds of fish, I'd appreciate some pointers on what to get next.

Go for the six-line wrasse. They are very smart, active and inquisitive and will find every nook and cranny of rockwork they can fit through. Since their markings and behaviour are so different from the clowns the six-line will compliment your tank very well. I have had two. One became oversized cleaner shrimp food not long after I got it. The other I kept for close to a year until I left the hood open one night and found her on the floor in the morning. She would do circles and play in the powerhead current and would eat from my hand; sorely missed. I would have another one right now if I had the room.

Anyone want a scribbled rabbitfish? :biggrin:

I'm on my second 6 line also,my first met the same fate as Cptclevers.
I've heard they can be agressive but never had a problem with mine.
But it may eat your shrimp and it will eat your pods,so it can be hard on your DSB if you have one.Unless you have a refuge to use as a pod factory.Great little fish though,with freeky eyes.

I evicted my six line for harassing the bartlett anthias.

I am just curious about how a six-line wrasse can become oversized cleaner shrimp food, I thought wrasses would harass shrimp and not the other way around.

It was a juvenile six-line and a huge cleaner shrimp. The shrimp was starting to get aggressive with the smaller fish in the tank and would stalk up on them whenever he saw one near. The wrasse happened to check out a hole in a rock the shrimp was perched on and was still inside when the shrimp darted up and jabbed its claw inside. The wrasse came out injured and was immediatly snatched up by the shrimp. I didn't even have time to open the hood before it was all over. I decided I had had enough with unpredictable inverts and traded in my cleaner shrimp, 2 camels, brittle star and red emerald crab the following weekend.

My six-line was never aggressive with anything in the tank. The one I had for about a year got to be pretty big (not as big as CanadianMan's though) but never bothered anything.

My six line has been a great fish. Never had a problem in the 2 1/2 years I"ve had it. In fact he/she recieved a couple of compliments today from some other reefers. Other nice fish, Bicolour Blennies are cool and "looks like a little puppy dog" my wife says. Bangia Cardinals. Dart fish ie fire fish . shrimp gobies. These have been hassel free fish for me and are very enjoyable to have IMHO. Setting up a tank and stocking it is always the best part. Have fun :biggrin: