Six-Line Wrasse
 

Hello everyone...
I'm finally getting my tank going and as most of you already know, I just got a pair of perc. clownfish last week and they're doing great. I won't be adding another fish for a while, but I've heard that a good one to add next would be a six-line wrasse. I'm just looking for some information on this fish. My tank is 65g, fluval 204, 2 maxi-jet 1200, 2 65W actinics, and 2 65W 10000K, no sump, 60lbs LR. So if you've had any experience with this fish, can you let me know about it?

Jess

I would wait a while untill your tank gets populated good with bugs befor adding a 6 line. also remember if you add a 6 line you can't add another "pod" hunter like a mandrin.

Steve

Also, be aware that a 6-line can become territorial after a while (though mine seems pretty mellow). This means that they *may* harass any new fish added to the tank after the 6-line. What other fish were you planning on keeping? If you have a fish list going, maybe we could help you figure out the best stocking order?

Have a secure lid on your tank as well as they are renown carpet surfers :sad:

I was considering this fish too, maybe even a pair of them. What is the story with their aggression? And will they be compatible with the following fish: royal grammas, orchid dottybacks, or neon gobies?

I'm going to tag along with newguy. They are a grouchy fish. I have him in a 180, and just recently added a royal gamma, and now the gamma won't come out in the open. Which totaly sucks, and every time he comes out 6 line is there to chase him back in. I've had the gamma for over a month now.

The dottybacks and gramma's can hold their own against the sixline, but the neon goby won't. The 6line has many benefits. I have watched mine tear apart fireworms and a little crab that came in on my rock that didn't show up til later. They have spunk and personality that is unique, especially when they are darting in and out of the rockwork with ease, looking for their next bit of food. Their eyes move independently of each other like a chameleon's and they almost look like they have eyelashes. A fun fish to watch, but not if it is ripping apart your prized Mandarin or Twospot or Rainford.....


If you add the gramma and dottyback after, then it could take a while.. also depends on how big your tank is! If you have something smaller than 75, then I would definately try to get the others in first. HTH

I have a bit of a fish list going, here it is so far.
-2 clowns
-coral beauty
-6 line wrasse
-royal gramma
-blue chromis
-anthia
-some kind of goby?

That's it for now. A Lawnmower Blenny was on that list, but I don't think I have enough rock for it yet. I thought about a manderain too, but my tank is only 65g, and I don't want to have to deal with a fuge *yet*. I've read that 6 lines are aggressive, but most people I hear from say "6 lines are aggressive and territorial, but mine's pretty calm." haha, just an observation. Ya, if you guys want to help me get a stocking order going, that would be great, thanks.

I recently added a six line wrasse into my 130 gallon reef along with a royal gramma. The two pretty much pay no attention to each other. I've only seen a few very brief moments of aggression between them, basically insignificant events. Most of the time they are within inches of each other and do nothing. The six line is quite the little pod devourer. I see him picking them off the glass and rocks continuously. Great little fish.

I added a Magenta Dottyback today to a 29gal that housed a 6-Line. The wrasse beat the crap out of the Dottyback, so much so that we removed one large rock, and out plopped the Dotty (back into the tank) then the 6-Line (onto the towel).

The 6-Line is now in the 110gal, getting chased by the resident YT damsel, but more or less holding its own. Those two are about the same size, but the damsel holds the edge in aggression, bolstered by its fierce territoriality.

Six Lines can be a bit strange. Mine was in my 33G semicube together with my Mandarin. They got along fine for months. Then the Six Line decided it was time to tear up the Mandarin. I removed him, and put him into my other tank, which is a 52G semicube. At this time he is the largest fish in the tank. He is in with two Ocellaris Clowns, a Bicolor Blenny, a Yellow Clown Goby, and the small Flagfin Angel. To date he has given no problems whatsoever in there. :biggrin:

BTW the Mandarin survived the ordeal quite nicely. :mrgreen:

From your list I would go:

Blue Chromis
Goby (if one is desired)
Royal Gramma
Coral Beauty
Sixline

I don't know what the behavior of an Anthia is, so I wouldn't know where to place them in the list. Also, when you say "Blue Chromis" do you mean the Blue-Green Chromis (cheap $9 ones) or the Blue Chromis from the Great Barrier Reef (darker blue with a very distinct lyre tail and black stripe on its back)? The Blue Green ones are supposedly more peaceful than the other, but I'm sure they're both pushovers compared to an established 6-line.

Another question about 6-lines is: how to get a pair of them?

Assuming I'm not lucky enough to find a pair already paired up at the fish store, which method will work best:

1. Buy two very small ones and one will grow into the male.

2. Buy one larger and one smaller one.

3. Any way to distinguish gender in these fish?

I have never seen a pair in any tank....ever. If you find out, please let me know as I would be interested to have a pair in my tank as well.

I've seen a pair in Ed99's tank. Haven't heard from him recently, but they looked like fun ! I've never liked the six-line wrasse as an individual, way too aggressive.

I've always liked the six-line and have seen very little aggression from them. Th only time I have was with a diana hogfish that was essentially the same size and very close in colouration. Even then the aggression was limited to some occasional chasing around the tank.

I find them to be intelligent, inquisitive fish that add to the rockwork by always weaving through every possible opening. I had one that would play in the stream of the powerhead, doing little figure-8's. My only regret with keeping one is that I cannot have a mandarin.

I really like my sixline before he/she decided to go carpet surfing :confused:

Was alot of fun watching it zoom in and out of the rocks ... it did not show aggression to any tankmates but then again most of them were alot larger ... there was a mandarin in the tank also but neither paid any attention to each other and did their own thing :smile:

That's how I lost mine too.

How big is your tank to have both in there?

It was a 300G tank :rolleyes: ... I have " downsized " to a 270G tank since my move in October. :mrgreen:

I am not sure that they would have interacted in a smaller space but we will never know now ... I gave the mandarin to a friend before the move as he was too shy in that tank with such large tankmates.

I've had my six line for 3 years now. It was the first fish I added to my tank (70 gal at the time ). Was and still is my favorite fish. He is huge to compare to the six lines you see in the fs. They help control flatworms and are always on the move. Never bothers other fish that I have seen. I have kept flame angels, fire gobies, Bangie cardenals, hippo tangs, dart gobies, Watchman gobies, chromis, bi colour blenies, and maybe a couple of other fish with no problems. They are very curious fish. And my guy will let you know when he is hungry. The colours get better as they get bigger. A very cool fish IMHO. :cool:

He is kept in a small tank for now as I am trying to frantically to set up a 120gal by Christmas. Need more $$$$$$. :mrgreen:

My suggestion is to find a store that has a couple of them ( IE. Big Als in Richmond ) and watch them for awhile. See if you like the way they move and interact with the other fish etc. No harm in looking.

I'm sure you'll like them.

Best Regards :biggrin:

How large would you estimate it to be. :question:

It looks like 50/50 as far as reports of aggression from these fish. I wonder if this is a gender-based thing, maybe just the males are aggressive?

Seems like the 6 lines sure are popular! I'd really like to get one, I just don't know when. And yes, by Blue Chromis I mean the blue-green chromis. Still ok to add them next? They like to be in groups, right?

BOB_I




I bought him when he was just a little guy. Now he is about 3 1/2 inches long by 1 1/2 in depth. I've had a few people comment on his size.

Nice fish and nice colour.

:smile: