Evil little fish

[usatennisfan]

I recently lost my mantis shrimp to a bad molt and once prep'd I put in a six line and a bicolor pseudo. I didn't think the two would be a problem together but the pseudo is just plain evil. They were introduced at the same time and whenever the six line goes into the bottom half of the tank the pseudo will chase him away. Will this get better with time or is it a problem where one should be removed?

 

[snorvich]

Using masked profanity is not in the spirit of this board. In any case sixline wrasses and pseudochromis are both highly aggressive.

 

[Angel*Fish]

Personally I'd catch them both and take them back to the LFS.

 

[Fibinotchi]

How big of a tank are they in?

 

[snorvich]

Personally I'd catch them both and take them back to the LFS.

Likewise.

 

[Coral_Craig]

Personally I'd catch them both and take them back to the LFS.

I agree 100%. I had both at one point a while back, they were absolute terrors and rarely would leave each other or anything else alone.

 

[LisaD]

I must have had an exception to the rule. I had a six line and orchid dottyback together with a few other fish for several years in a 25 high. It had a lot of rock work for hides, maybe that helped. BTW, the orchid dottyback was a model citizen at all times, I'd take one over a bicolor pseudo any time.

 

[Angel*Fish]

I must have had an exception to the rule. I had a six line and orchid dottyback together with a few other fish for several years in a 25 high.

I don't see how it's an exception. (?)

 

[jenny1979]

What Is a Pseudochromis bicolor? I only know a Pseudanthias bicolor....(sorry for asking, just curious)

 

[Yogre]

What Is a Pseudochromis bicolor? I only know a Pseudanthias bicolor....(sorry for asking, just curious)

One of these?

http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=1&pid=417&cid=21

Liveaquaria.com refers to the genus of this fish as Picticchromis

 

[Sheol]

Ahhhhh! P. bicolor is probably the most aggressive Dottyback in the hobby! Get rid of it. Get an Orchid Dotty, or maybe a Springer's or a Sankey Dotty. MUCH nicer fish. Like damsels, not ALL dottybacks are evil, but there are things you can do. And there are things you should never do, also.. (Like adding two of any of these together in a small tank.)

Matthew

 

[SushiGirl]

Personally I'd catch them both and take them back to the LFS.

I agree. Otherwise your next thread will be about your evil 6-line LOL.

 

[mscarpena]

I have personally never had an issue with a 6 lined wrasse and have had 3 in my years of reefing. I love them and one of my favorite fish. Psuedos on the other hand a nasty little buggers.

 

[Angel*Fish]

Whether or not you like your 6-line can have a lot to do with tank size, whether you care if you have a creature that potentially can deplete populations of beneficial animals and what kind of tank mates it has. They often don't get along well with other pod competitors especially mandarins. They are know to get along with a mandarin "just fine" and then suddenly decide it's time to eat it's eyes off.

 

[usatennisfan]

Thanks for all the input. The tank is a 16 bow and there is TONS of rock work; the tank used to be the home of a mantis shrimp and I saved all of the tunnels and things that she dug. Based on the input here I think I am going to take the bicolor back, but what else do you think I could put in with the six line?
-Stephen-

 

[milhous3er]

I had a six line and a purple pseudo added at the same time. It only took 2 days for the pseudo to take out the six line, but didn't bother my maroon clown.

Good luck catching your pseudo. Be prepared to take out your rockwork to catch him, then have a net ready for when he jumps out of the tank. Personal experience...

 

[usatennisfan]

Is that really the best way to do it? No bottle trick or anything like that works?

 

[mscarpena]

I had 6 lined and mandarins together for years in a 75 gallon reef tank. My 6 lined bothered my candy stripped hogfish for all of about 5 minutes. I have had 6 lined's with numerous gobies, clowns, damsels, copperbanded butterfly, dwarf angels, tangs, blennies, and many other. Never had an issue ever

 

[Angel*Fish]

Good for you! You clearly have an impressive pod population if you can keep a 6 line and a mandarin together. But lots of people have had the opposite experience, therefore I recommend against them.

 

[milhous3er]

Is that really the best way to do it? No bottle trick or anything like that works?

It may not be the most effective way to do it, but it worked for me. I'm sure others will have different ways to do it. I got lucky and it swam into the last piece of real pourous rock and I just lifted the rock out of the water and it just fell right into the net.