I know some wrasses need a sand bed. What about sixlines?

[cherubfish pair]

I have a shallow sandbed and have had my sixline for a little over a year. I'm thinking about going barebottom on my next tank. Would this be ok for this fish?

 

[Ambition]

It would be perfectly fine. Sixlines have a hiding spot for the night where they create a mucous cocoon of sorts and sleep, so they do not need a sand bed like a leopard wrasse would.

 

[evolved]

^ Correct.

It's a matter of genus, and the Psuedocheilinus genus does not bury.

 

[Fishypapa]

+1 Ambition. My sixline sleeps on an enclosed area of a rock ledge. Not a biggie to them.

 

[cherubfish pair]

It would be perfectly fine. Sixlines have a hiding spot for the night where they create a mucous cocoon of sorts and sleep, so they do not need a sand bed like a leopard wrasse would.

How do they shed their cocoon?

How big do leopard wrasses get?

 

[evolved]

They don't really "shed" it; it's a mucus cocoon. Often they'll eat it.

And the Macropharyngodon genus DOES require a sand bed.

 

[cherubfish pair]

They don't really "shed" it; it's a mucus cocoon. Often they'll eat it.

And the Macropharyngodon genus DOES require a sand bed.

So they could really benefit from a cleaner shrimp to pick the "bits" of mucous off.

 

[evolved]

Not really; they've evolved to do it on their own.

 

[starkii]

They just tuck up inside a nice slimey sleeping bag every night and pop out in the morning.

If your considering leopard wrasse i'd be tempted to lose the sixline from your new tanks stocklist.