Leopard wrasse being bullied

[sandmillanjua1]

I got a leopard wrasse about 3 weeks ago for my reef tank. As usual he hid 3 days and then later on came out. For the first week the leopard wrasse constantly got chased around and bullied by my six line for a week. Because of this I decided to rearrange the rocks so the leopard wrasse could set his territory. Thsi proofed to be a very good decision as for the next week and a half the leopard wrasse swam freely around the tank without the six line wrasse bothering him. I even got the leopard wrasse to eat dry food. But for the past 3 days my six line has constantly kept my leopard wrasse in a tiny cave. What should I do?

 

[ca1ore]

You know the answer ......

(But just in case: six lines are mean and common; find it a new home).

 

[Kidd Reef]

im with ca1orie, ditch the sixline unless your unusually fond of it.had a similar issue with a melanurus and a leopard, melanurus wouldnt leave her alone and had to be removed. and id say sixlines are far more aggressive.

 

[sandmillanjua1]

Unfortunately taking away the six line is not an option besides the six line has already left alone the leopard wrasse about a week and a half after I changed the rocks but now it has begun again. I was thinking maybe I could place another fish to help the leopard wrasse?

 

[Kidd Reef]

Unfortunately taking away the six line is not an option besides the six line has already left alone the leopard wrasse about a week and a half after I changed the rocks but now it has begun again. I was thinking maybe I could place another fish to help the leopard wrasse?

if you HAVE to keep both the sixline and the leopard wrasse the only possible way i could see it even working in the short term(a year or so.) would be removing the sixline and then rearranging the tank. that way the leopard wrasse will have had time to secure its own territory and the sixlinewill have no familiar locations to protect and focus on finding its own spot.

Tbh the main problem is them being conspecific(both wrasses) and that sixlines just get so outright aggressive once they reach sexual maturity, your leopardwrasse might not be the only fish he has a problem with later down the line...

may i ask what size your tank is?