Problems with Six-Line wrasse and Royal Gramma

[cobra617]

Hi all,
I have a 50G community reef tank with a good bit of live rock. It has plenty of hiding spots.
About 2 weeks ago I introduced a small six line (maybe 2 inches). I also have a small Royal Gramma (maybe 1.5 inches). When first introduced the Royal Gramma went right after the six line. Since day 2 of introduction onward they have been living together in harmony.
2 days ago, I was not able to find the Gramma. I thought that maybe it was just hiding and would later come out. Well on the next day I noticed it was hiding in a small cave. I then found out why. When it would poke out a little too much the six line would go right after the Gramma. The six line seems to make rounds to make sure the Gramma stays put.
Any thoughts on what I can do to rectify the situation? (I am not really interested in re-arranging the live rock) I was thinking of trying to somehow catch the six line and keeping it in a live bearer breeder box for a few days.

Thanks.

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

royal gramma are very skittish, it was over a month till mine would come out to feed with the other fish, six line are known bullies also

 

[fish77]

I had a six-line that killed fish and had to be removed

 

[snorvich]

Remove the six-line if you can. (It will not be easy) Take him back to the LFS.

 

[cobra617]

Ahhh....crud.
That six line wrasse is my 3 year old's favorite. She picked it out. I am dreading having to explain to her that is has to leave.
Such is life I guess. The funny thing is that I had been looking at that particular fish for a few weeks. It was housed in a tank with a Gramma and they seemed to be fine. (It was actually fine with my Gramma for a couple of weeks)

Thanks.

 

[snorvich]

Sorry. They can be mean and vicious, especially after establishing territory.

 

[LisaD]

I had a six line in a 25 gallon with an orchid dottyback for over three years, no problem. I get the feeling maybe my sixline was exceptional. For the sake of your 3 year old would you consider swapping out the royal gramma with an orchid dottyback? They are among the least aggressive dottybacks, but can stand up for themselves.

 

[cobra617]

I had a six line in a 25 gallon with an orchid dottyback for over three years, no problem. I get the feeling maybe my sixline was exceptional. For the sake of your 3 year old would you consider swapping out the royal gramma with an orchid dottyback? They are among the least aggressive dottybacks, but can stand up for themselves.

I've tossed it around. (Getting rid of the Gramma that is) because I will be devastated to have to tell my daughter that her fish is gone. (I will admit that when it comes to my daughter I am the biggest sucker on earth) We have a nightly ritual where she comes into my bedroom (where that tank is setup) to feed her fish (meaning the six line wrasse). Maybe I take her out to get another one when I give this one in. (My local LFS does not buy fish but they take "donations" grrr!!!)
I worry that the six line or a new dottyback may go after other fish. I really wanted a bicolor dotty because I think that they are prettier than Grammas. But I shied away because of their reputation as being nasty.

In that tank, all of my fish are small juvies. In addition to the six line, I have:

2 Ocellaris Clowns (3/4" and 1.5")
1 Blue Hippo Tang (2".....I know this fish will have to go in the future, maybe at 5-6")
1 Flame Angel (2")
2 Yellow Clown Gobies (1" each)
1 Royal Gramma (1.5")


So far the six line appears to ignore everyone but the Gramma. I do have some issues with the Blue Hippo tang. I don't believe that the six line is bugging it, but the blue hippo tang has a bunch of little indentations on both sides of its body and its fins are a little ragged. I want to say that this began before the six line but I can't be sure. Other than that its behavior is completely normal. (for a blue hippo tang) It still has a voracious appetite and if I even blink it goes taking off for cover (has been like this since day 1 and I had it in the tank way before the six line) When it is out and about, the six line and it seem to have no issues.

Ahhh....what to do, what to do.

 

[scubasteve06]

I have this same problem except in reverse. From day one the six line was in a cave and the dottyback approached and the six line attacked and left the dottyback alone as did the dottyback to the wrasse. Next day though it was the dottyback chasing my six line around. It only happens twice a day (that I actually see) and seems to be before or around feeding times...( I feed 3x daily). My current stock is the Six Line, the Bi-color pseudo, false percula, lyretail hawkfish, and a lawnmower blenny. The LFS I use says once I add a tang or two which I am about to do very soon the dottyback should lose some of his aggressiveness and that it will probably work itself out. There has never been a fight between the two just chasing from the dottyback. Maybe he is mad that the first day that the wrasse snapped at him while both were just being released from acclimation as the percula, wrasse, and dottyback were all added at the same time per suggestions from fellow reefers...I dont know any other suggestions to our similar situations? I know his is a Gramma and not a Dottyback as there are definate personality differences between the two, but this situation has to be caused by one thing and that is similar shape, size, and color am I right or wrong here? Aren't those the big three rules in aggression in reef dwelling fishes other than spawning and food competition which can be ruled out completely in these cases as their are no two of the same fish in either tank.

 

[cobra617]

Folks,
Thanks for the advice. I went with the method of suspending a net in the tank for 2 days. On the 3rd when I wanted to remove the wrasse, it just went right into the net to go after food I dropped in.

Luckily my LFS gave me 50% which I thought was generous. (I would have been ok with 30%)
I got a firefish. I might also add a purple firefish or a green clown goby.

Boy can firefish jump. It jumped out of my acclimation bucket. The water level was 8" below the top....WOW!

Thanks.

 

[fish77]

Glad you took the six-line out

 

[cobra617]

Glad you took the six-line out

So is the Gramma.
The Gramma felt bold enough to open its mouth and seem ferocious towards the new filefish, but the new guy just ignored it. No harm no foul.

But honestly my tank overall seems more "peaceful". The clowns have ventured to parts of the tank that I've never seen them go to. If I were the fish whisperer I would have been told by the inhabitants about how happy they are.

Thanks for the help everyone!