Six Line Wrasse? How aggressive is yours?

[Ryand63]

So back in the day I had a 46 gallon with a six line that was the least aggressive out of most of my fish. Now I have a 29 gallon and would love to get another yet everyone keeps telling me how aggressive they are. In all of your past experiences how have your six lines been? What have they been in with? What size tank? Mine is a 29 gallon and I would add it last with a clown, flame angel, goby, and cardinal fish preceeding it.

 

[Rapide]

Well... I'm not saying that it's a bad idea to put an angel in a 29gal tank, and with a six line, but... Umm...
Maybe the six line could go in a tank that size, but the angel?
Don't take it the wrong way, but IMO 29gal is bit small for an angel. Is it not?

My six line is quite territorial and aggressive towards any same sized fish, but who knows...

 

[Ryand63]

Yeah, I know you can never tell since all fish are different but I was just curious to see if others find that their six lines are not aggressive. And I've been on the fence, the flame angel does stay pretty small at max size of 5 inches and have seen plenty of 29 gallons with them in there. Still debating though.

 

[Surf&turf]

My last six-line turned really mean. I lost him in a recent power outage and probably won't replace.

 

[guarda]

I mistakenly added a juvenile sixline into my 20gal with established true perc pair and mandarin. Peaceful neighbor at first, now turning into a hoodlum. Trying to get him out and into my friends 75 gallon. First and last time I'll ever get a sixline. Very wily.

 

[evolved]

Upwards of 80% of them turn into terrors. Sure, there's always exceptions to any norm dependent upon an individual specimen's attitude, but the odds are greatly against you.

 

[Ryand63]

thanks for the input! I think i'm going to re evaluate the decision. Any suggestions for fish similar ( multi color, small, active )

 

[Wolverine]

Ours was good for about a month, and then a terror after that. The only two fish he didn't attack were a full-sized volitans lion and a medium sized clown trigger (old tank, wouldn't recommend having those two fish together; if doubting that, check the sticky in the Aggressives forum).

 

[DrSalty]

Have my 6-line in a 29gallon with a flame angel and clown fish and it has been a model citizen - no problems at all for the past 9 months.

 

[LiveStrongM3]

Getting a 6 lined wrasse was the worst reefing decision I have made. "Waldo" was a model citizen for 6 months and then became a terror. In the end he killed my yellow tang, helfrichi firefish, lyretail anthia, and an ignitius anthia.

Word to the wise: steer clear of getting a 6 lined wrasse!!! There are many other more beautiful reef safe wrasses (carpenters or mccosker wrasse) that dont have a reputation of destroying tanks.

 

[Rapide]

Getting a 6 lined wrasse was the worst reefing decision I have made. "Waldo" was a model citizen for 6 months and then became a terror. In the end he killed my yellow tang...

Say whaaat? Killed a yellow tang?!
What kind of a plutonium raised wrasse was Waldo? That is one mean motherlover, killing (or even attacking) a yellow tang.

 

[Ripperj]

I actually pulled my 6 Line out of my DT because I think my clowns were nipping at him. Now that he is healthy(was not sure if it was fin rot or not) I am going to try sticking him back in the DT

 

[Moort82]

Only had my sixline 6 months or so and its the last fish i will be adding and i went for a small one but not seen a hint of aggression whatsoever. Tried one before which my springers dottyback killed. Used an acclimation box for this one and when i let it out not a hint of trouble from anyone.
I do love these, they are one of my favourite fish but they aren't right for most situations only where the other species can stick up for themselves.

 

[Rapide]

Moort82, that's right! They are wonderfull wrasses, and IMO some people keep them in a tank that is just too small and that's why they start terrorising other fish...
Mine is sure aggressive, but not a troublemaker. I've come to that conclusion, that it's not "evil" species, just missunderstood
Give them space, and right mates and they'll bring you pleasure...

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Sixlines are very aggressive towards passive fish and in a small tank like that the goby and cardinal will probably be toast. There are thousands of horror stories regarding this species and most of them go something like this; "I added a sixline and everything was cool for about six months until one day....." Dont do it, you will likely regret it sooner or later.