Six Line Wrasse & Shrimp?
- Thread starter nivekid
- Start date
Floowid
New member
I have a smallish 6 line in with a skunk and a peppermint. No problems yet. I would worry about the sexy though, they are so small, and the movement they make would attract a 6 line. I put a little neon blue goby in my tank and the 6 line chased him for a few days until he realized what he was, I think he was just reacting to the small size and the movement.
I can't see a 6 line ever bothering a pistol shrimp, if you are unlucky the problem is likely to go the other way, the 6 line obliviously swimming too near the pistol shrimp and POP!
I can't see a 6 line ever bothering a pistol shrimp, if you are unlucky the problem is likely to go the other way, the 6 line obliviously swimming too near the pistol shrimp and POP!
TampaReefer79
Premium Member
I have no experience with sexy shrimp or pistol shrimp...but I've always had 2 constants in all of my tanks: 6 line wrasse and shrimp. I've always kept cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp and fire shrimp and I've never had a problem with any 6 line, 4 line, or even christmas wrasse etc bothering shrimp.
ocellaris123
Active member
I would be a little nervous adding small shrimp like sexy shrimp in with a sixline wrasse. Cleaners and bloods are both fairly large species but to him the sexy shrimp may look like bite sized popcorn shrimp. .
jlanger
Get busy living...
We have a sixline wrasse in our tank that had a tiger pistol shrimp/yashia goby pair. The wrasse doesn't bother them much, but he was added after. We have since lost the goby, but the shrimp is still doing great on his own (for now). We're waiting to add another goby (A. randalli) which is a bit larger than the S. yashia). The tiger pistol shrimps (A. bellulus) are larger than the red banded pistol shrimps (A. randalli) and that could help with the wrasse.
My main concern would be how established the wrasse is in the tank. He may pester the new goby enough to cause some issues there. They become quite belligerent over time; no matter how small.
If you do proceed with the goby/shrimp pair, acclimate them in separate bags first. Then put them in the same bag for another twenty/thirty minutes so they bond again. When you add them to the tank, let them out right at the rock you wish for them to reside under. Even creating a little hole yourself first helps them get into the tank without getting harassed immediately.
We also have three peppermint shrimp (L. wurdemanni) that the sixline wrasse never even glances at.
I suggest trying one of the larger shrimps first and if all goes well, then try the pistol shrimp/goby pair.
-JASON
My main concern would be how established the wrasse is in the tank. He may pester the new goby enough to cause some issues there. They become quite belligerent over time; no matter how small.
If you do proceed with the goby/shrimp pair, acclimate them in separate bags first. Then put them in the same bag for another twenty/thirty minutes so they bond again. When you add them to the tank, let them out right at the rock you wish for them to reside under. Even creating a little hole yourself first helps them get into the tank without getting harassed immediately.
We also have three peppermint shrimp (L. wurdemanni) that the sixline wrasse never even glances at.
I suggest trying one of the larger shrimps first and if all goes well, then try the pistol shrimp/goby pair.
-JASON
This is good information. It sounds like the sexy shrimp are a no. I should have clarified. The tank is just being set up right now. No fish yet, or for a while. It is a reef that will have soft corals (zoas, mushrooms, leathers, etc.). I plan to have the shrimp/goby pair, purple firefish, one clown, and then the wrasse. Would they all work together? The reason I want the wrasse is for pest control and I like how they cruise around the tank. I think it adds depth. Would there be a better option?
ChrisMan123
New member
I think they will all do fine together. Me and step-dad have had cleaner, peppermint, and fire shrimp with 6 line wrasses AT ALL TIMES. They have never had an issue, the shrimp are too big for the wrasse to care. Plus the tank is a 210 gallon so they have no need to bother each other. That assortment of fish should work fine together though as long as you have sufficient tank space.
In my old tank I had a sixline for awhile, got a shrimp goby, then soon after added a pistol shrimp. As soon as I put the pistol shimp in the tank he was harassed by the sixline. All I heard was the popping noise the pistol shrimp made, and didn't see him since. So I'm guessing he didn't make it past the first night.
Saying that, I'm not sure if it was because the sixline was in the tank for awhile and established. Maybe if you add the sixline as the last fish, you'd have better luck.
Saying that, I'm not sure if it was because the sixline was in the tank for awhile and established. Maybe if you add the sixline as the last fish, you'd have better luck.
geaux xman
New member
could any of the shrimps coexist with a blue tang? 90g tank
dublo8
New member
Honestly the Sixline is a beautiful fish but is a PITA. I can speak for all of the six lines out there, but mine has killed 1 peppermint and 1 cleaner shrimp. Also caught him in the act of pecking at my emerald crab last night. They are great looking fish but they are like a 2 year old with markers and a new couch. You cant take your eye off of them for a second. On a side note I have never once seen him eat a flatworm.
Six line wrasse killed my new Coral Banded Shrimp
Six line wrasse killed my new Coral Banded Shrimp
Yesterday I added a medium sized coral banded shrimp and 2 small clownfish to my established 50 gallon reef tank. I've had a six line wrasse and a yellowtail damsel in the tank for a month. The six line was the original occupant and chased the damsel around for a day but they were cool after that. I was more concerned about the clown fish since they are small but almost immediately upon being in the DT the coral banded shrimp was being nipped at by the wrasse and by the end of the day the shrimp was missing an arm. When I woke up this morning the shrimp was dead. The clownfish are just fine and the wrasse swings near them but never picks on them like he did with the damsel.
I just want people to know that this outcome can be a possibility, and I'm afraid I will have to get rid of the wrasse if I want to add another shrimp.
Six line wrasse killed my new Coral Banded Shrimp
Yesterday I added a medium sized coral banded shrimp and 2 small clownfish to my established 50 gallon reef tank. I've had a six line wrasse and a yellowtail damsel in the tank for a month. The six line was the original occupant and chased the damsel around for a day but they were cool after that. I was more concerned about the clown fish since they are small but almost immediately upon being in the DT the coral banded shrimp was being nipped at by the wrasse and by the end of the day the shrimp was missing an arm. When I woke up this morning the shrimp was dead. The clownfish are just fine and the wrasse swings near them but never picks on them like he did with the damsel.
I just want people to know that this outcome can be a possibility, and I'm afraid I will have to get rid of the wrasse if I want to add another shrimp.
