Six line Wrasse

[Arreola]

I just got a Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) for a 34 gal tank.
Does any one have any experience on this species?
This is my second fish, the other one is a Sailfin/Algae Blenny (Salarias fasciatus).
The information on liveaquaria it says that they have a peaceful temperament.
On other sites I have found this information: The Sixline Wrasse can be a good neighbor or a real terror.
it depends on the aquarium setting and community. In a _larger tank, it rarely bothers its tankmates, but in a smaller tank it can cause real problems.

Any information on this species, very will be appreciated.

 

[Toddrtrex]

IME, they are jumpers, and can be terrors, especially to new tank mates. And tend to agree with them being worse in smaller tanks.

 

[Jerry W]

+1. I've had three. Only one was peaceful. One of the others killed a flasher wrasse twice it's size and the one I have now almost killed my sankey's dottyback. I would be very cautious about adding any more small fish to your tank. An established sixline can be very aggressive.

 

[jhentr]

Mines kept mostly to himself hovering around the rocks, and never out in the open (always looking for his next meal). He'd only messed around with one of the two firefishes I had. Nipping at the tail fins on rare occasions.

When I put the fishes into a 10 Gallon QT, I started seeing him be more aggressive, especially to the smaller B&W clowns I had with him, but nothing serious to warrant his removal.

 

[Michelasnemo]

Hi there,
I have had my 6-line for 7 months with an orchid dotty, royal gramma and a tiny sailfin blenny and have had no problems. A big tank with ample rock work and you should be fine.

Good Luck

 

[gws76]

My sixline has always been a model citizen until I added a longnose hawkfish. He bullied the longnose when the lights were on. He did it so much that my hawkfish would stay on the return inlets until the light's went off. 3 weeks later they started to tollerate each other.

 

[snorvich]

They can be bullies, especially in smaller tanks.

 

[Arreola]

Thanks all for the input on the Six Line.
The tank has about 28lbs of live rock, and a lot of places to hide.
So far it seams to be a good tank mate, but we'll have to see how he reacts in a coulpe of days.
I'm having trouble feeding him.
It only takes some of the flakes I put in the tank, but he does not go to the surface to feed.
Most of the food is wasted, even in a very small quantity.
Any suggestions?

Arreola

 

[flashyleopard]

They really prefer frozen, meaty foods, but do well for long periods left to graze on the fauna they get from the rock. You will more than likely have trouble with any other wrasse or anything smaller tan it in your tank. I had one in a 46 gallon bf. It was a merciless bully towards my green mandarin and even kept my strawberry gramma(known for being pretty aggressive) in hiding. One of my favorite ''reefy'' looking fish, but one I feel is too limiting, when considering a community with several small fish species.

 

[serum153]

Mine was only a terror towards my maroon clown. Strange thing was that the maroon was at least 4x it's size. The sixline managed to jump out of my tank with eggcrate, so use a mesh net/screen if you can.

 

[Arreola]

flashyleopard - I will try to get some frozen food tomorrow and see how it goes with the feeding.

serum153 - I have a Red Sea Max aquaruim, so if he jumps, he will not go anywhere. But I will be careful not to leave the hatch open.

Why this fish is considered Peaceful in most fish books and online stores?


Thanks

 

[gws76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13158711#post13158711 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Arreola

Why this fish is considered Peaceful in most fish books and online stores?


Thanks [/B]

This is because, the sixline is generally a peaceful fish. Add a fish that causes the sixline to feel threatened, watch out. There could be title fight in your tank. Like someone said earlier, if they have plenty of room to swim and hide maybe there would be less of the territorial fighting.:smokin:
BTW. My six line likes the pods that are on the rocks of my tank. I also feed him a mixture of mysis,spirulina brine, and cyclopeze w/vitamins. It's not directly feed to the sixline, that mix is feed to the entire tank. The sixline loves the cyclopeze.:lol:

 

[Arreola]

gws76 - The Six line is my second fish in the tank the other one is a Sailfin Blenny.
So far I haven't notticed any pods on the tank.
I will see what kind of frozen foods are available on the LFS, and see what he like.
I will do some water testing tonight and see If I can Add one more fish this weekend before he establish.