
Table of Contents
- Difficulty. Like all fish they are sensitive when first introduced to a new tank, but once this is done they become hardy and resistant.
- Feeding. The Six Line Wrasse is a carnivore and will feed on things like fish eggs, crab larvae, molluscs and crustaceans.
- Breeding. ...
- Social. ...
What do six line wrasse fish eat?
The Six Line Wrasse will eat most flake or pellet foods. They also should enjoy occasional mysis shrimp feedings or vitamin enriched brine shrimp. The Six Line Wrasse can be an avid pod hunter, making him an unsuitable tank mate for any fish who depends upon pods.
How do you care for a six line wrasse?
In the home aquarium, the Six Line Wrasse requires a peaceful environment with a generous supply of hiding places and live rock on which they can forage for food. Here, the Six Line Wrasse will search for live foods in the form of small crustaceans such as pyramidellid snails (clam parasites), urchins, and commensal flatworms.
What fish can I house with a six line wrasse?
Due to the somewhat aggressive nature of the Six Line Wrasse only semi-aggressive fish should be housed with the wrasse. They will bully blennies, mandarins, pipefish, sea horses, feather duster worms, crustaceans and other wrasse.
Is the 6 line wrasse reef safe?
Is the 6 line wrasse reef safe? 6 Line Wrasses are considered reef-safe and would leave corals and most invertebrates alone. They might even act as cleaner fish and peck parasites or algae off larger fish, rocks, or plants. They are even able to keep a pyramid snail population in control.

What should I feed my wrasse?
Its main diet consists of small crustaceans and invertebrates. In captivity, Halichoeres ornatissimus will feed on meaty fares such as fresh or frozen seafood, dried, frozen or live brine and mysid shrimp, live grass shrimp, as well as flake foods.
Do 6 line wrasse eat coral?
Six line wrasses do not eat coral. Their natural behavior is to hunt for tiny invertebrates like worms, copepods, snails, or other meaty foods that are living among the coral tissue.
Does a six line wrasse eat algae?
Yes, wrasses eat algae and most if not all fish in the wild eat some form of algae...
Is a 6 line wrasse Hardy?
The Six-Line Wrasse is a hardy, active and useful fish. This wrasse is a great choice for reef aquariums because they will not bother corals/anemones. In addition, they are known predators of a myriad of unwanted pests like bristle worms and flatworms.
Can a six line wrasse live with clownfish?
The wrasse was one of the last fish in the tank, with a flame angel. I have a six-line in a small tank with 2 juvenile clownfish and I've never had a problem with him. I added them all at the same time so maybe that helped, but he is less aggressive than I anticipated and is not a bully at feeding time.
Will a six line wrasse eat cleaner shrimp?
I have had a six line wrasse with peppermint and cleaner shrimp for a couple of years. There have been no problems.
Will 6 line wrasse eat snails?
Six line wrasse's rarely mess with anything that's not another fish or a small invert. They will eat worms (flatworms, bristle worms, etc.) and small snails (stomatella, pyramid snail). Often, they are also a problem for any fish which are added after them, as they are territorial.
Does a six line wrasse need sand?
Like many other wrasse species, the Sixline sleeps under the sand and also uses it as cover when frightened, so 3-4ins of substrate is recommended.
How long does a 6 line wrasse live?
10 yearsHow Long Do Six Line Wrasses Live? There is no average lifespan for six line wrasses, but it's safe to say that they have the possibility to live 10 years or more. In general, six line wrasses are incredibly hardy fish once established in the reef aquarium.
Can you put two six line wrasse together?
in the tank. Six-lines will pair up if you are lucky enough to get a male and female and they get along. You will have better luck getting a male and female if one of them is much larger then the other.
Do six line wrasse eat parasites?
He eats brine and mysis shrimp as well as parasites.
Can you put two wrasses together?
Mixed genera and species of wrasses can be kept together with proper planning and research. Avoid housing two males of the same species together since they will inevitably battle, harm and potentially kill each other.
Will wrasse eat corals?
The wrasses feed by briefly placing their lips in contact with the coral prior to delivering a powerful suck, appearing to seal the mouth over a small area. The new evidence suggests that Tubelip wrasses survive by feeding primarily on coral mucus.
Does a six line wrasse need sand?
Like many other wrasse species, the Sixline sleeps under the sand and also uses it as cover when frightened, so 3-4ins of substrate is recommended.
Will six line wrasse eat pellets?
When it comes to feeding, they are a relatively easy fish to maintain. You can easily feed them with pellets high in protein, and they will even take to flake foods. For a treat you can feed them frozen Mysis Shrimp and Brine Shrimp.
Can you put two wrasses together?
Mixed genera and species of wrasses can be kept together with proper planning and research. Avoid housing two males of the same species together since they will inevitably battle, harm and potentially kill each other.
What Do Six Line Wrasses Eat?
On top of the many bristle worms, snails, and microorganisms they find among the rocks, they will readily eat fish flakes and pellets. They will also appreciate meaty foods like live, frozen, and freeze-dried options like brine shrimp and mysis shrimp as well. Blackworms are also a good option. For frozen foods, I highly recommend LRS foods.
How many gallons of water for 6 line wrasse?
Still, some hobbyists have had success keeping six line wrasses in 20 gallons. Other hobbyists find that 55 gallons is the bare minimum. We believe that a standard 40 gallon fish tank with intricate rockwork should be enough space for your six line wrasse to freely roam.
What happens if a six line wrasse picks at the sides of other fish?
If you find that your six line wrasse is picking at the sides of other fish in a friendly manner, then you may have a cleaner six line wrasse! Keep an eye out for if this turns into aggression and/or starts to bother the other fish.
How to introduce a wrasse to a new tankmate?
Acclimate slowly. In this case, we don’t mean acclimation in the sense of matching water parameters. Instead, use a glass or plastic container to slowly introduce your wrasse to the rest of the tankmates. Simply submerge or float this container with your wrasse inside for several days. This should get all fish familiarized with each other so there is less immediate aggression.
What color are the eyes of a six line wrasse?
Six line wrasses also have very characteristic red eyes with two horizontal stripes at either side of the pupil.
How long do six line wrasses live?
There is no average lifespan for six line wrasses, but it’s safe to say that they have the possibility to live 10 years or more .
What are the stripes on a six line wrasse's body?
Six line wrasses are named after the six alternating blue and orangey-yellow stripes along the sides of their body that run from behind the gill, onto the dorsal fin, and onto the caudal (tail) fin. The tail fin can be green at the base and transition into yellow or become transparent. At the top of the base of the tail, there is also a black eyespot which can be used to confuse predators.
How big does a six line wrasse get?
The typical size to see a six line wrasse at a local fish store is in the 1-2 inch range, but they will grow to between 3 and 4 inches in total length when fully grown.
What is the minimum six line wrasse tank size?
The six line wrasse, Pseudocheilinus hexataenia, requires a minimum tank size of 55-gallons (~208 liters), for maximum health. Adults will grow to about 3-inches in total length, but they require open space for swimming.
What is the fish that eats rocks?
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia is a carnivorous fish, spending most of its time picking at live rocks in search of small worms (like bristle worms ), parasites, and crustaceans.
Why is the 6 line wrasse so aggressive?
Compatibility is one of the biggest issues with keeping the six-line wrasse because they can be aggressive and have a tendency to pester other fish, especially other members of the wrasse family. They can stress out a shy fish so much they may succumb to parasites or even die.
What fish do you keep with live rock?
While the 6 line wrasse is a naturally bold fish, they do best when kept with a moderate amount of live rock. They will dart in and out of the aquascape for protection and will scour the rock looking for a tasty morsel to eat.
Why does my six line wrasse jump out of the tank?
There is some risk that a six-line wrasse will jump out of the tank when startled if you do not have a tight-fitting lid or another way to prevent the jump.
Is a 6 line wrasse reef safe?
Is the 6 line wrasse reef safe? 6 Line Wrasses are considered reef-safe and would leave corals and most invertebrates alone. They might even act as cleaner fish and peck parasites or algae off larger fish, rocks, or plants. They are even able to keep a pyramid snail population in control.
What do six line wrasses eat?
The Six Line Wrasse will eat most flake or pellet foods. They also should enjoy occasional mysis shrimp feedings or vitamin enriched brine shrimp. The Six Line Wrasse can be an avid pod hunter, making him an unsuitable tank mate for any fish who depends upon pods. Refugiums or large masses or rocks are required to keep any sizable pod population ...
What fish can you house with a six line wrasse?
Due to the somewhat aggressive nature of the Six Line Wrasse only semi-aggressive fish should be housed with the wrasse. They will bully blennies, mandarins, pipefish, sea horses, feather duster worms, crustaceans and other wrasse.
Why do wrasses raise fins?
They raise fins and get red eyes when acting aggressive. They will help keep the tank clear of any pests such as flat worms or pyramidellid snails. They can be fairly aggressive and will bully more timid fish, even those much larger than themselves. Add the wrasse last to help curve their aggression.
What size is a 6 line wrasse?
Size. 4". The Six Line Wrasse is one of the most active and colorful fish that is still easy to own. They swim to all areas of the tank, making for a great show fish. They love having large areas to swim while also having rockwork to hide in. They raise fins and get red eyes when acting aggressive.
Why is it so hard to mate the Six Line Wrasse?
Additionally it is difficult to mate the Six Line Wrasse, as they are quick to turn hostile on one another before learning the others gender.
Do six line wrasses need a tank?
The Six Line Wrasse has no special requirements when it comes to their tank. They do like to have rocks to swim around and hide in as well as long tanks to swim across. They should not be kept in small tanks or tall tanks, as they need space to swim around.
Do wrasses eat shrimp?
Wrasse will also be less aggressive in larger tanks. Wrasse will eat most crustaceans, including cleaner shrimp, if they are smaller than the wrasse.
Where can I find six line wrasses?
Many of the Six Line Wrasses in the aquarium hobby are live-caught from the coast of Fiji and other Indo-Pacific locations. They are found on coral reefs in shallow, clear, and warm water. They spend their days foraging in the cracks and crevices of reefs, looking for small prey animals to eat.
What is a six line wrasse?
The Six Line Wrasse is primarily a carnivorous fish, eating mostly animal proteins. They are natural foragers and will nibble at small invertebrates in your aquarium.
Is a six line wrasse a saltwater fish?
The Six Line Wrasse is a vivid addition to many larger saltwater systems. A fairly aggressive fish, especially towards some invertebrate species and many fishes, the Six Line Wrasse requires careful consideration before adding them to your system. Once established, they are relatively easy to keep, although breeding them is exceedingly difficult.
GuitarMan89 Giant Squid
I was thinking about purchasing a six line wrasse for a FOWLR tank. I have been reading up on it and many reviews say that they are hard to feed initially . Is this true? Have people who have/have had a six line wrasse found this too be true? Also, on a side note, I know some wrasses require deeper substrate, does this one?
omard Gnarly Old Codfish
I was thinking about purchasing a six line wrasse for a FOWLR tank. I have been reading up on it and many reviews say that they are hard to feed initially . Is this true? Have people who have/have had a six line wrasse found this too be true? Also, on a side note, I know some wrasses require deeper substrate, does this one?
GuitarMan89 Giant Squid
sounds like this is a definite buy! I can't wait, i've been wanting to get one
What is a six line wrasse?
The Six Line Wrasse is both beautiful and active. With its six distinct, horizontal blue lines overlaid against an orange body, this member of the Labridae family brings a zip of color to any marine reef aquarium. This is especially true when a courting male Six Line Wrasse displays an increased color intensity.
Where is the Six Line Wrasse native to?
Also known as the Sixline or Sixstripe Wrasse, Pseudocheilinus hexataenia is native to reefs of the Indo-Pacific and the coast of Fiji. Here, the Six Line Wrasse forages amongst corals and rocks for foods, mainly keeping to itself. In the home aquarium, the Six Line Wrasse requires a peaceful environment with a generous supply ...
What does a cool fish eat?
Cool fish! Very active and hardy. Eats bristleworms and other pests in my 55 gallon reef aquarium.
Is a six line wrasse a good reef fish?
They have interesting personalities; mine weaves in and out of my liverock searching for bits of food. It can also hold its own against a few of my pesky damsels, but I would definitely consider it a peaceful addition vital to any reef system.
Can a six line wrasse be aggressive?
Though generally peaceful, the Six Line Wrasse may act aggressively towards peaceful Wrasses and other easily-intimidated fish, especially if inadequately fed or if its habitat is void of places in which it can hide.
In the Wild
Six line wrasses inhabit the central and western parts of the Indo-Pacific region.
Size: Double Your Investment
Most fish stores stock six line wrasses as juveniles. At that size, they’re not more than 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in length.
Lifespan
Despite their small size (and popularity – as snacks for other fish and for marine aquariums), six line wrasses do well in the lifespan department.
Behavior
Most aquarists choose to bring a six line wrasse into their saltwater aquarium for one of two reasons: pest control or cleaning.
Tank Setup
As six line wrasses don’t get terribly large, you don’t need to spring for a massive reef tank – in theory.
Six Line Wrasses in Communities
Six line wrasses have earned their semi-aggressive temperaments. But that doesn’t mean you have to leave them out of your community plans.
Food and Diet
Six line wrasses are, officially, carnivores. But they specialize in that menu, targeting microfauna.
