Contemplating adding a Six Line - advice??

damselindistress · Nov 6, 2018

Happy Election Day reefers

I currently have a 60 gallon long stocked with a pair of clowns, a Tomini Tang and three yellow tail blue damsels that I added in an attempt to beat a dottyback into submission. The dottyback ultimately got himself stuck in his favorite rock and, after a day and a half, ultimately didn't survive the extrication process - sad but not sad).

I'd like to add a Six Line and feel like it would be okay compatability wise with my other fish but am concerned about overloading my tank. Thoughts or recommendations? Compatability concerns I'm overlooking?

FWIW, I also have mixed corals - softies and LPS mostly but I have a green birdsnest that's several months along (low growth) and a recently acquired blue digi that's still trying to decide if he likes my tank or not .

Oscaror · Nov 6, 2018

damselindistress said:
Happy Election Day reefers

I currently have a 60 gallon long stocked with a pair of clowns, a Tomini Tang and three yellow tail blue damsels that I added in an attempt to beat a dottyback into submission. The dottyback ultimately got himself stuck in his favorite rock and, after a day and a half, ultimately didn't survive the extrication process - sad but not sad).

I'd like to add a Six Line and feel like it would be okay compatability wise with my other fish but am concerned about overloading my tank. Thoughts or recommendations? Compatability concerns I'm overlooking?

FWIW, I also have mixed corals - softies and LPS mostly but I have a green birdsnest that's several months along (low growth) and a recently acquired blue digi that's still trying to decide if he likes my tank or not .

Should be fine, I had a 6 line with similar fish and it didn't cause problems with them. I'm sure you already know about their compatibility with other wrasses so it goes without saying

Potatohead · Nov 6, 2018

My six line has been hit and miss. I really like it, it's a pretty fish and is a great worker in the reef, but new fish additions are sometimes a pain. If the fish is bigger, it's no problem, but smaller fish I am ~50/50 on. He hates diamond gobies lol.

srusso · Nov 6, 2018

I had a bad time with a sixline. I like many, purchased it as a tiny fish with great color, yada yada. Was told the "add it at the end" verbiage. It was a great at first, but it got larger and later it would not play nice with many of my fish. Nearly killed three fish that it had no issues previously for 1.5 years. It was hard to watch, six line is so extremely fast and smart they will not be easily removed once added. I was only able to remove the fish it no longer wanted to share the tank with due to their nearly dead condition, even in a complete shutdown it hides in your rocks, and less you are ready to relocate the rock it's in, to a QT then wait for it to leave the rock. All of which is painful stressful for a reef... Just leave my 2 cents here. [emoji4]

theKoolAidMan · Nov 6, 2018

I think you're fine with stocking one. Also, being added last he should be fine with those tankmates. They can all hold their own and won't let him push them around.

Jesterrace · Nov 6, 2018

6 lines are ticking time bombs IMHO. They can be good tank mates when younger but as they grow they can snap and turn into unholy terrors, even to larger fish. There are plenty of other wrasses I would consider before a 6 line in a 60 gallon tank. A Melanurus Wrasse would be a much better choice. They are generally peaceful, but won't back down if other fish start pushing them around. My juvie Melanurus didn't start fights but put an aggressive snowflake occ clown in check, and made it clear to a Yellow Tang and Coral Beauty that he wasn't going to be pushed around either.

Reefbuds · Nov 6, 2018

Great fish. Very active and nice color. But...
I've had one for almost 2 years now. He is a pain in my butt. I've had to learn to live with it tho. He is extremely aggressive towards any new additions. Other than that he is great. Just don't plan on adding anything smaller than him. Even bigger fish are targets sometimes. If you have any rockwork you won't be able to get him out either. Extremely fast and agile and will hide in rocks as stated above.
I recently got a pair of flame hawkfish which have thankfully put my 6 line in its place for now. Apparently he tried to show dominance.. of course the hawks prevailed. He just does his own thing now and leaves my new additions alone.
Just know what your getting into, I would have gotten a different wrasse if I knew what I was in for.
Although, I have come to like him since I've had him for so long.

declanisadog · Nov 6, 2018

I have a six line in my office tank, and he has been a model citizen. He's with a foxface, two ignitus anthias, pair of clowns, yellow tail damsel, and flame hawk. He and the clowns were the only fish in there at one point, and I have never had any issues with him. The big female clown is the bully of the tank.

declanisadog · Nov 6, 2018

Also, mine is huge. I've had him for about five years.

Reefbuds · Nov 6, 2018

You should add a poll choice for currently have and can't wait to get rid of lol

davocean · Nov 6, 2018

Most of the time they become bullies and people end up tearing their tank apart trying to undo what they did in adding one

GoldeneyeRet · Nov 6, 2018

It would likely be fine, but will limit any future additions you may wish to make.

There are much better fish to add, IMO.

damselindistress · Nov 6, 2018

Really appreciate everyone's answers, thank you all for taking the time to give me your thoughts! I think I will steer clear of the six line for now, they sound like an intriguing fish but perhaps in a larger tank at some point down the road (we all keep migrating to larger tanks down the road, right?).

Several of your responses reminded me of my recently departed dottyback and how I had grown to hate that little b-----d lol.

Interestingly enough, a flame hawkfish is one of the alternatives I'd considered. I may look further into the possibility of adding one of those instead. Plus I have a rogue peppermint shrimp I'd love for a flame hawk to put out of my misery - he's eating my acans and trumpets.

Thanks again everyone!

damselindistress · Nov 6, 2018

Really appreciate everyone's answers, thank you all for taking the time to give me your thoughts! I think I will steer clear of the six line for now, they sound like an intriguing fish but perhaps in a larger tank at some point down the road (we all keep migrating to larger tanks down the road, right?).

Several of your responses reminded me of my recently departed dottyback and how I had grown to hate that little b-----d lol.

Interestingly enough, a flame hawkfish is one of the alternatives I'd considered. I may look further into the possibility of adding one of those instead. Plus I have a rogue peppermint shrimp I'd love for a flame hawk to put out of my misery - he's eating my acans and trumpets.

Thanks again everyone!

damselindistress · Nov 6, 2018

Oh my gosh why is it posting multiple times

Reefbuds · Nov 6, 2018

Flame hawks are awsome little guys. Super personable and great to watch. Keep them fed well and you shouldn't have to worry about a slaughter of your inverts lol. I have a pair of them and they are my absolute favorite. Pretty sure it was the first fish I went "wow" at when I got into the hobby 6 years ago. Definitely look into it.
They are semi aggressive as well. They will definitely defend themselves if needed but will not seek out aggression. Except maybe if they get hungry for shrimp!!
But that's why you keep them well fed

Jesterrace · Nov 7, 2018

A Flame Hawk is good, although it's more of a rock hopper than an open water swimmer like the wrasses are. All depends on what you are looking for though. Flame Hawks do have funny, goofy personalities though.

Potatohead · Nov 7, 2018

Flame Hawk is one of the best fish in the hobby, IMO.

JumboShrimp · Nov 7, 2018

Flame Hawkfish or Longnose Hawkfish, either will give you a nice spash or red, and something low in the tank. As for the Wrasse question, I’m firmly in the Camp which says go for the M. Wrasse and avoid the 6-Line. Best wishes!

vetteguy53081 · Nov 7, 2018

A lot of controversy on this fish. I've had NO issues. If nothing else, get a 4 line but I have 1 each in two different tanks and NO issues at all

Oberst Oswald · Nov 7, 2018

Don't get a 6 line. Mine cost $20.00 and killed about $250.00 worth of fish. Couldn't catch him (smartest fish known to man) and could not add new fish. Finally jumped out of the tank when I wasn't home. Not a tear was shed.