How to prevent possible sixline aggression

[heyyitsbean]

Hello fellow reefers,
I recently bought a baby sixline wrasse for my 13.5 nano reef, but want to add another fish: the Bicolor Blenny. However, I was told that a sixline was supposed to be added last to avoid aggression. Yet I have a feeling the sixline will be friendly as it is a baby and already lost a bit of his tail to other fish. Even though I doubt the aggression, what precautions can I take to make sure my bicolor is safe?

 

[areefer01]

Hello fellow reefers,
I recently bought a baby sixline wrasse for my 13.5 nano reef, but want to add another fish: the Bicolor Blenny. However, I was told that a sixline was supposed to be added last to avoid aggression. Yet I have a feeling the sixline will be friendly as it is a baby and already lost a bit of his tail to other fish. Even though I doubt the aggression, what precautions can I take to make sure my bicolor is safe?

Not to be that person but that is too small for the sixline (unless you are mixing it up with another fish). That would be similar to flying a F15 fighter jet in coliseum.

You wanted to look for something like:

Barnical blenny
Starry Goby (BIOTA)
Black Belly Nano Goby (BIOTA)
Radial Filefish (Acreichthys Radiatus)

 

[vic5hands]

Purchased 3 Leopard Wrasse . I put them in with a 6 line . He took them all out. To top it off it’s a 210 gallon tank . Got rid of the 6 line cost me a few $$$$

 

[heyyitsbean]

Purchased 3 Leopard Wrasse . I put them in with a 6 line . He took them all out. To top it off it’s a 210 gallon tank . Got rid of the 6 line cost me a few $$$$

I’m sorry for that, I only have two clownfish and the sixline is a baby so do you think it will be fine? I have heard stories like yours but have also heard of friendly sixlines. I also heard that wrasses are especially aggressive to other wrasses

 

[areefer01]

I’m sorry for that, I only have two clownfish and the sixline is a baby so do you think it will be fine? I have heard stories like yours but have also heard of friendly sixlines. I also heard that wrasses are especially aggressive to other wrasses

Are you shopping for answers? Honestly the six line, small or not, isn't the right fish for that size tank. Doesn't sound like that is what you want to hear though and will do whatever you want, as you can.

Size doesn't matter in this case. It is a wrasse. They forage. Always moving, always looking, swimming, fast, slow, hover, grab the pod(s), and more. Inverts may be safe. Inverts may not be safe. Sixlines may be ok in my system but not in another. Amount of rock, food, competing animals of similar food type, etc. You are trying to introduce a fish with huge requirements in a nano tank. Is your display even covered with a lid?

There are always fish exceptions but if you search and do more research you will find that 9 out of 10 times the fish doesn't work in the scale that you suggest. More often than not when people do try it even with larger systems is that it is added last and to an established tank (for natural food).

 

[Lyss]

So, I never understand how or why folks put like 4 fish like this in a 13.5G tank that’s made for little nano fish. I have a 20g AIO that is about 16.5 g in the display w/the rest of the water volume in the back sump, and my stock is a clown pair and a tailspot blenny. I’ve been looking for a fourth (and final) fish but still haven’t found anything I’d really want that I’d also feel comfortable adding to a nano aside from a pink-streaked wrasse that’s almost impossible to get.

If it was me, the clown pair would be it in the 13.5 nano. Or instead of the clowns I’d do a few little goby nano fish. But a clown pair, sixline, and bicolor blenny seems like a recipe for trouble down the line in such small quarters.

 

[heyyitsbean]

So, I never understand how or why folks put like 4 fish like this in a 13.5G tank that’s made for little nano fish. I have a 20g AIO that is about 16.5 g in the display w/the rest of the water volume in the back sump, and my stock is a clown pair and a tailspot blenny. I’ve been looking for a fourth (and final) fish but still haven’t found anything I’d really want that I’d also feel comfortable adding to a nano aside from a pink-streaked wrasse that’s almost impossible to get.

If it was me, the clown pair would be it in the 13.5 nano. Or instead of the clowns I’d do a few little goby nano fish. But a clown pair, sixline, and bicolor blenny seems like a recipe for trouble down the line in such small quarters.

Yea i probably got ahead of myself, I am a new reefer and my LFS said a sixline was perfect for my tank size, I often get confused when researching fish as I often get mixed opinions on the fish (For example I would see one article say this fish could fit in this size tank and another say the tank is too small)

 

[heyyitsbean]

Are you shopping for answers? Honestly the six line, small or not, isn't the right fish for that size tank. Doesn't sound like that is what you want to hear though and will do whatever you want, as you can.

Size doesn't matter in this case. It is a wrasse. They forage. Always moving, always looking, swimming, fast, slow, hover, grab the pod(s), and more. Inverts may be safe. Inverts may not be safe. Sixlines may be ok in my system but not in another. Amount of rock, food, competing animals of similar food type, etc. You are trying to introduce a fish with huge requirements in a nano tank. Is your display even covered with a lid?

There are always fish exceptions but if you search and do more research you will find that 9 out of 10 times the fish doesn't work in the scale that you suggest. More often than not when people do try it even with larger systems is that it is added last and to an established tank (for natural food).

Sorry about that, I’m a new reefer and I just got ahead of myself, I think I will just return the sixline and stock my tank with more corals. I was just in love with this fish but if it will suffer in my tank it isn’t worth it.

 

[Lyss]

Yea i probably got ahead of myself, I am a new reefer and my LFS said a sixline was perfect for my tank size, I often get confused when researching fish as I often get mixed opinions on the fish (For example I would see one article say this fish could fit in this size tank and another say the tank is too small)

I’m afraid the LFS was not correct on that one. You can double-check by using LiveAquaria as a good reference. Search the fish you want and read the quick stats and additional info they list about each fish. There are varying minimum tank size requirements that are not always based just on the size of the fish, but also behavior and what it eats.

 

[areefer01]

Sorry about that, I’m a new reefer and I just got ahead of myself, I think I will just return the sixline and stock my tank with more corals. I was just in love with this fish but if it will suffer in my tank it isn’t worth it.

No need to apologize. I could have also been too aggressive, right?

Let me be honest for a minute. It is an amazing fish. It is active. It has color. It is always busy. It is out and about in your display. It is quick. And above all it is amazingly beneficial to your display as it relates to some pests we don't want or want to control. That is a lot of good, right? So I feel you and dig the vibe.

Reality though is tough. As noted above our fellow hobbyist had one in a 210 gallon display if I read correctly and it found, and killed, three leopard wrasses. Larger tank, probably larger fish, found them, and took them out. Crazy, right? I had one in a 100 gallon display that harassed my Copperband Butterfly and Purple tang. The butterfly I could only guess was competing for similar food. The Tang I had no idea why and the Tang was about 5 to 6" in size. And this was after adding the six line last and it coexisting for 2 years before it said enough was enough (I guess I didn't get that memo).

I had a similar experience with my Lavender tang. Last fish introduced. Got along with everyone for 3 years. Then one day I went to introduce a small Copperband (yes, I have this thing for them) and it was on. Non stop chasing mirror, decoy, or not. It wanted it dead and it didn't even eat the same food Scopas tang, sapphire damsels, rabbitfish, you name it all was good as was the lavender until that day. I couldn't introduce anything else thereafter.

So back to honesty in reefing. There are exceptions to every fish and display. A lot of it is just blind luck, system layout, and the fish. Some pull it off, some don't. And because of this we try to be honest in our replies although they may not seem like it. Small tank or large to remove the wrasse is going to disrupt the balance of your system stressing everyone out to include you. We don't want that.

Take a look at some of the smaller fish. They have great personalities and may work well. Or stay your hand with what you got and ask the LFS to take it back and trade it for some quality food like LRS Reef Frenzy or something. Or keep some credit and find something else.

Welcome to the hobby. It is an amazing one I'm not going to lie. Just some things we all have to wait it out for a bit until we are ready. Wish you all the best.

 

[heyyitsbean]

No need to apologize. I could have also been too aggressive, right?

Let me be honest for a minute. It is an amazing fish. It is active. It has color. It is always busy. It is out and about in your display. It is quick. And above all it is amazingly beneficial to your display as it relates to some pests we don't want or want to control. That is a lot of good, right? So I feel you and dig the vibe.

Reality though is tough. As noted above our fellow hobbyist had one in a 210 gallon display if I read correctly and it found, and killed, three leopard wrasses. Larger tank, probably larger fish, found them, and took them out. Crazy, right? I had one in a 100 gallon display that harassed my Copperband Butterfly and Purple tang. The butterfly I could only guess was competing for similar food. The Tang I had no idea why and the Tang was about 5 to 6" in size. And this was after adding the six line last and it coexisting for 2 years before it said enough was enough (I guess I didn't get that memo).

I had a similar experience with my Lavender tang. Last fish introduced. Got along with everyone for 3 years. Then one day I went to introduce a small Copperband (yes, I have this thing for them) and it was on. Non stop chasing mirror, decoy, or not. It wanted it dead and it didn't even eat the same food Scopas tang, sapphire damsels, rabbitfish, you name it all was good as was the lavender until that day. I couldn't introduce anything else thereafter.

So back to honesty in reefing. There are exceptions to every fish and display. A lot of it is just blind luck, system layout, and the fish. Some pull it off, some don't. And because of this we try to be honest in our replies although they may not seem like it. Small tank or large to remove the wrasse is going to disrupt the balance of your system stressing everyone out to include you. We don't want that.

Take a look at some of the smaller fish. They have great personalities and may work well. Or stay your hand with what you got and ask the LFS to take it back and trade it for some quality food like LRS Reef Frenzy or something. Or keep some credit and find something else.

Welcome to the hobby. It is an amazing one I'm not going to lie. Just some things we all have to wait it out for a bit until we are ready. Wish you all the best.

Your absolutely right, Thanks for all the help.

 

[NigelRichardson]

I picked up a 6 line on the advice of a (now forgotten) You Tube video that recommended them as one of the first fish based on ease of keeping plus their ability to keep the tank free of pests. (80 gallon tank, I thought I'd be fine).

I'm not necessarily calling this a mistake - he's an awesome looking fish, but I did learn the hard way about his aggression when he beat a Banana wrasse (who was about 3 times his size) to death in a few short days....

Lesson learned the hard / expensive way....

 

[KirkPatrick]

Hello fellow reefers,
I recently bought a baby sixline wrasse for my 13.5 nano reef, but want to add another fish: the Bicolor Blenny. However, I was told that a sixline was supposed to be added last to avoid aggression. Yet I have a feeling the sixline will be friendly as it is a baby and already lost a bit of his tail to other fish. Even though I doubt the aggression, what precautions can I take to make sure my bicolor is safe?

To begin overcrowding nearly always leads to aggressiveness. I added a 6 line to a 40 gallon Breeder with a couple of clowns and a blue damsel. It immediately went after one of the clowns and killed it. The other two ignored it. Months have passed and I upgraded my tank to a 75 gallon have added two blennys (lawnmower and gold Midas), and a starry goby with no issues. It’s hit or miss. They are kinda bipolar.

 

[Tamberav]

Hello fellow reefers,
I recently bought a baby sixline wrasse for my 13.5 nano reef, but want to add another fish: the Bicolor Blenny. However, I was told that a sixline was supposed to be added last to avoid aggression. Yet I have a feeling the sixline will be friendly as it is a baby and already lost a bit of his tail to other fish. Even though I doubt the aggression, what precautions can I take to make sure my bicolor is safe?

A baby sixline may not be aggressive yet but they do become adults and can get very nasty and even kill other fish. A 13g is not much space so just a warning that it could change any day.

I would be hesitant to add any more fish.

 

[Royce White]

Sorry about that, I’m a new reefer and I just got ahead of myself, I think I will just return the sixline and stock my tank with more corals. I was just in love with this fish but if it will suffer in my tank it isn’t worth it.

There you go, your first right decision for a newbie

 

[Mallycious]

Your absolutely right, Thanks for all the help.

Agree with previous posts. One tip for six lines is to feed them multiple times a day, and to ensure a steady supply of pods (hence mature tanks). Some report that helps keep the aggression down.

 

[Lavey29]

OP there are better choices for a tank your size, beautiful fish for nano reef tanks. I have a 6 line in my 65g DT with a lot of rock work and 4 other wrasses too. He hasn't been aggressive with any fish but swims around like a torpedo all day searching for food.

 

[Seymo44]

I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to come here to say that I have a o. clown, a watchman goby w/ p. shrimp, and a sixline in my evo. The watchman is by far the most aggressive of the three. I intended to move the wrasse to my 65, but haven’t gotten around to it. The wrasse is full grown and has been in the evo for over a year with absolutely no aggression (other than flaring his fins at his reflection). All fish are active, healthy, and get along fine…. unless the clown or wrasse get too close to the goby’s burrow.