New 6 Line Wrasse - Should I return it?

Justin Teufel · Jun 4, 2019

Hello, I recently bought a 6 line wrasse. I looked it up and had realized that people have had many issues with them becoming aggressive and etc. Let me know your opinions down below! thanks!

Cell · Jun 4, 2019

Hard to have an opinion here until you share a bit more about your tank, its inhabitants, and your goals.

W1ngz · Jun 4, 2019

I love my six. He darts in, up and around all the rocks and leaves everyone else alone. Every fish has a certain amount of unique characteristics, regardless of species.

DQM5 · Jun 4, 2019

eeh, it's a hit or miss. Usually they bully new tankmate, like my potters angel until he fought back now they are buddies.

clown and friends · Jun 4, 2019

I've had one for 6+ months in a tank with several other inhabitants. He and my watchman hate each other but the goby stands up for himself and doesn't take any ****. Other than that model citizen, like everyone said they are hit or miss. Though I am well aware that mine could snap and go wild still. They are fantastic fish and super fun to watch and they keep a tank pest free since they spend all day looking for **** to eat on the rocks (why people keep them in frag tanks). If you like it then keep it and see, might get lucky like me!

zoous · Jun 4, 2019

I have a 6-line in the sump right now. It was beating up on my orchid dottyback. If it stayed in the display tank my dottyback wouldn't be alive now.

Webslinger · Jun 4, 2019

sump it or return it. It's only a matter of time till it becomes a terror! Get a Choris Wrasse. It's about the same size and a beautiful/interesting fish.

User1 · Jun 4, 2019

Justin Teufel said:
Hello, I recently bought a 6 line wrasse. I looked it up and had realized that people have had many issues with them becoming aggressive and etc. Let me know your opinions down below! thanks!

Onus is on you to determine what will and will not work and the homework should have been done prior to the purchase. Having said that all fish are different and what works for me may not for you. If you have a proper tank setup that is mature, healthy and established fish, rock with enough hiding places, enough rock to forage, and yet more mature coral growth it could work.

Six lines are constantly moving. They forage until they go to sleep. So they get up and forage, then go about their day and forage, and just before they go to bed and after their adult beverage or night cap, guess what they do, forage. They move non stop. Hover. Stop. Look. Dart. Dash. Rinse and repeat. So rule number one is having an established and mature tank across the board top to bottom substrate to rock and rock to coral. You cannot have a similar looking fish that will eat the same food or compete for the same food. It just will not work.

Webslinger · Jun 4, 2019

Definitely not for the small aquarium

Justin Teufel · Jun 4, 2019

Thank you guys for all of your responses! I think I will just see what happens. Today was his first full day in the tank, and so far he seemed to be nice to the other fish and eats all of my aiptasia and any existing flatworms, although this is not my final opinion because it hasn't been in my tank for long. I had a whole rock covered in mature aiptasia that I was going to get rid of, but he had already devoured every single one of em! It is so cool to watch swim around the rockwork. I also added him in last to anty up my chances of less or close to no fighting. So far, so good. Thanks again, guys! If there is

Cell said:
Hard to have an opinion here until you share a bit more about your tank, its inhabitants, and your goals.

W1ngz said:
I love my six. He darts in, up and around all the rocks and leaves everyone else alone. Every fish has a certain amount of unique characteristics, regardless of species.

DQM5 said:
eeh, it's a hit or miss. Usually they bully new tankmate, like my potters angel until he fought back now they are buddies.

clown and friends said:
I've had one for 6+ months in a tank with several other inhabitants. He and my watchman hate each other but the goby stands up for himself and doesn't take any ****. Other than that model citizen, like everyone said they are hit or miss. Though I am well aware that mine could snap and go wild still. They are fantastic fish and super fun to watch and they keep a tank pest free since they spend all day looking for **** to eat on the rocks (why people keep them in frag tanks). If you like it then keep it and see, might get lucky like me!

zoous said:
I have a 6-line in the sump right now. It was beating up on my orchid dottyback. If it stayed in the display tank my dottyback wouldn't be alive now.

Webslinger said:
sump it or return it. It's only a matter of time till it becomes a terror! Get a Choris Wrasse. It's about the same size and a beautiful/interesting fish.

saf1 said:
Onus is on you to determine what will and will not work and the homework should have been done prior to the purchase. Having said that all fish are different and what works for me may not for you. If you have a proper tank setup that is mature, healthy and established fish, rock with enough hiding places, enough rock to forage, and yet more mature coral growth it could work.

Six lines are constantly moving. They forage until they go to sleep. So they get up and forage, then go about their day and forage, and just before they go to bed and after their adult beverage or night cap, guess what they do, forage. They move non stop. Hover. Stop. Look. Dart. Dash. Rinse and repeat. So rule number one is having an established and mature tank across the board top to bottom substrate to rock and rock to coral. You cannot have a similar looking fish that will eat the same food or compete for the same food. It just will not work.