Six Line Wrasse Dilemma

ReefGrammie · Dec 17, 2019

What to do, what to do?! Long story, but after adding a few new fish, I have a six line dilemma. I added a fairy wrasse and a flasher wrasse after the six line...I know, probably a big mistake, but it's been a number of years since I had a six line and I forgot how mean they can be. The fairy wrasse is doing fine, but the flasher has been freaked out by the six line, who terrorizes him nonstop. I finally decided that the fairy/flasher are more important to me than the six line and I had to get him out. I turned my acclimation box into a fish trap with dental floss as my door closer (so I could close it without standing right at the tank). I put the box in angled with the door open for a few days until the fish were freely swimming in and out of the box. I had every single fish in the tank in that box except for the six line (of course)! To make the box irresistible, I added a mirror on the inside and also on the outside so the wrasse would hopefully go for the mirrors.

It took a few days, but after raising the outside mirror up where he could see the inside mirror, the six line went into the box to attack himself in the mirror. I pulled on my dental floss and shut the door. I have the six line in there now, along with a damsel who is a victim of circumstance. The damsel had been in the box nonstop to look at himself in the mirrors!

Anyway, they're both doing fine, slept last night, back to looking in the mirrors today. I'm feeding them in the box, but am not touching that lid because if that six line gets out, I'll never catch him again! I will release the damsel once I've decided what to do with the six line.

My options are:
1) See if the LFS will take the six line back. I have a good relationship with the LFS owner and he's done this before. I don't expect a refund.
2) Put the six line in my refugium, where I'm sure he will promptly destroy the pod population.
3) Leave him in the box for a week or so and try putting him back in the tank to see if he will behave. Once again, I'm afraid if he doesn't behave, I'll never be able to catch him again.

I'm probably leaning towards option 1), but I'm not 100% positive. Any other opinions? Of note, the toilet is NOT an option!! He's mean, but he will do fine in another tank...just not mine!

Joedubyk · Dec 17, 2019

Without a doubt , #1

The hardest thing into the hobby is to become a hyper-realist when selecting fish for our community. Size, aggression, tank mates, etc, all matter. There are always the lucky ones that get a fish that doesn't fit the mold. He is a wild fish. He only knows what he is born to do. He will definitely bcome more aggressive. He may behave for a few days because keeping him in the box will have him stressed out.

ReefGrammie · Dec 17, 2019

Joedubyk said:
Without a doubt , #1

The hardest thing into the hobby is to become a hyper-realist when selecting fish for our community. Size, aggression, tank mates, etc, all matter. There are always the lucky ones that get a fish that doesn't fit the mold. He is a wild fish. He only knows what he is born to do. He will definitely bcome more aggressive. He may behave for a few days because keeping him in the box will have him stressed out.

Thank you! That makes me feel better. You'd think after 11+ years in the hobby, I'd know better. Live and learn (again)!

Joedubyk · Dec 17, 2019

ReefGrammie said:
Thank you! That makes me feel better. You'd think after 11+ years in the hobby, I'd know better. Live and learn (again)!

yup!! We all do it. Ive CERTAINLY learned the hard way. My fish now do great because I finally drilled it in my head only certain ones can be in the tank. I totally regret killing/stressing fish by going against my own research..

ReefGrammie · Dec 17, 2019

Joedubyk said:
I totally regret killing/stressing fish by going against my own research..

Absolutely, and well said!!

Scurvy · Dec 17, 2019

I would say number 1 is the best choice as well.

Funny enough I am doing the same thing with my acclimation box at the moment. No mirror though, just waiting for the target to enter. Much like you every fish but my target has been in/out 100 times a day. I need to rig up the floss trick to close the door though. Great idea.

Idaho Mojo · Dec 17, 2019

I've had the same experience with a 6 line, had to make a bottle trap with some food to get it out, it took me 6 solid hours sitting in front of the tank.

In reference to the dental floss, I know most of it is "waxed", sometimes with flavors added. I'm not sure how that stuff holds up in saltwater, but I used the thinest fishing line I could find since I knew there was no coating or treatments done to it compared to other string or fiber I was considering using (dental floss being one).

ReefGrammie · Dec 17, 2019

Scurvy said:
I would say number 1 is the best choice as well.

Funny enough I am doing the same thing with my acclimation box at the moment. No mirror though, just waiting for the target to enter. Much like you every fish but my target has been in/out 100 times a day. I need to rig up the floss trick to close the door though. Great idea.

I think I've used my acclimation box more as a fish trap than anything over the years! I tried the floss trick the last time I was trying to trap a fish. The fish was going in the box, but every time I got near the tank to close the lid, the fish swam out. I just happened to catch the six line in the box out of the corner of my eye. He was obsessed with the mirror, so I just pulled the floss and closed the lid. Good luck with your catch!

ReefGrammie · Dec 17, 2019

Idaho Mojo said:
I've had the same experience with a 6 line, had to make a bottle trap with some food to get it out, it took me 6 solid hours sitting in front of the tank.

In reference to the dental floss, I know most of it is "waxed", sometimes with flavors added. I'm not sure how that stuff holds up in saltwater, but I used the thinest fishing line I could find since I knew there was no coating or treatments done to it compared to other string or fiber I was considering using (dental floss being one).

I tried the bottle trick and he wouldn't go near it, even with bait! I caught my starfish, though..

Dental floss probably wasn't the best choice, but when my son moved, he took all of the fishing line with him!

evolved · Dec 17, 2019

ReefGrammie said:
My options are:
1) See if the LFS will take the six line back. I have a good relationship with the LFS owner and he's done this before. I don't expect a refund.
2) Put the six line in my refugium, where I'm sure he will promptly destroy the pod population.
3) Leave him in the box for a week or so and try putting him back in the tank to see if he will behave. Once again, I'm afraid if he doesn't behave, I'll never be able to catch him again.

#1 or #2 - your choice really. #3 will NOT work.

saltyhog · Dec 17, 2019

Definitely #1 for me. #3 is a no go for sure, you already know how that would end.

#2 would limit what other fish you might want to keep going forward.....Mandarin?

User1 · Dec 17, 2019

Personally I'd add a 4th option much to everyone's dismay.

4) Keep the Six Line and return both the fairy and flasher wrasse

Six Line was already established. You obviously liked it at one point in time. Doesn't sound like it is doing any harm with existing fish. In any case I think everyone gave you sound advise outside of me. I just happen to be fond of them and feel they are misunderstood or do not have a proper environment set up for them.

Best of luck!

Jesterrace · Dec 17, 2019

ReefGrammie said:
Thank you! That makes me feel better. You'd think after 11+ years in the hobby, I'd know better. Live and learn (again)!

I concur with option 1. 6 lines are bad enough with other fish when they mature and downright unholy terrors when it comes to other wrasses. I would give it the boot simply because it will limit any future stocking options. Take it back to your LFS and let them find a home for it. My LFS actually uses them for their coral frag tanks and they do a great job in there since there isn't anything to bother other than potential coral pests. So maybe offer the LFS use it for one of their coral frag tanks.

ReefGrammie · Dec 18, 2019

Jesterrace said:
My LFS actually uses them for their coral frag tanks and they do a great job in there since there isn't anything to bother other than potential coral pests. So maybe offer the LFS use it for one of their coral frag tanks.

Great idea! I'll definitely mention that to the owner.

ReefGrammie · Dec 18, 2019

The six line is back at the LFS. He was eating this morning in the acclimation box/trap and seemed fine. The flasher wrasse is coming out of the rocks more, but still seems skittish like he's waiting to be attacked (which he was). None of the other fish are bothering him, so hopefully he will keep coming out more and more with time. I'm not adding any more livestock for a while. I'm going to let things settle down!

Jesterrace · Dec 18, 2019

ReefGrammie said:
The six line is back at the LFS. He was eating this morning in the acclimation box/trap and seemed fine. The flasher wrasse is coming out of the rocks more, but still seems skittish like he's waiting to be attacked (which he was). None of the other fish are bothering him, so hopefully he will keep coming out more and more with time. I'm not adding any more livestock for a while. I'm going to let things settle down!

Good Plan, give the flasher more time and it will likely build confidence once it realizes the little butthead is gone.

ReefGrammie · Dec 19, 2019

Jesterrace said:
Good Plan, give the flasher more time and it will likely build confidence once it realizes the little butthead is gone.

You are absolutely right! The flasher wrasse has been out more today than I've seen him in weeks!

Jesterrace · Dec 19, 2019

ReefGrammie said:
You are absolutely right! The flasher wrasse has been out more today than I've seen him in weeks!

That's a good sign, hopefully it continues.

ReefGrammie · Dec 21, 2019

The flasher wrasse is doing well. He's still slightly skittish (like he expects to be attacked any second), but the other tank mates are indifferent. When he's out now, he's more elegantly gliding than frantically darting and hiding!

Jesterrace · Dec 22, 2019

ReefGrammie said:
The flasher wrasse is doing well. He's still slightly skittish (like he expects to be attacked any second), but the other tank mates are indifferent. When he's out now, he's more elegantly gliding than frantically darting and hiding!

As time goes on it is likely to build more confidence and become more bold.