Six Line Wrasse Tank Mates?

JD1188 · Mar 1, 2022

I have a 37 gallon tank that I have been thinking of setting up as a either a FOWLR tank or reef tank. I would like to have a Six Line Wrasse at some point, but know they have a tendency to be more aggressive and need to be added in last.

With that in mind, I am wondering how in that size tank it would do with some Azure Damselfish? Both are territorial/semi-aggressive. Too small of a tank to house both? If it is fine to combine both in this tank, who should go in last or should they be added at the same time?

blaxsun · Mar 1, 2022

I'm not really sure when this runt-sized fish earned such a terrifying reputation. It went in first in my tank, damsels after - and it gets along with everything (all 30 other fish). You name it - I've probably got it (or a variant) cohabitating with the sixline.

JD1188 · Mar 2, 2022

blaxsun said:
I'm not really sure when this runt-sized fish earned such a terrifying reputation. It went in first in my tank, damsels after - and it gets along with everything (all 30 other fish). You name it - I've probably got it (or a variant) cohabitating with the sixline.

Good to know! Info I have seen on them has been pretty evenly split, so I thought I would ask just in case. I appreciate the input!

Lbrdsoxfan · Mar 2, 2022

I'm the total opposite, the sixlines are terrors! Had to catch one in my 120g and return to the LFS. It was intolerant to ALL other wrasses. Upside it didn't fight about capture, went right into the fish trap.

Duffer · Mar 2, 2022

so far mine is getting along fine with others..had him for over a year, he actually is skimmish around larger fish and runs and hides alot..

blaxsun · Mar 2, 2022

Lbrdsoxfan said:
I'm the total opposite, the sixlines are terrors! Had to catch one in my 120g and return to the LFS. It was intolerant to ALL other wrasses. Upside it didn't fight about capture, went right into the fish trap.

When you say "terror", can you elaborate? Like chasing and killing terror?

bpbonds · Mar 2, 2022

My Sixline gets along with my Yellow Coris Wrasse but any other Wrasse I introduce it will attack with extreme prejudice, I regret the Sixline Wrasse at this point.

Uncle99 · Mar 2, 2022

Hit and miss.
Mine killed both shrimps by “hitting” them.

Lbrdsoxfan · Mar 2, 2022

blaxsun said:
When you say "terror", can you elaborate? Like chasing and killing terror?

As in chasing new additions and outright attacking (headbutting) any other wrasses. I had him in a 50g, upgraded to a 120g and he was ok for about 6 months. Light switch flipped and any new additions he would generally harass non stop, new wrasses he would pester and headbutt them to death. I had lost a smaller lunate fairy wrasse & a red fin fairy wrasse.

Nemo&Friends · Mar 2, 2022

I have the current 6 line for 2 years, was added last, but I had another one before that, (jumped out), and never had any problems or aggression with any of them. But I do not have any other wrasse. I have chromis, clowns, damsel, foxface, hippo tang and eibli angel. Tank is 125G.
In a previous tank, I had firefish, clowns and damsel and not agression problems either. My damsel was more of a problem.

Boonsiew830 · Mar 2, 2022

I had my pair for about 4 months now and would say I’m pretty lucky. Made sure I had them in an acclimation box for about a month before introducing them. I currently have about 5 other wrasses and they don’t bother them at all. That said, they were fighting in the beginning for about a week after they were released. Only advice I would give is 1. Acclimation box and 2. Last fish/wrasse to introduce.

MaxTremors · Mar 2, 2022

I have a Tailspot blenny, a banggai Cardinal, and a pinkbar/aurora goby with my sixline, they get along great. I had a couple firefish, and the sixline chased them a little bit for the first day, but after that they were cool (firefish have since moved on to the reef in the sky).

SlugSnorter · Mar 2, 2022

Lbrdsoxfan said:
I'm the total opposite, the sixlines are terrors! Had to catch one in my 120g and return to the LFS. It was intolerant to ALL other wrasses. Upside it didn't fight about capture, went right into the fish trap.

wrasses can tend to not like wrasses.

SlugSnorter · Mar 2, 2022

blaxsun said:
I'm not really sure when this runt-sized fish earned such a terrifying reputation. It went in first in my tank, damsels after - and it gets along with everything (all 30 other fish). You name it - I've probably got it (or a variant) cohabitating with the sixline.

this, but one thing. they are not super agro, but can get really territorial with other wrasse

A good, more wrasse friendly sub for a sixline is a neon/sharknose goby.

OrchidMiss · Mar 2, 2022

blaxsun said:
I'm not really sure when this runt-sized fish earned such a terrifying reputation. It went in first in my tank, damsels after - and it gets along with everything (all 30 other fish). You name it - I've probably got it (or a variant) cohabitating with the sixline.

I had one, also, and he was the perfect model citizen!
He disappeared one day, I think my Niger trigger ate him...