So misunderstood....

BestMomEver · May 30, 2018

I have a six line wrasse that is a model citizen. He’s too busy hunting to even look at another fish. Many people don’t like them much because of an apparent mean streak that I’ve never witnessed (then goodness!). He’s hardy, fun to watch, and friendly.

It got me to thinking...what fish do you guys have that most would say not to get for whatever reason?

JaimeAdams · May 30, 2018

I have a Porcupine Puffer in my reef tank. His name is Bufford. When he sees me coming he splashes water out of the tank and then I hand feed him a snack and scratch him on his head.

mort · May 30, 2018

The sixline is probably my favourite marine fish and I'd never be without one but I don't think they are misunderstood unfortunately. You might get the odd one that behaves it's whole life but whenever someone says theirs is a model citizen I always say "give it time", they are often fine when young but mature into real monsters 99% of the time. This is why mine lives in its own tank with no one for it to bother.

There are plenty of misunderstood fish however and in fact whole families, so youve hit a grwat idea for a fun thread. I personally couldn't imagine a tank without damsels (very carefully chosen species) or the odd dottyback (again not all monsters).

Jesterrace · May 30, 2018

It's not a question of misunderstanding the 6 line, it's a simple fact. Some will have long term success with them, many more fit into one of the following two categories: 1) Have the fish immediately start harassing and killing other fish 2) Have the fish be a model citizen for a while and then suddenly snap and engage in the aforementioned behavior.

How long have you had your 6 line and is it full grown?

Greybeard · May 30, 2018

JaimeAdams said:
I have a Porcupine Puffer in my reef tank. His name is Bufford. When he sees me coming he splashes water out of the tank and then I hand feed him a snack and scratch him on his head.

I love puffers.

Many years ago, I had a dogface puffer that would roll over on his back at the surface so that I could scratch his belly

Man, I miss that fish.

A friend has a spiny puffer, about a foot long, that will spit water at him if he's a bit slow with dinner. Lots of water. Like gallons. Fast. Accurately... right in the face. It's funny as hell to watch, but I wouldn't want to clean up the mess!

Neither my dogface, nor my friend's spiny, are in a reef... seriously? He doesn't destroy your reef?

nereefpat · May 30, 2018

esimison said:
I have a six line wrasse that is a model citizen. He’s too busy hunting to even look at another fish. Many people don’t like them much because of an apparent mean streak that I’ve never witnessed (then goodness!). He’s hardy, fun to watch, and friendly.

Out of curiosity,

Tank size?
How long have you had the sixline?
How big is the sixline?
What tankmates are there?

evolved · May 30, 2018

esimison said:
I have a six line wrasse that is a model citizen. He’s too busy hunting to even look at another fish. Many people don’t like them much because of an apparent mean streak that I’ve never witnessed (then goodness!). He’s hardy, fun to watch, and friendly.

The $64,000 question is: how long have you had it?

BestMomEver · May 30, 2018

He’s a baby. About 1.5 inches. I’ve had him abt 6 months. I had a tiny Diadem Basslet that I had to return to the LFS because he beat poor Linus almost to death. Found Linus nearly upside down in a corner. Linus is a cool cat!

evolved · May 30, 2018

esimison said:
He’s a baby. About 1.5 inches. I’ve had him abt 6 months.

Ding!
Revisit this topic in ~2 years.

Potatohead · May 30, 2018

I've had my sixline for two years, he's about 3" now. I have added about ten to twelve fish afterwards and he has picked on one (a small goby). I also had a falco hawkfish that picked on him badly which I removed. I find if the new fish is larger and a different shape, the sixline doesn't care at all. In the last year or so I have added three tangs, a couple blennies, a couple gobies, two flame hawks and a candy hogfish without any problems.

Livinlocal · May 30, 2018

I almost have the complete opposite experience.

Over the years I have probably had 3-4 six lines and only remember one being an ******, and he was tiny.

The one I have now is a model citizen, and is about seven years old. Everybody tells me it’s the biggest six line they have ever seen. He is seriously as big as a teen yellow tang that you would see inside a LFS

I believe a lot of it has to do with feeding and food sources. I believe that if there is a abundance of natural food sources, they Won’t be aggressive.

But the fact of the matter is, every single fish is different, and every single fish will have a different personality.

JaimeAdams · May 30, 2018

Greybeard said:
I love puffers.

Many years ago, I had a dogface puffer that would roll over on his back at the surface so that I could scratch his belly Man, I miss that fish.

A friend has a spiny puffer, about a foot long, that will spit water at him if he's a bit slow with dinner. Lots of water. Like gallons. Fast. Accurately... right in the face. It's funny as hell to watch, but I wouldn't want to clean up the mess!

Neither my dogface, nor my friend's spiny, are in a reef... seriously? He doesn't destroy your reef?

He hasn't touched a thing other than his breakfast and occasional snack. I've seen his grab a snail and spit it out but never caught him eating my Trochus either. I am certain that if I had small snails he would certain at least try eating them from time to time.

I know dogfaces can't be in a reef, I've seen them eat Bubble tip anemones. However my porcupine is honestly a model citizen for the year that I've had him now. Granted the other fish are smart enough not to go for the chunk of food when they see him coming. He is my buddy, honestly if the house was on fire and I had enough time to grab one thing it would be him in a bucket.

tupes · May 30, 2018

Diamond goby because they are a pain for all of my corals that sit on the sand bed.

BestMomEver · May 30, 2018

Potatohead said:
I've had my sixline for two years, he's about 3" now. I have added about ten to twelve fish afterwards and he has picked on one (a small goby). I also had a falco hawkfish that picked on him badly which I removed. I find if the new fish is larger and a different shape, the sixline doesn't care at all. In the last year or so I have added three tangs, a couple blennies, a couple gobies, two flame hawks and a candy hogfish without any problems.

See.... I’m not the only one.

evolved · May 30, 2018

Every norm does have its exceptions, but one should not expect them to happen with any likelihood.

Adele · May 30, 2018

esimison said:
I have a six line wrasse that is a model citizen. He’s too busy hunting to even look at another fish. Many people don’t like them much because of an apparent mean streak that I’ve never witnessed (then goodness!). He’s hardy, fun to watch, and friendly.

It got me to thinking...what fish do you guys have that most would say not to get for whatever reason?

I KNEW it. Even before I read the post I knew this would be about a six line. I’ve had two and both were perfectly fine but I guess they can be a gamble. The most aggressive mine gets is he will be a little flashy with his fins but everyone ignores him and once that’s done he just carries on. He was even fin flashing the new corals I added last weekend. Makes me wonder if he’s mental or just doesn’t see very well.
Love my sixer.

jasonrusso · May 30, 2018

I think that lionfish are misunderstood. They are listed as semi aggressive and aggressive everywhere, but I would actually tend to call them passive.

They keep to themselves, and never pick on anyone like tangs, angels, and Triggers. I have had a few dwarfs over the years and as long as they are well fed and you don't put them in with firefish sized mates, they don't pose a problem.

mort · May 31, 2018

Certain species will thrive and behave in one tank but become real monsters in another. It's a issue that is more of a problem when you add in the confines of an aquarium and the fact we keep life from all over the oceans.
If you had a sixline wrasse with no passive fish or similar shaped ones you might be fine but throw it in a tank with firefish, dottybacks and wrasse, you could see ww3.

So personally I don't believe most of the troublesome fish are a problem, just the way we keep them is. I'm a fan of dottybacks and damsels and although I keep only those on the lower end of the aggression scale it does mean I made compromises on what I keep them with to maintain harmony.

Eastlake · May 31, 2018

I think damsels probably get the worst rap, but I think the problem is that the majority of them just aren't given the amount of space that they need and some need a lot. I have two alleni damsels in my 150 gallon and the female is a little angel and the only time the male get ornery is during the breeding season and the other fish come near his nest. Now, don't get me wrong, I've seen an adult domino damsel put an adult clown trigger in its place but I think that had more to do with the fact that the tank was to small for the territorial needs of the domino. I've even seen the same thing happen with a sailfin tang, it was in a tank that was too small for it to share with any other fish, it killed a dogface puffer porcupine puffer figure 8 puffer and a lunar wrasse, it was relocated to a larger aquarium and didn't bother another fish after that.

saltyhog · May 31, 2018

Some species of damsels are aggressive no matter the space. I've had 3" damsels attack me (6'1" 200) in the open ocean. They are defending their patch of algae. That's how they survive in the wild and that behavior doesn't change when they are in our tanks. Some angel fish display the same behavior.