Swapping Sixline for Possum Wrasse, any downsides?

skywelker · Jun 10, 2020

Hi everyone. I'm in the process of upgrading my 75 to a 150. Once the upgrade is complete I'd like to add quite a few more fish, including some more wrasse, so I was thinking of swapping my sixline for my possum wrasse that's in another tank. The sixline has been pretty well behaved aside from the occasional 'herding' of my clowns back into their corner, but I've heard they are impossible to catch so this might be the only time I could grab him easily. Any reason not to make this change?

Current occupants:

Scopas Tang
Harptail Blenny
Pair of Clowns
Sixline Wrasse

nereefpat · Jun 10, 2020

The only downside I can come up with is that possum wrasses are smaller and more shy, so you won't see it as much, especially in a large tank like a 180.

But, yes, I would swap it out if you want to have more wrasses.

skywelker · Jun 10, 2020

nereefpat said:
The only downside I can come up with is that possum wrasses are smaller and more shy, so you won't see it as much, especially in a large tank like a 180.

But, yes, I would swap it out if you want to have more wrasses.

Good point, the sixline is definitely a more active fish. Although surprisingly he is quite afraid of people near the tank, whereas the possum comes out and waits for food when he sees me.

adromero · Jun 10, 2020

I have a Tanaka Pygmy Wrasse that stays out for a lot of the day

User1 · Jun 10, 2020

You will probably give mixed opinions with the majority leaning to replace the six line. Personally speaking it is your choice at the end of the day and only you know which is best. Possum is going to be a bit more recluse but will perform in some cases similar utility with regards to clearing pests. It is more cryptic. Won't be seen as much. When you do sure to bring a smile to your face every time you do see it. A lot of this depends on how you build the tank with regards to rocks and coral maturity. It very well could be lost and something you rarely see but when you do you know it is there. I have a yellow assessor that is similar. I'll go weeks without seeing it then one day I do. A gift for sure.

Six line is active. Always swimming. Close to rocks. Swim. Stop. Eyeball. Dart in, dart out. Grab the food and move to the next. 0 to 60 in a blink of an eye with a splash of color. You will see it more because it is more actively foraging for food. That is what they do. Anything similar or foraging for similar food will be a issue. Mother nature is not to be messed with and she knows best. So if this is a wrasse you want you add it last. Plain and simple with a preference it being the only consumer of similar food.

The fact that you have one means it has preference in my opinion. It is known. Anything else is not that you want to introduce. Nothing should be put into the tank that has risk to be taken out if not caught via a trap. Rehome later may mean you remove all corals and rocks to catch it regardless of the fish so I'm not a fan of buy today and remove later. Too much stress for everyone. NOTE: not saying this was something you said - just a reason why I don't introduce today to remove later.

In any case both are pretty fish. Both have awesome utility. Probably can't go wrong with either one. Choice is yours.

skywelker · Jun 10, 2020

adromero said:
I have a Tanaka Pygmy Wrasse that stays out for a lot of the day

That is the exact fish i have, they are beautiful!

skywelker · Jun 10, 2020

saf1 said:
You will probably give mixed opinions with the majority leaning to replace the six line. Personally speaking it is your choice at the end of the day and only you know which is best. Possum is going to be a bit more recluse but will perform in some cases similar utility with regards to clearing pests. It is more cryptic. Won't be seen as much. When you do sure to bring a smile to your face every time you do see it. A lot of this depends on how you build the tank with regards to rocks and coral maturity. It very well could be lost and something you rarely see but when you do you know it is there. I have a yellow assessor that is similar. I'll go weeks without seeing it then one day I do. A gift for sure.

Six line is active. Always swimming. Close to rocks. Swim. Stop. Eyeball. Dart in, dart out. Grab the food and move to the next. 0 to 60 in a blink of an eye with a splash of color. You will see it more because it is more actively foraging for food. That is what they do. Anything similar or foraging for similar food will be a issue. Mother nature is not to be messed with and she knows best. So if this is a wrasse you want you add it last. Plain and simple with a preference it being the only consumer of similar food.

The fact that you have one means it has preference in my opinion. It is known. Anything else is not that you want to introduce. Nothing should be put into the tank that has risk to be taken out if not caught via a trap. Rehome later may mean you remove all corals and rocks to catch it regardless of the fish so I'm not a fan of buy today and remove later. Too much stress for everyone. NOTE: not saying this was something you said - just a reason why I don't introduce today to remove later.

In any case both are pretty fish. Both have awesome utility. Probably can't go wrong with either one. Choice is yours.

This is really an excellent way to look at things, thank you! I guess all things considered I am leaning towards making the switch. I love both of these fish but the sixline really limiting what I can put in later is probably the biggest deciding factor.

User1 · Jun 10, 2020

skywelker said:
This is really an excellent way to look at things, thank you! I guess all things considered I am leaning towards making the switch. I love both of these fish but the sixline really limiting what I can put in later is probably the biggest deciding factor.

Both really are great fish. Both are great utility. It really comes down to placement order in the tank with others and what your overall goals are. I'm probably biased so I'm not going to lie. I have always been fond of six lines. I owned one previously in my 100 gallon tank and it was a lot of fun. Similar to Damsels they sort of have baggage associated with them right or wrong. You will see a lot of people to also recommend staying away from Damsels yet many in the Chrysiptera line are wonderful tank mates. Several on this board have 40 or more in their tank. I own a blue azure but it is a single at the moment.

In any case you have it dialed in and I wish you the best! Post some pictures when you have time

mort · Jun 11, 2020

How big is your other tank that the possum is currently in and do you have anything else in there?

I ask because I'd be considering swapping them simply because the sixline will make adding anything to your new tank harder and with the possum you would have no restrictions. I'm a massive sixline fan but they need very specific tank mates to do best but are excellent as the only fish in a nano (not teeny tiny nano). I have one myself in this situation and it's probably the only fish I've ever had that I'd instantly replace with the same species if anything were to happen to it.

minus9 · Jun 11, 2020

Make the switch and add a flasher or fairy to keep things active. I love my Tanaka and he's out quite a bit. Once they get comfortable, they'll come out more and more. I have two flashers and my Tanaka will cruise the front of the tank without issue. I also love six lines and kept one in the 90's without issue. In fact, he would come to me when I fed the tank and never bothered his tank mates, but fish have their personalities and will behave differently based on their surroundings. Wetmorella's are amazing, pick any of the three and enjoy!

skywelker · Jun 11, 2020

mort said:
How big is your other tank that the possum is currently in and do you have anything else in there?

I ask because I'd be considering swapping them simply because the sixline will make adding anything to your new tank harder and with the possum you would have no restrictions. I'm a massive sixline fan but they need very specific tank mates to do best but are excellent as the only fish in a nano (not teeny tiny nano). I have one myself in this situation and it's probably the only fish I've ever had that I'd instantly replace with the same species if anything were to happen to it.

The other tank is a waterbox 15 gallon cube. I know it's on the small side but he will literally be the only fish in there so I'm hoping he'll be ok but if I have to rehome him I could. I use the waterbox kind of as a frag/zoa tank so the sixline would probably be ideal for that.

skywelker · Jun 11, 2020

minus9 said:
Make the switch and add a flasher or fairy to keep things active. I love my Tanaka and he's out quite a bit. Once they get comfortable, they'll come out more and more. I have two flashers and my Tanaka will cruise the front of the tank without issue. I also love six lines and kept one in the 90's without issue. In fact, he would come to me when I fed the tank and never bothered his tank mates, but fish have their personalities and will behave differently based on their surroundings. Wetmorella's are amazing, pick any of the three and enjoy!

Thanks! Flasher and Fairy Wrasses are definitely on my shortlist so that's great to hear!

skywelker · Jun 17, 2020

Well I made the switch. Thankfully one of the possum's new hangouts is right under this overhang front and center in the tank. As a bonus the sixline is great to interact with in his own tank, win win!

minus9 · Jun 18, 2020

skywelker said:
Well I made the switch. Thankfully one of the possum's new hangouts is right under this overhang front and center in the tank. As a bonus the sixline is great to interact with in his own tank, win win!

Nice Tanaka! Congrats!

codycolina707 · Jun 18, 2020

skywelker said:
Well I made the switch. Thankfully one of the possum's new hangouts is right under this overhang front and center in the tank. As a bonus the sixline is great to interact with in his own tank, win win!

ive had a sixline for over a year now was one of my first fishes moved from my 55 to 150 and ive never seen this little guy aggro to any other fish besides a royal gramma sometimes the gramma will open its mouth up wide but nothing serious also have a carpenter wrasse yellow coris and a melanurus wrasse all getting along fine still waiting for the day he will turn "evil"

skywelker · Jun 18, 2020

minus9 said:
Nice Tanaka! Congrats!

Thanks!

codycolina707 said:
ive had a sixline for over a year now was one of my first fishes moved from my 55 to 150 and ive never seen this little guy aggro to any other fish besides a royal gramma sometimes the gramma will open its mouth up wide but nothing serious also have a carpenter wrasse yellow coris and a melanurus wrasse all getting along fine still waiting for the day he will turn "evil"

Ya it seems I've heard just as many with the same experience as you or I as i have heard with the ones who turn into little devils. I'm assuming there are just a ton of factors but i just didn't wanna risk it right now since I didn't have to.

mort · Jun 19, 2020

skywelker said:
Thanks!

Ya it seems I've heard just as many with the same experience as you or I as i have heard with the ones who turn into little devils. I'm assuming there are just a ton of factors but i just didn't wanna risk it right now since I didn't have to.

It's generally believed to be a maturity thing. As the wrasse matures and switches from a female to male, the need to defend a territory and resources becomes all the more important. Perhaps the quieter individuals never become male or just aren't that psychopathic, it all comes down to a little luck.

DaneGer21 · Jun 19, 2020

I despise six lines! In my case, what a terror. I removed one about 10yrs ago and will NEVER have one again. They are the devil, hahahaha

skywelker · Jun 20, 2020

mort said:
It's generally believed to be a maturity thing. As the wrasse matures and switches from a female to male, the need to defend a territory and resources becomes all the more important. Perhaps the quieter individuals never become male or just aren't that psychopathic, it all comes down to a little luck.

That's as good of an explanation as I've ever heard, thanks!

DaneGer21 said:
I despise six lines! In my case, what a terror. I removed one about 10yrs ago and will NEVER have one again. They are the devil, hahahaha

See this is what i was afraid of, too many stories like this!