The missunderstood Six line wrasse

[atoll]

IME most people misunderstand the 6 line and it's need to be aggressive. Yes, I believe they have a need to be aggressive but I have heard of people keeping individuals without much in the way of aggressiveness to other fish. However, that would seem a rare occurrence going by the posts I have read over the years.

I have kept many 6 lines over the years and never had a problem with them being aggressive to other fish ..... other than the other one I had in the tank with them, read on.
You see I always kept pairs in my aquariums when I have kept them. IMO the male needs to have something to dominate like a female to stop her turning into a male. If there is no female present then the male needs to vent that aggressiveness on another species. When you have a male and female the chances of aggressiveness being displayed on another fish is IME greatly reduced. I keep most of my fish in pairs or groups when possible (it is not always possible to do so) and as the species is found in nature.

Getting a a pair or forming a pair is pretty simple IME. Buy 2 six lines with one slightly smaller than the other and in a short period of time, you will almost certainly establish a pair. Sex change in wrasse is generally female-to-male, but male-to-female sex change can also occur. Placing two male wrasses in the same tank will result in the smaller of the two becoming female again however IME it is best to start with 2 with one being a little smaller than the other.

 

[evolved]

Sex change in wrasse is generally female-to-male, but male-to-female sex change can also occur. Placing two male wrasses in the same tank will result in the smaller of the two becoming female again however IME it is best to start with 2 with one being a little smaller than the other.

I believe you are misinformed.

Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites; as a juvenile they are all female and later can transition to male. As a transitional male, a reversal back to female is possible, but should not be expected in a closed system. Once a terminal male, a reversal to female is NOT possible.

Starting with two (or one) small enough to ensure it is a juvenile greatly increases the odds it is still female, but does not ensure such.

Additionally, even if you have an established pair in a closed system, it is entirely possible (and can be likely) the female will eventually transition to male as well, which generally results in one wrasse killing off the other.

 

[atoll]

I write about my experiences in keeping a number of pairs of these wrasse. The sex change habits of male to female I culled off the net. I have only experienced female to male in 6 lines. I have never had a female change into a male while I have kept a dominant male in the aquarium with her. Just my experiences with keeping these fish. I was under the impression these wrasses are born non sex then become female then possibly male later on as is similar with clown fish. Thanks for the info.

 

[evolved]

The real difficulty in this instance (and with all Pseudocheilinus wrasses) is that they are NOT sexually dichromatic like many other genera of wrasses are, in that there is no visual distinction between males and females. So that matter makes it really a guessing game if picking two to put together.

 

[evolved]

I was under the impression these wrasses are born non sex

True, but the same goes for all fish (non-sex) before settlement and developing into something which actually looks like a fish.

then become female then possibly male later on as is similar with clown fish.

Clowns are quite different. They are all male as juveniles, and females come to be with bonded relationships. Wrasses do not form bonded relationships.

 

[atoll]

I have often be told most fish are born either male or female (bit like humans really unless nature played a cruel trick on them in the womb) and that only certain species like clowns and wrasses are born non sex.

Again I have been lead to believe clowns are no sex then become males as juveniles but only if the resident male of a harem was to die with the non se becoming male. As we know a male clown can change to female but cannot revert back to male.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Most freshwater fish are born male or female, most saltwater fish are Protogynous hermaphrodites (female first, then male), clowns are a rare exception being Protandrous hermaphrodites (male first, then female), and cardinals are another rare case of being born either female or male.

Sex reversal in wrasses, though possible, is rare in nature and nonexistent in captivity.

While possible to pr Pseudocheilinus wrasses, it would be more comparable to pairing dottybacks. In some circumstances it will work just fine, in others not so well. Large systems with lots of fish seem to have enough distractions, but I can tell you from experience that adding two sixlines to a tank smaller than75g will result in the death of one of them.

 

[Humblefish]

My experience with 6 lines is simply this: When they are small juveniles, they are fine. However, once they get large (perhaps sexually mature) they become aggressive. Only fit for a predator tank at that point.