Wrasse/Wrasse Compatibility and Goby/Goby Question

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I currently have a Sixline. I have a 90 gallon reef. I would love to get another wrasse. Is there a pretty reef safe wrasse that would get along with the sixline? I also have a Pink Spotted Watchman Goby...is there a sand sifting goby that would get along with him?
 
I would steer clear of fairy/flasher wrasses with the six line but maybe another member of pseudocheilius (like a mystery) might be a better option. As far as the goby goes I don't have any experience mixing them but I think something like a yellow watchman goby would be a cool choice.
 
On the wrasse you may be better off asking your Sixline - they can be great with others or real jerks.

If you want to risk it, I agree to stick with another active wrasse like a mystery or maybe a Yellow- or Melanurus wrasse.

On the flip side, you may want to give the Sixline some time to grow out and see how he blends in before adding others. 90 is not a huge tank for habitat - the sixline (as well as all the other wrasses suggested) cruises constantly hunting for food and would very much appreciate all that space to himself - at least all to himself in terms of other wrasses.

If your Goby has a shrimp or otherwise tends to stay in one spot, then you might get away with a second goby, but they're kown for not getting along with similar gobies, so it's a risk. (Persoanlly unless the tank was set up specifically for them (some people a true fans!) I don't use sand sifters like that anyway and for your case they'll be competing for a lot of the same food sources in the tank as your Sixline.) If your goby doesn't yet have a shrimp, I'd think about that as a great alternative to a sand sifting goby.

I believe that either addition you suggested would also increase your risk of someone becomming a jumper - both are famous for that. Might still jump if they are solo, but with another in there to possibly fight with, it is more likely someone's fight/flight response will be triggered.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do! :)

-Matt
 
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On the wrasse you may be better off asking your Sixline - they can be great with others or real jerks.

If you want to risk it, I agree to stick with another active wrasse like a mystery or maybe a Yellow- or Melanurus wrasse.

On the flip side, you may want to give the Sixline some time to grow out and see how he blends in before adding others. 90 is not a huge tank for habitat - the sixline (as well as all the other wrasses suggested) cruises constantly hunting for food and would very much appreciate all that space to himself - at least all to himself in terms of other wrasses.

If your Goby has a shrimp or otherwise tends to stay in one spot, then you might get away with a second goby, but they're kown for not getting along with similar gobies, so it's a risk. (Persoanlly unless the tank was set up specifically for them (some people a true fans!) I don't use sand sifters like that anyway and for your case they'll be competing for a lot of the same food sources in the tank as your Sixline.) If your goby doesn't yet have a shrimp, I'd think about that as a great alternative to a sand sifting goby.

I believe that either addition you suggested would also increase your risk of someone becomming a jumper - both are famous for that. Might still jump if they are solo, but with another in there to possibly fight with, it is more likely someone's fight/flight response will be triggered.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do! :)

-Matt

Totally agree, the problem with sixline's are that they and get real mean when it comes to other wrasses. If you are using the sixline to controll bristle worms or something like that you could always replace the sixline with a yellow coris and then add another wrasse at the same time.
 
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Thanks for your valued input. I like the idea of adding a pistol shrimp for the goby. He stays in the corner buddied up with the serpent star right now. The wrasse is another story. I've had him for close to a year and he is about grown. I got him for bristle worm control. He hasn't caused any problems at all. Seems to be pretty mellow; however, last weekend, I had a powerhead put out stray voltage and since then he has been stressed. He has stopped eating, his belly is bulging and he has a white string coming from his anus. I don't know if he is going to make it. I'll let you know if he doesn't make it so I can get some good advice on a cool one or two to get. I know 90g limits me. I'm hoping my hubby will let me upgrade for my August birthday!
 
Sixlines are terrors and will attack just about any new fish added once they are established in the tank. Just as bad or worse than damsels. At least mine did and many other people I know.

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk 2
 
Thanks for your valued input. I like the idea of adding a pistol shrimp for the goby. He stays in the corner buddied up with the serpent star right now. The wrasse is another story. I've had him for close to a year and he is about grown. I got him for bristle worm control. He hasn't caused any problems at all. Seems to be pretty mellow; however, last weekend, I had a powerhead put out stray voltage and since then he has been stressed. He has stopped eating, his belly is bulging and he has a white string coming from his anus. I don't know if he is going to make it. I'll let you know if he doesn't make it so I can get some good advice on a cool one or two to get. I know 90g limits me. I'm hoping my hubby will let me upgrade for my August birthday!


Keep us informed about its status. There are alot of very nice fish out that that will do the same job as a sixline that don't get as mean as a sixline.
 
The most intense fish-fish aggression that I have ever witnessed was immediately after placing a McCosker's flasher wrasse in the tank with an established sixline wrasse. The flasher wrasse was fatally wounded in about 15 seconds, as I scrambled for my net to try and get him out. I was amazed and felt terribly guilty. I didn't know better. As mentioned, I would probably not add another.

Despite my experience, I have seen people keep them with other wrasses.....adding wrasse from the Halichores genus makes the most sense to me.
 
The most intense fish-fish aggression that I have ever witnessed was immediately after placing a McCosker's flasher wrasse in the tank with an established sixline wrasse. The flasher wrasse was fatally wounded in about 15 seconds, as I scrambled for my net to try and get him out. I was amazed and felt terribly guilty. I didn't know better. As mentioned, I would probably not add another.

Despite my experience, I have seen people keep them with other wrasses.....adding wrasse from the Halichores genus makes the most sense to me.

Oh, sorry for your experience. I know that was tramatizing! It is for reasons exactly like yours that I am asking beforehand. I've read book after book, but the personal experiences from fellow reefers tell the true story IMO.
 
I like the idea of adding a pistol shrimp for the goby. He stays in the corner buddied up with the serpent star right now.

I hate to say it, but that serpent star probably isn't trying to make friends - he's just waiting to grow up a little more. They are wicked ambush predators when the prey size is right and they are hungry. I wouldn't keep them with the fish you have. Can't be trusted. :(

-Matt
 
I agree with the census...6 lines are very aggressive.

On the other hand, I have seen pictures of gobies with other gobies. I have 3 hi-fin gobies with a candy cane pistol and I wouldn't sweat putting a yasha goby in the tank. I do agree with mcarroll about the sand sifter but for a different reason. Sand sifters make a terrible mess. They fill their mouths with sand and then swim around the tank dumping it all over the place. Then you have to go in and blow off your corals with a baster because they are covered in sand or your clam gets sand in him and he won't open for a couple days. Sand sifters are great for no coral like invert tanks with alot of sand on the bottom.

Tank you for your time,

Kevin
 
I hate to say it, but that serpent star probably isn't trying to make friends - he's just waiting to grow up a little more. They are wicked ambush predators when the prey size is right and they are hungry. I wouldn't keep them with the fish you have. Can't be trusted. :(

Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've had both of the for a couple of years. I have accused the Tiger Serpent of eating my hermits and snails though.
 
I agree with the census...6 lines are very aggressive.

On the other hand, I have seen pictures of gobies with other gobies. I have 3 hi-fin gobies with a candy cane pistol and I wouldn't sweat putting a yasha goby in the tank. I do agree with mcarroll about the sand sifter but for a different reason. Sand sifters make a terrible mess. They fill their mouths with sand and then swim around the tank dumping it all over the place. Then you have to go in and blow off your corals with a baster because they are covered in sand or your clam gets sand in him and he won't open for a couple days. Sand sifters are great for no coral like invert tanks with alot of sand on the bottom.

I was only referring to the Watchman...comes up more often. I'm not positive off-hand if what I said would apply to other groups of Goby. I really think sand sifters in general are only appropriate for fish-only tanks.

Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've had both of the for a couple of years. I have accused the Tiger Serpent of eating my hermits and snails though.

I only meant to say that the clock is ticking on that relationship, IMO. Nobody can predict the future tho! ;-)

...and you were right - he did.

-Matt
 
Everyone wanted to know the outcome of my sixline wrasse situation. My tank had a few seconds of stray voltage from a powerhead. It must have gotten to the wrasse. He was immediately stressed. He was treading water in one spot, didn't eat for 6 days, lips swelled up, pooping white stuff, frayed tail fin and his slime coat stayed on him mixed with sand all day. I thought for sure he was a goner. Nope. He started eating and swimming yesterday. He is back to his Peeping Tom behavior. I really don't want to buy a beautiful wrasse only to have my sixline kill it, so I think I will just wait. :neutral: Can you see the excitement in my typing? Should I feel guilty for my disappointment in the outcome? LOL I guess I'm just bad. Have a great Saturday!!
 
I'm glad things worked out for the Sixline. :-)

Seems like maybe you were hasty in adding the Sixline (still too soon to know what you really wanted) and maybe that's the real source of your disappointment? (Certainly you're not disappointed about his recovery!) If so, we all have known the feeling at one stage or another - live and learn!

Sixline's are a pain to catch*, but maybe finding a new home for him is the right idea if adding a different wrasse is really what you want to do?

-Matt

* A #3 fly-fishing hook with matching string and a (e.g.) mysis shrimp will do the trick. Approximately 1,000,000 times less stressful than chasing this fish (and all the rest too) around the tank for 2 hours only to still not have caught him. :-) Have a bucket of tank water on standby as you may accidentally catch another fish first.
 
Yes, I was hasty Matt. I needed bristleworm control and the LFS said that was what I needed. It's OK though. He has caused no harm to anything in the tank.
 
See? Your story - right down to the perceived need for bristleworm control - applies to so many of us it's not funny! :-) You are in good company!

-Matt
 
On the wrasse you may be better off asking your Sixline - they can be great with others or real jerks.

If you want to risk it, I agree to stick with another active wrasse like a mystery or maybe a Yellow- or Melanurus wrasse.

On the flip side, you may want to give the Sixline some time to grow out and see how he blends in before adding others. 90 is not a huge tank for habitat - the sixline (as well as all the other wrasses suggested) cruises constantly hunting for food and would very much appreciate all that space to himself - at least all to himself in terms of other wrasses.

If your Goby has a shrimp or otherwise tends to stay in one spot, then you might get away with a second goby, but they're kown for not getting along with similar gobies, so it's a risk. (Persoanlly unless the tank was set up specifically for them (some people a true fans!) I don't use sand sifters like that anyway and for your case they'll be competing for a lot of the same food sources in the tank as your Sixline.) If your goby doesn't yet have a shrimp, I'd think about that as a great alternative to a sand sifting goby.

I believe that either addition you suggested would also increase your risk of someone becomming a jumper - both are famous for that. Might still jump if they are solo, but with another in there to possibly fight with, it is more likely someone's fight/flight response will be triggered.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do! :)

-Matt
You can put more than one goby in your tank I have 4 in my 120 gl and they don't bury my corals that are on bottom , of tank , but a 6 line wrasse will totally beat up the goby there extremely aggressive
 
I currently have a Sixline. I have a 90 gallon reef. I would love to get another wrasse. Is there a pretty reef safe wrasse that would get along with the sixline? I also have a Pink Spotted Watchman Goby...is there a sand sifting goby that would get along with him?
I also have a six line in a 90 gallon, but after all my research, I made sure he was the last fist I was going to add before getting him. From what I have read about them, the term “wrassehole “ was derived with them in mind. I love mine, but I would never put another wrasse in there for sure, and if was to add ANY more fish, I would probably rearrange the rock work, so it was in effect a new tank for all. Sounds crazy I know, but the six line can be a real bully.
 

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