Six-line in a 10g

[NickFish]

Well, I went to Big Als yesterday, and for the first time in my life I saw a six-line wrasse. I've seen pics, and I know a lot about them, but they are hard to find around here, and that was the first time I had ever seen them in real life.

And they are amazing!!

The way they dart about the tank, checking out every coral or invert that moves, the way they hunt pods and then pounce, the way they check out and poke at every little thing in the tank, is very fun to watch and they have a ton of personality.

So, as you may have guessed....I want one!

Here's my problem,
I have seen and heard of many people that have keep six-lines in 10 gallon tanks successfully. On the other hand, just as many people say that they need bigger tanks.

Well, my 10g nano is 24" long, and he would be the only fish. If he looks stressed I could always put him in my 72g.

Do you think this could work out? Could a six-line wrasse be kept in a 10g?

[Kuli_Loach]

I think so and he eats a lot of the bad stuff. Just keep an eye on him.

[NickFish]

I would wait awhile to insure that I have plenty of pods before I put him in.

They are supposed to eat a lot of things, including those nasty bristleworms!

[gm72]

Interjecting a question because I don't know SW--what is a "pod?" :confused:

[spudbuds]

Interjecting a question because I don't know SW--what is a "pod?" :confused:
Copepods and amphipods. They are micro crustaceans that are very good for a SW tank. They are a nutritious live food source that many SW fish eat. They are also detrivores that help keep the tank clean.

[NickFish]

Copepods and amphipods. They are micro crustaceans that are very good for a SW tank. They are a nutritious live food source that many SW fish eat. They are also detrivores that help keep the tank clean.

Exactly. They can be a little unsightly at times, but they are good for a tank.
However, I really don't mind my wrasse eating them, and you can use pods as a kind of live food, that will entice them to eat when first introduced to an aquarium.

[gm72]

Cool, sorry for the interruption, but thanks for the info!

[unleashed]

Some will say they do fine, however, I don't think a 10g will suit one. Sixlines are very active swimmers.

On another note, here is a pic taken this afternoon on my mystery wrasse, related to the sixline:

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[coachfraley]

I think one problem with sixlines in small tanks is that they can become real jerks.

I have heard that they are much better behaved in larger tanks.

[NickFish]

I think one problem with sixlines in small tanks is that they can become real jerks.

I have heard that they are much better behaved in larger tanks.

By jerks, do you mean to inverts? To other fish? Or in general?

Another side question, do you think it would leave my astrea and hermits alone?

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

They can become jerks in general. I'd personally not put a Sixline in a 10g tank, they really do need a lot more swimming space.I wouldn't have a problem with one in something like a 30g but that is the minimum sized tank I would recommend. Even Scot W. Michael recommends at least a 20g in his book, and he's generally on the small side for his tank recommendations.

[coachfraley]

I think the "jerkyness" refers to how the 6line relates to other fish. Unleashed brought up another option, which is to choose one of the other members of the wrasse family. If I am not mistaken, there is at least one member of the fairy wrasse family that is very small, and might work in a 10g. The fairy wrasses have a much better temperment than the 6line.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

The Fairy wrasses aren't too bad with other fish, it's the sessile invertebrates that they cause problems for. If you are referring to the Cleaner wrasses as a small wrasse, they are completely inappropriate for the home aquarium. A good fascinating species for the small aquarium is the Neon Goby. They are relatively easy to keep and are "darter" type fish.

[coachfraley]

I found the one I was thinking of, it is the Red Fin Fairy Wrasse. It is the smallest of the fairy wrasses. The recommended tank size is 20g (which is the same rec. as the 6line), so I am not sure if it would be the best choice for your 10g.. Here is a link:

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I have never heard of, or read about a fairy wrasse going after sessile invertebrates? Do you remember which one was a meany ILMGB?

Edit in bold

[NickFish]

Hmmmmm....I see.

Well then, let's say in my 72g. Plenty of swimming room there.

Would it bother my astreas?

My nassarius?

My hermits?

My emeralds?

Never kept these guys before, and I'd rather learn this stuff now than after I lose $50 in inverts.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

sorry, got the wrong one up there. Motile Inverts is where they can have problems, not Sessile.
In my experience, ornamental shrimp are the main problem with Fairy Wrasses. My Cirrhilabrus solorensis and my Coral Banded Shrimp have this constant understanding of each other. It's rather hilarious to watch actually. The shrimp has those nasty claws and the wrasse has the temper. The shrimp won't go after the wrasse and the wrasse will no longer go after the shrimp. The first time they met, the wrasse swam right into the shrimp's cave, the shrimp thought about going after her, and then decided against it and the wrasse wouldn't really go after the shrimp to attack it either, it ended up in a standoff. However, it if was just about anything other than a Coral Banded Shrimp, I honestly believe it would be gone by now.

[unleashed]

from my experience, sixlines do go after baby snails, so you may see your snail population deplete. I did have one which would flip over adult snails and eat them too - however, I do believe this was an exception due to the fish's individual personality (with regards to the adult snails)

There have also been many instances where members of the Pseudocheilinus (sixlines, mystery wrasses etc) family have eaten small fish, shrimps, and other small inverts (crabs etc). When I had a sixline, he would not touch a coral banded shrimp which I had. However, he would eat the legs of any cleaner or fire shrimps that I put in the tank, killing them of course. The eightline wrasse is not exception, often eating small fish and inverts.

Before buying my mystery wrasse, I did a lot of research and it came down to literally a flip of a coin. Many people (online like RC etc) said that their mystery was a terror and would never buy one again if they had the chance, while very few said that they loved theirs. From my experience, my mystery wrasse is very large (nearly 4") but is one of the most passive fish in the tank.

The thing with all wrasses in the Pseudocheilinus genus is that they are very hit or miss in terms of their behaviour and temperament.

[NickFish]

Hmmmm.....

Well I can get 5 astrea for $10 here, so I don't really care if it eats one now and then.

And I'll not get an emerald unless it's full grown, because those are pricey.

Hermits should be fine though, they can hide in the shell. I think.
...Unless during those few minutes when they are switching to a new shell. But they are only $3 so again, not caring too much. I don't think of inverts to highly, lol.

[NickFish]

Also, at the moment I really feel like making this a 20g nano instead of a 10g, that way I can put more than one fish in there.

[coachfraley]

Good idea, you will outgrow the 20 fast!

[NickFish]

Good idea, you will outgrow the 20 fast!

Well, I already have a 72g saltwater (in my sig)

I just want this tank for my desk in my little home office. That way I can pretend I'm working when I stare at my tank for hours. :19:

[coachfraley]

I had the same thing for a while. I had to get rid of it, because all I did all day was play with the tank, lol.

I just picked up a blue flasher wrasse yesterday. It is another good option for small tanks. The literature says 20g min. I will try to get a pic. of mine tonight (if he wil cooperate). And I have no idea why they call them a blue flasher wrasse, mine has almost no blue at all.

Didn't look at your sig, lol. Talk about MTS :)

[coachfraley]

Here is the blue flasher:

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[unleashed]

beautiful fish coach, do you have a latin name?

[coachfraley]

This is what I was told it was:

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Even though it is hard to imagine, I assume he will color up some more once I have had him for a while.

[spudbuds]

Nice looking fish coach! Congrats!

[NickFish]

That's a fish!

But I always like the personality over the looks. For that reason, I really have to see the exact fish I'm buying in stores, for SW, pictures jsut aren't as good.
But color are a bonus! And nice wrasse!

And yes.....MTS has hit me hard! :19: