Evil Six Line Wrasse

[mantis147]

I have a six line in my newly setup tank, when i added some clean up crew eg. hermits & turbo snails he went crazy and started attacking them never really got much luck as they all have shells but has anyone else had this problem with a six line? also i added a peppermint shrimp and he tried to eat it so i had to put it in the sump.

He seems to have calmed down not attacking the crabs & snails now but is this a common problem with them do you think?

[bstewart78731]

Mine never attacked inverts but harassed other fish. I returned him to the LFS.

[mantis147]

Ive only got 2 clowns & a goby in with him but he doesnt bother them.

[ReefSilly]

I have two six lines in different tanks with shrimp and have never had a problem with mine. I have heard some people have a problem with them and some don't . Sometimes you get one that acts out of character, and is a lot more aggressive. This is very common with SW fish. Although reef safe; 6 lines or borderline invert safe. I've also heard if the shrimp are bigger then the fish you have less chance they will mess with your shrimp/inverts. In my case the 6 line was added last and my shrimp are 2 to 3 times larger then he is.

[lilmarkho]

Added my six line and purple firefish, and red firefish at the self time to help with territorial issues, however he still ended up killing both my firefish

[DaveK]

As you can see, a six line wrasse is taking a risk. This can occur with any fish. Just plan to return it, if it doesn't work out.

[mantis147]

Think your right davek! think he will be going back to the LFS. Just got to catch him first!!

[reeffish]

I have said, "Six-Line wrasses are not reef-safe". Mine finally jumped out of the tank and dried out (Had I'd been home I would have picked him up). Good luck catching him.

[ChuckG]

Besides the debate of whether or not six-lines are reef safe or not, you could also be seeing behavior that could be exhibited by almost any fish or invert when you put new inhabitants into a system. The majority of time when you put items into your tank you are putting food in there. The fish know it is feeding time. You put new inhabitants into the tank and guess what? Your fish think it's feeding time. I either try to introduce things either at night or feed the tank until everyone is full just before I introduce the new inhabitants.

[nylam]

I added a Mandarin to my tank and none of the other fishes bothered him, even the Damsels. Guess who kept picking on him and eventually killed it? No prizes