Anyone ever see a sixline clean another fish?

[exnisstech]

I have sixline in with and electric blue damsel and two tangs. The sixline and damsel have been in together for over a year. I've never seen any aggression or signs like torn fins. Recently I've been seeing the sixline picking at the damsel but very much like my cleaner wrasse picks at tangs. It picks around the gills mostly and the damsel doesn't retaliate or swim away but rather turns sideways like its trying to make it easier for the sixline to get to what ever it is that it appears to be eating. It just lasts a couple of seconds then they go about theirs business.
I thought it was odd behavior but maybe its something sixline do and I'm just not aware?.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have sixline in with and electric blue damsel and two tangs. The sixline and damsel have been in together for over a year. I've never seen any aggression or signs like torn fins. Recently I've been seeing the sixline picking at the damsel but very much like my cleaner wrasse picks at tangs. It picks around the gills mostly and the damsel doesn't retaliate or swim away but rather turns sideways like its trying to make it easier for the sixline to get to what ever it is that it appears to be eating. It just lasts a couple of seconds then they go about theirs business.
I thought it was odd behavior but maybe its something sixline do and I'm just not aware?.

They are reported to be "facultative cleaners", not "obligate cleaners" like cleaner wrasse and neon gobies. When I see a facultative cleaner working on other fish, and those fish hold their position for it, I immediately suspect some ectoparasite.

 

[exnisstech]

They are reported to be "facultative cleaners", not "obligate cleaners" like cleaner wrasse and neon gobies. When I see a facultative cleaner working on other fish, and those fish hold their position for it, I immediately suspect some ectoparasite.

Thanks Jay I guess all I can do is keep an eye on things. There are only 4 fish in the tank and other than the cleaning I'm not seeing any abnormal behavior.