Sixline with shrimp

James M · Sep 18, 2018

is there anyone who have kept a cleaner shrimp with a wrasse ? He’s not aggressive towards other fish in the tank the clowns and goby chase him away .

Bpain05 · Sep 18, 2018

I have Peppermint Shrimp and a Coral Banded Shrimp with my Six-line and Melanurus. No issues at all.

DangerDave · Sep 18, 2018

No issues with the six line in my frag tank with peppermint shrimp...

Ichthus1 · Sep 18, 2018

I have had a six line wrasse with peppermint and cleaner shrimp for a couple of years. There have been no problems.

James M · Sep 18, 2018

Thanks guys

redpine42 · Sep 18, 2018

I've got a few flatworms starting to show up. I was thinking of getting a 6 line wrasse, but was concerned about the same thing, peppermint shrimp, coral banded shrimp and cleaner shrimp. Also heard they eat feather dusters and snails. True?

Bayareareefer18 · Sep 18, 2018

Bpain05 said:
I have Peppermint Shrimp and a Coral Banded Shrimp with my Six-line and Melanurus. No issues at all.

No issues with the 6 and the melanarus?

I made the mistake of adding a six line early. I would love to have more wrasses but always read of the horrors of the six line.

Mine currently is peaceful and doesn't bother anyone in the tank

James M · Sep 18, 2018

redpine42 said:
I've got a few flatworms starting to show up. I was thinking of getting a 6 line wrasse, but was concerned about the same thing, peppermint shrimp, coral banded shrimp and cleaner shrimp. Also heard they eat feather dusters and snails. True?

I have a feather duster with the 6 line and it hasn't bothered it.

Ichthus1 · Sep 18, 2018

redpine42 said:
I've got a few flatworms starting to show up. I was thinking of getting a 6 line wrasse, but was concerned about the same thing, peppermint shrimp, coral banded shrimp and cleaner shrimp. Also heard they eat feather dusters and snails. True?

Mine will not allow another wrasse in the tank. I added a red headed solar fairy wrasse one time. It got chased into the rocks, and trapped there, by the six line. It only lived two days. It will only bother snails if they are on the sand upside down. I never had an issue with it bothering feather dusters in my other tank.

mattzang · Sep 18, 2018

Bayareareefer18 said:
No issues with the 6 and the melanarus?

I made the mistake of adding a six line early. I would love to have more wrasses but always read of the horrors of the six line.

Mine currently is peaceful and doesn't bother anyone in the tank

I did the same.. lol. I was told by LFS sixlines were fine and honestly it mostly has been. but you read the horror stories on here, especially the ones that talk about how they get a lot worse with time. The only aggression I've seen from it was some chasing of a cleaner wrasse I tried (bad idea all around) and it chased my springer damsel one day, several circuits around the tank, but they've been fine after that.

but yeah, if I could go back and not add a sixline, I would. melanarus and christmas wrasse look a lot prettier and don't seem to have the massive negatives associated with them. although my CUC probably wouldn't love those two.

Bayareareefer18 · Sep 19, 2018

mattzang said:
I did the same.. lol. I was told by LFS sixlines were fine and honestly it mostly has been. but you read the horror stories on here, especially the ones that talk about how they get a lot worse with time. The only aggression I've seen from it was some chasing of a cleaner wrasse I tried (bad idea all around) and it chased my springer damsel one day, several circuits around the tank, but they've been fine after that.

but yeah, if I could go back and not add a sixline, I would. melanarus and christmas wrasse look a lot prettier and don't seem to have the massive negatives associated with them. although my CUC probably wouldn't love those two.

Ya I'm totally on the fence. I do really like the six line but I have the fear of him losing his mind one day as is well documented by many. I'm considering a fish trap but they may be a huge waste of time

Bpain05 · Sep 19, 2018

Bayareareefer18 said:
No issues with the 6 and the melanarus?

I made the mistake of adding a six line early. I would love to have more wrasses but always read of the horrors of the six line.

Mine currently is peaceful and doesn't bother anyone in the tank

The Wrasse get along great. My fish show no aggression toward each other. I have a Purple Tang, Clown and the two Wrasse.

Jesterrace · Sep 19, 2018

James M said:
is there anyone who have kept a cleaner shrimp with a wrasse ? He’s not aggressive towards other fish in the tank the clowns and goby chase him away .

Give it time, it will likely chase or kill the others. The problem with sixlines is that they are often considered to be "a ticking time bomb" where they are perfectly fine when younger, and then hit sexual maturity and go on killing sprees (including inverts).

Jesterrace · Sep 19, 2018

Bayareareefer18 said:
Ya I'm totally on the fence. I do really like the six line but I have the fear of him losing his mind one day as is well documented by many. I'm considering a fish trap but they may be a huge waste of time

Fish traps are well worth the money (or effort if you do a home made one), BUT I agree it's poor planning to simply buy a fish with the idea that you can trap it if it goes wrong. Traps are incredibly useful but they aren't 100% and the 6 line is small and quick.

Jesterrace · Sep 19, 2018

mattzang said:
I did the same.. lol. I was told by LFS sixlines were fine and honestly it mostly has been. but you read the horror stories on here, especially the ones that talk about how they get a lot worse with time. The only aggression I've seen from it was some chasing of a cleaner wrasse I tried (bad idea all around) and it chased my springer damsel one day, several circuits around the tank, but they've been fine after that.

but yeah, if I could go back and not add a sixline, I would. melanarus and christmas wrasse look a lot prettier and don't seem to have the massive negatives associated with them. although my CUC probably wouldn't love those two.

The Halichoeres Wrasses definitely find CUC tasty. I have a juvie Melanurus and it periodically picks off snails and hermits.

James M · Sep 19, 2018

Jesterrace said:
Give it time, it will likely chase or kill the others. The problem with sixlines is that they are often considered to be "a ticking time bomb" where they are perfectly fine when younger, and then hit sexual maturity and go on killing sprees (including inverts).

I’ve had him for 6 months now , he’s not a baby

mattzang · Sep 19, 2018

I've had mine for about 6-7 months as well.. not eagerly awaiting that 1 year mark. i'm slowly coming around to the idea that I probably should catch him and avoid any future issues

Jesterrace · Sep 19, 2018

James M said:
I’ve had him for 6 months now , he’s not a baby

6-7 months is nothing when it comes to the 6 line it's usually at the 1-2 year mark where folks experience the trouble.

James M · Sep 19, 2018

Jesterrace said:
6-7 months is nothing when it comes to the 6 line it's usually at the 1-2 year mark where folks experience the trouble.

I already know everything you told me

Bayareareefer18 · Sep 19, 2018

Jesterrace said:
Fish traps are well worth the money (or effort if you do a home made one), BUT I agree it's poor planning to simply buy a fish with the idea that you can trap it if it goes wrong. Traps are incredibly useful but they aren't 100% and the 6 line is small and quick.

I agree. I wouldn't intentionally buy a fish just to remove it later. I am very fond of the six line and for now he is peaceful and entertaining but if he is young to terrorize other fish down the road it's not worth it.

Right now he is harmonious with the firefish, clowns, black cap basslet, flame hawk and lawnmower.