Sixline??

[nUgZ]

I need to get a Sixline at least for a little while to take care of some excess bristleworms as well as some amphipods and copepods. I was wondering if it would pose a threat to my Porcelain crab or my pistol shrimp??

[vanmo92]

I would not count on it eating amphipods. they love copopods and they like bristlew worms, unless the worms are pretty big.

[sir_dudeguy]

i would count on it more for the amphipods than they for the worms. I've yet to see mine eat any sort of worm in my tank, and i've got hundreds, (if not thousands) of bristleworms...and besides...why do you wanna get rid of bristleworms? Same with amphipods and copepods? they're good for the tank.

As far as the crab...i dont know what porcelain crabs are like, but if they're anything like an emerald crab, i'd say its fine...i've got an emerald in my tnak and my sixline just ignores it. And i've also got a peppermint shrimp, tho i never seen him since i added him but i know he's there because my aptaisia keeps dissappearing...so he's still alive.

But they do love to eat amphipods and copepods. Mine just darts around in the rock all day lookin for them and he sometimes kicks the copepods off the glass to eat them out of the water column

[nUgZ]

The amphipods, copepods, and bristleworms are bothering my Zoanthids to the point of melting away.

[kaserpick]

I've got a Six-line with a porcelain and 2 cleaner shrimp. They're one big happy family!

Kasey

[rockindacheeks]

i have vowed to never own another sixline again... mine is a jerk and picks on everything in my tank (fish that is) especially other wrasses... and now i cant catch him to get him out. i have given up.

[650-IS350]

I've got a 1 1'2 sixline that is a model citizen in my 100.. it never bothers anything at all since I've had him ( 2 months ) he is fat as a cow now from the pods and baby bristels. He just darts through all the rocks and eats... dosn't really pay any mind to any of the other fish and invert residents of the tank.

[MrSpiffy]

rockindacheeks, just as an FYI, LiveAquaria.com has this to say about six-lines:

"It may act aggressively towards peaceful Wrasses and other fish that are easily intimidated."

Perhaps you got an overly aggressive wrasse, but it is likely that if you put him with very peaceful fish, he may pick on them. You also put him with other wrasses, most-likely peaceful ones, which is a no-no according to the above advice. So his picking on other fish isn't overly surprising to me. Mine picked on the firefish I bought, and I had to take the firefish back. Not saying you didn't do any reading about the six-line before purchasing, but throrough homework-doing usually reveals things (like your situation) that could be prevented.

I love my six-line and won't hesitate to get another if he ever passes on to the fishy world beyond.

[plandy]

Got one here. Of the three fishes in my nano tank he was the last entry. A big war ensued between the maroon clown and him. It has quieted to status quo each respecting the other. However my jester goby got his arse kicked good so he hides from ledge to ledge. This wrasse is definitely not a good mixer with peaceful fishes. But he does get along with my peppermint shrimp. I've seen him catch a 1/4" fat amphipod with fiery gusto. Pretty much cleared my tank of copepods too. To my surprise he did not touch a 1/4" nudi roaming about. Just so happens this one just likes to graze for glass slime and such.

[nUgZ]

Someone in another thread mentioned a Leopard Wrasse. Do they also eat brislteworms and are they generally more peaceful than the Sixlines?? The only other fish in the tank is a Trimma tevegae. The Trimma is a fairly peaceful fish as far as I can tell. Do you think a Sixline would harm him??

[HDAlien]

I have a Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus varius Lacépède) that is a voracious eater of bristle worms, not aggressive to my other fish.

[nUgZ]

Way too big for my situation. Thanks for your input though Alien.

[MrSpiffy]

Plandy, if by your nano tank you're referring to your 12G aquapod, I would think that the issue of quarreling between your fish is not so much related to the fish you combined, but rather to the space that they're contained in. Again referring to LiveAquaria.com (I don't work there, but I do use it as a good place for guidelines on fish and min. tank sizes.), they say this about your three fishes:

Jester goby: 10G min. tank size
Maroon Clown & Six-line Wrasse: 30G min. tank size

I can't see those two being good for nano tanks smaller than 20G, as the size is confining and they'll fight for territory. They may tolerate each other, but they probably won't be happy. Plus, I've heard that maroons tend to be somewhat aggressive (not surprising, considering they come from the damsel family).

I have my six-line in a 20G with my ocellaris clown and they actually swim together around the tank sometimes. I have no issues with aggression between them. But they're also the only two fish in my tank, and ocellaris clowns stay smaller than maroons. I think the reason your Jester goby got his butt kicked is because he's crowded in with two more-agressive fish fighting for territory that he's occupying.

By no means am I trying to harp on you for anything. I'm simply trying to help you understand the reasoning behind their behavior, as well as look out for their best interests. It's your tank and I trust you are looking out for your fish, but personally I think it's a bit crowded and has fish not very suitable for such a small nano. Again, just my two cents. :)

[sir_dudeguy]

rockindacheeks...i dont think that you can put sixlines with other wrasses to begin with. Thats just how they are with wrasses. Mine schools with my clowns, but he definately lets them know that he's boss.

but to stay on topic...i've never heard of pods and bristles making any coral melt away. Otherwise everyone who's got a sump would have no corals. Check all your params and EVERYTHING before you assume its any critters. If you see a worm in it thats actually eating (or whatever they do to them) the coral, then its likely not a bristleworm and could be a fireworm or something (tho i think fires and bristles are somehow related...but they are different). But i've got zoo's and lots of bristles and pods crawling all over them at night and the zoo's dont even show any signs of knowing the pods/bristles are there. IMO, its not pods/bristles. At least not the regular pods. I do think that stuff like redbugs are a type of pod, but i dont know if they live/eat on zoos

[sir_dudeguy]

and plandy, i also agree with mrspiffy. I've got a sixline and wouldnt put it in anything less than 30 simply because he's so active. Maroons get huge (compaired to other clowns) and are mean to begin with. So i'm agreeing w/spiffy on this one...the aggression you've got is due to limited space, because like he said, neither of those fish should even be in a 12 gallon tank.

[kass03]

I agree with you guys about the 6 line and maroon shouldnt be put in an aquapod. I usually agree with doc fosters tank recs. to.

My 6 line is in my 55 and loves to zoom around the whole tank. It has'nt bothered any of the other fish. I also have a bullseye pistol shrimp but was more worried he might do something to the wrasse lol. Oh and another small hitchiker pistol that's ok to.

As far as pods and worms making your zoa's melt I agree with sir_dude. I don't think they're doing it. I have pods and bristles in my tanks with zoa's without problems from them.
Have you checked the zoa's for nudis? They will kill them and also sundial snails will. I'd look into something else doing it and check out the zoanthid forum here. Also check your water pars. Zoa's arent always as easy as some people say they are.

kass

[hahnmeister]

In a small tank a 6-line will turn on shrimp, crabs, and anything else that it views 'in its space', which, with a nano, is the whole tank. Some develop a very strong taste for shrimp. I would worry about the porcelain crab myself... the pistol should be fine.

Amphipods and their like shouldnt bother zoas much... just worms. A flock of peppermint shrimp would also help with that... they love to attack worms.

Also, you can use a arrow crab... they looooove any type of worm. As a temporary addition, it might work better, but in the long term, I can see it going after other stuff in the tank.

[McCrary]

Mrspiffy- How long have you had your oscellaris and sixline together and how large is the sixline? Sixlines will turn nasty, just give them time and food.

My sixline and maroon clown were added to my 27 at the same time more than a year ago. The sixline is around 3 inches and is a mean fish in general. He picks on the maroon who is the same size and will occassionally split a fin. The maroon barely moves from the top of the tank where he swims against the current. No territory disputes, the sixline just likes being a punk.

[Yinger]

my six line would pick on my hermit crabs. When the hermits tried to switch homes, he would dart out and pick them off as soon as it was about to hop into its new home. Unfortunately, the sixline took a leap out of the tank a couple days ago and i found him dried up on the carpet...

[SuperNerd]

Sixlines will be more likely to go after larger ornamental inverts as they get bigger and many people report them pestering/harassing/bullying fish added to the tank after them. Space most likely makes a difference. The more space a territorial animal has, the less likely it will exhibit aggression.

[nUgZ]

Check this thread regarding the pods out guys. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=926676

P.S. Thanks for all the input everyone. I really appreciate it.

[imprtreef20]

I used to have a 6 line and I would def. buy one again, didnt bother any of my other fish, never got diseased at all...

[SuperNerd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8150355#post8150355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nUgZ
Check this thread regarding the pods out guys. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=926676

P.S. Thanks for all the input everyone. I really appreciate it.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions until you read as much as you can about the varieties of amphipods and the general benefit of their presence. :)

Here's the link again: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rs/index.php

[PuffersKick]

I WOULD NOT get a sixline. They are MEAN. I have one that I wish I could get out. He killed a Scott's fairy wrasse and is now picking on my firefish...

[jpslickorocks]

Get a four line wrasse. They are much mellower with all the same benefits.

[SuperNerd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8151040#post8151040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jpslickorocks
Get a four line wrasse. They are much mellower with all the same benefits.

Or maybe a cryptic wrasse. I hear they act nothing like a six line, in terms of aggression.

[fras]

I have a sixline that's mean too, it harassed my longnose hawk to death(both introduced at the same time). Luckily it's fine with my blenny & skunk cleaners - although it does go for my peppermints(which thankfully are too quick for it).

I wont be adding any more fish, the only upside is the sixline pollished off all my flatworms..

[t11t5]

I have a 150 gallon with a sixline. He only pics on my algea blenny. Poor little guy. One day the blenny is going to punch him in the eye..................

[hahnmeister]

Yeah, I wouldnt worry about the algae blenny... they can strike back when they want to, esp the redlips. I used to have a bicolor that ended up picking on clams, so I had to get rid of it. I gave it to a friend whose tank is full of nasty large damsels. The little bugger would hold its own any time it wanted to, guarding its little rock with zeal, and even taking a swipe or two at their fins when they werent looking. Kinda like a Jawfish now that I think about it.

Perhaps a 4-line instead?

Im trying to think of other fish that would help with the worm/pod population. A mandarin maybe, depends on the size of the pods... but they would mow down a pod population fast. Or perhaps a sand-sifter goby. A crabeye or diamond watchman would get alot of the pods in the sand, and the worms. They are model citizens otherwise.

[plandy]

MrSpiffy: Of course you are correct on all accounts. Things are a bit too over crowded in my tank. I have a 90 gallons closed system tank sitting in my livingroom under construction. As soon as I can everything will be transfered out of the nano tank into this new tank. If I were to have only this nano tank then the jester goby would be the only fish, the max for this system, to keep.

Sir_dudeguy: Point well taken :)

Kass03: Point well taken :)

Hahnmeister: Though my 6 line gets along with the peppermint shrimp I balked on ordering a procelain crab for reason you've mentioned. It would be ripped to delicious bits.

TurboSnail8898: I've had lots of wrasses in the course of my marine hobby. The 6 line, my first, definitely strikes me as the pitbull of the species and extremely territorial. But they are very useful for keeping various parasites under control. And yep, before things settled down, he clipped the maroon's fin good. Though everything has regrown and remained that way.

[nUgZ]

I fully realize the benefits of both amphipods and copepods as well as smaller bristleworms. The problem comes when there are too many and not enough food available to go around. Instead of just dying off they have resorted to eating away at my Zoanthids. They prefer People Eaters and that is truly a problem. If they were plain brown Zoanthids I wouldn't even care so much. Again thanks to everyone for your input. Seems as though a four-line might be a better bet?? Anyone else have opinions on the temperment of a four-line??

[jpslickorocks]

four lines are great

[Randall_James]

I have a worm eating machine Pseudochromis springerii...
http://www.etropicals.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=41&pCatId=1380

this one lives in a 24G nano, he did bite the eyeball off my cleaner shrimp, but he lived and the eye grew back...

[nUgZ]

Are dottybacks more or less aggressive generally than Sixlines?? I definitely wouldn't mind one, they are great looking fish. They might eat my pistol shrimp and porcelain crab though I assume.

[Randall_James]

Mine has been a pretty well behaved citizen. I was told they were pretty shy but mine is anything but... He is very active but you need to keep a lot of nooks and crannies for him to hang out in. They do not like open water at all (well mine anyway)