Six Line Wrasse

Wrasses

The Six Line Wrasse is also referred to as the Sixline, the Sixstripe and the Pyjama Wrasse. It comes from the Indo-Pacific and inhabits coral branches on the reef edges. It has a basic red/orange body with six sharp blue lines running horizontally across the entire body. There is a dark eyespot at the base of the tail. Wrasses are referred to as cleaner fish, because of their practice of cleaning parasites from other willing species. The Six Line is not as prone to cleaning as other wrasses, though. 

The Six Line is a good fish for the intermediate aquarist, as they are disease resistant. They are shy though and may be difficult to find in a tank. A 40 gallon tank is a possibility for a Six Line, provided there aren't many other inhabitants. A tank of at least 55 gallons with plenty of hiding places and a fine substrate is recommended. They will wedge themselves in rock work or bury themselves in the sand at night for protection.

Six Lines will eat mysis shrimp, brine shrmip, krill, fish eggs, snails, urchins, shellfish, flake foods and chopped fish. It benefits Tridacna clams by eating pyramidellid snails. The Sixline will attack live shrimp. They should be fed a couple of times per day.

The males develops brighter coloring when it is read to breed. Males are also larger than females. Eggs drift with the tide. Juveniles are all born female with some turning to males. Juveniles will group together, but adults are solitary. Breeding in captivity is not yet documented.