Description
Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
Overview
The Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia), also known as the Sixstripe Wrasse or Pyjama Wrasse, is a small, colorful marine fish from the Labridae family. Native to the Indo-Pacific, it ranges from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Pacific Islands, including Fiji and the Great Barrier Reef, typically inhabiting coral reefs and rocky areas at depths of 1–35 meters. Known for its striking appearance, it features a vibrant orange body with six horizontal blue stripes, green tail accents, and red eyes with black pupils. Adults reach up to 10 cm in length and can live 5–7 years with proper care. Valued for its pest-eating habits (e.g., flatworms, small bristleworms), it is a hardy addition to reef aquariums but requires careful tankmate selection due to its semi-aggressive nature and territorial behavior.
Care Requirements
The Six Line Wrasse is moderately easy to care for, suitable for intermediate aquarists, but its active and territorial nature demands a stable, well-structured tank environment.
Tank Size and Setup
- Minimum Tank Size: 114 liters for a single specimen; 200–300 liters recommended for community tanks to minimize territorial disputes.
- Aquascaping: Provide ample live rock with caves, crevices, and overhangs to mimic its natural reef habitat. This offers hiding spots and foraging areas. A fine sand bed (2–5 cm) is beneficial but not mandatory, as it may rest in sand or mucus cocoons at night. A tight-fitting lid is essential, as this species is prone to jumping, especially when stressed or newly introduced.
- Lighting: Moderate to high reef lighting enhances its vivid colors; no special requirements beyond standard reef setups.
- Water Flow: Moderate to strong flow (10–20 times tank volume per hour) simulates reef currents. Use powerheads or wavemakers for circulation.
- Filtration: Strong filtration with a protein skimmer maintains water quality, crucial for reef tanks or high bioloads.
Water Parameters
Stable water conditions are critical to prevent stress, color fading, or disease. Test weekly and maintain with regular water changes.
- Temperature 24–28°C Stable; avoid fluctuations >2°C.
- Salinity 30–35 ppt (SG 1.020–1.025) Use a refractometer for accuracy.
- pH 8.1–8.4 Buffer if needed to maintain alkalinity.
- Alkalinity 8–12 dKH Supports coral health, if present.
- Ammonia/Nitrite 0 ppm Undetectable; toxic at trace levels.
- Nitrate <10 ppm (ideally <5 ppm) Low for reef systems.
- Phosphate <0.03 ppm Prevents algae growth.
- Calcium 400–450 ppm Essential for corals, if applicable.
- Magnesium 1,200–1,400 ppm Stabilizes water chemistry.
Maintenance
Routine maintenance ensures the Six Line Wrasse thrives and maintains its pest-control role and vibrant coloration.
- Acclimation: Drip acclimate over 1–2 hours to adjust to tank conditions. Quarantine for 2–4 weeks to prevent introducing parasites like marine ich or velvet.
- Water Changes: Perform 20–30% water changes bi-weekly or 10–15% weekly using RO/DI water mixed with marine salt to control nitrates and replenish trace elements.
- Tank Cleaning: Siphon detritus from the substrate during water changes. Use a turkey baster to clear debris from rockwork. The wrasse may control small pests (e.g., flatworms, small bristleworms) but cannot manage heavy infestations.
- Health Monitoring: Watch for stress (excessive hiding, faded colors, reduced appetite) or disease (white spots, rapid breathing). It is hardy but susceptible to ich if water quality declines. Use copper-free treatments and vitamin-enriched foods to boost immunity and coloration.
Tips: Introduce as one of the last fish to reduce aggression toward new tankmates. Ensure ample hiding spots to minimize territorial conflicts.
Diet
A carnivore, the Six Line Wrasse feeds on small crustaceans, worms, and zooplankton in the wild, making it effective at controlling pests like flatworms and small bristleworms in aquariums. A varied, protein-rich diet in captivity supports health and vibrancy.
Recommended Foods:
- Frozen: Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, krill, finely chopped seafood (squid, mussel, clam).
- Live: Enriched brine shrimp or copepods, especially for new or picky eaters, though avoid relying on live foods if copepods are needed for other tankmates (e.g., dragonets).
- Prepared: High-quality carnivore pellets or flakes with carotenoids or spirulina to enhance coloration.
Feeding Regimen: Feed 1–2 times daily in small portions to avoid overfeeding and water pollution. Thaw frozen foods in tank water and soak dry foods in vitamins or brine juice if the fish is reluctant to eat.
Notes: It may consume small beneficial invertebrates (e.g., copepods, micro-snails) alongside pests, so monitor cleanup crew populations. A varied diet (80% meaty foods, 20% pellets/flakes) prevents nutritional deficiencies and reduces aggression.
Behavior and Compatibility
The Six Line Wrasse is active, semi-aggressive, and territorial, often patrolling rockwork or hiding in crevices. It may form a mucus cocoon or rest in sand at night. Its pest-eating behavior is valuable in reef tanks, but it can harass smaller or similarly shaped fish. Juveniles are less aggressive, while adults, especially males, are bolder and more territorial.
Behavior:
- Active swimmer, constantly foraging among live rock for small invertebrates.
- Hides in crevices or sand at night, occasionally forming a mucus cocoon for protection.
- May chase or nip at fish encroaching on its territory, particularly those with similar colors or shapes.
Compatibility:
- Reef Safety: Safe with corals (SPS, LPS, soft) but may eat small invertebrates like ornamental shrimp, micro-snails, or fanworms. Monitor cleanup crew populations.
- Tankmates: Compatible with semi-aggressive to peaceful fish of similar or larger size, e.g., clownfish, hawkfish, dwarf angelfish, tangs, or large damselfish. Keep singly, as multiple Six Line Wrasses often fight unless in a very large tank (>380 liters) with simultaneous introduction.
- Incompatible: Avoid small, docile fish (e.g., gobies, dartfish, firefish), other wrasses (especially similar-looking ones like fairy or flasher wrasses), or aggressive fish (e.g., large triggers, groupers) that may intimidate it. Do not house with small ornamental shrimp (cleaner, peppermint) or micro-snails, as they may be eaten.
Notes: In smaller tanks (<200 liters), keep as a solo specimen. Introduce simultaneously with other fish in larger systems to reduce territorial disputes.
Reproduction
The Six Line Wrasse is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with females capable of transitioning to males in the absence of a dominant male. Breeding in captivity is extremely rare in home aquariums due to territorial aggression and the difficulty of rearing larvae. Most specimens are wild-caught, as captive breeding is not common commercially.
Breeding Process:
- Pair/Group Formation: In a large tank (300+ liters), introduce multiple juveniles simultaneously; the dominant one becomes male, while others remain female. One male may breed with several females, but aggression often prevents stable pairing.
- Courtship: Males display vibrant colors, fin flaring, and rapid swimming to attract females. Spawning occurs in open water, with females releasing pelagic eggs and males fertilizing them externally.
- Egg Care: Eggs drift in the water column with no parental care. Larvae (2–3 mm at hatch) require live foods like rotifers and copepods for 20–30 days until metamorphosis.
- Challenges: Larval rearing is difficult due to their small size and need for specialized live foods. Aggression between adults often disrupts spawning attempts. Optimal conditions include dim lighting, high oxygen, and temperatures of 24–26°C.
Recommendation: Breeding is best suited for professional aquaculturists with dedicated setups. Hobbyists should focus on observing natural behaviors like courtship displays in a well-maintained reef tank.
Summary
The Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) is a hardy, colorful addition to reef aquariums, prized for its pest-eating habits and striking orange-and-blue coloration. A 114+ liter tank with ample live rock, a sand bed (optional), and stable water parameters (24–28°C, 30–35 ppt salinity, pH 8.1–8.4) supports its needs. Regular maintenance (20–30% bi-weekly water changes) and a varied carnivorous diet (mysis, brine shrimp, pellets) ensure health and vibrancy. Its semi-aggressive nature requires careful tankmate selection (e.g., clownfish, hawkfish; avoid small shrimp, similar wrasses, or aggressive predators). Breeding is rare in captivity due to aggression and larval rearing challenges. With proper care, it thrives as a functional and visually stunning reef fish.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Either come in store to view available stock or request pictures to be sent to you.
Please Note: Due to variations within species resulting from age, region, sex, etc., the actual livestock may not look identical to the image. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimens.
