| The six-line wrasse or Pseudocheilinus hexataenia | | | | considered mildly aggressive and will bully smaller |
| belongs to the family Laridae. This is a large and | | | | more timid species. Multiples can be kept together |
| rather diverse family containing over 500 species in | | | | without any worry of territorial disputes. They may |
| 60 different genera. The six-line wrasse is native to | | | | however demonstrate aggressive behavior toward |
| the central and western Indo-Pacific with large | | | | other wrasse species. Six-lines can make suitable |
| concentrations found off the coast of Fiji and the | | | | additions to a marine reef tank depending on the |
| northern part of the Great Barrier Reef. They inhabit | | | | general population. They will not harm corals or other |
| clear coastal to outer reef waters at depths up to | | | | anchored species. They may eat smaller crustaceans |
| 60 feet. | | | | on occasion. |
| The name six-lined wrasse is purely descriptive. | | | | Wrasses are carnivorous. In nature their diet consists |
| These fish have six neon orange lines running the | | | | largely of minuscule creatures living on corals, other |
| length of their upper bodies. This horizontal striping is | | | | fish and rock formations. You will want to have an |
| a striking contrast against their bluish purple body | | | | adequate supply of well established living rock. They |
| color. Their caudal fins are yellow with blue veining | | | | provide beneficial services for the fellow inhabitants |
| and an ocellus (false eye) meant to confuse | | | | of their tank. They will eat the pyramidellid snails |
| predators located on the upper part of its base. The | | | | which commonly infest clam populations. They will eat |
| most distinguishing feature of these fish is their | | | | the unwanted commensal flatworms off of your |
| intense red eyes. Two white lines run diagonally | | | | corals. They will also remove pests such as |
| through their eyes; one above and the second just | | | | bristleworms from living rock. Once they are |
| below the pupil. This species is also marketed under | | | | confident in their surroundings they will take an active |
| the names six-stripe and pyjama wrasse by the | | | | role as a cleaner fish removing parasitic isopods and |
| aquarium trade. These are relatively small fish only | | | | copepods from the bodies and fins of their tank |
| reaching an adult size of approximately 3 inches. | | | | mates. Their foraging efforts should be supplemented |
| This is an extremely active, exceptionally quick | | | | with meat-based food products. They may also be |
| species. They will dart in and out of hiding places | | | | fed finely chopped seafood such as shrimp, crab, and |
| faster than just about any other fish you could have | | | | squid. |
| in your aquarium. They are diurnal foragers. In their | | | | Six-line wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites. |
| natural habitat they spend the majority of their day | | | | They are born as females. If you introduce a group |
| scrounging around reef formations in search of food. | | | | of juveniles in an aquarium together the larges most |
| In the evening they sleep in a mucus cocoon. It is | | | | dominant member of the group will transform into a |
| believed that this cocoon forms a protective barrier | | | | male. You will end up with a male who will tend to his |
| against nocturnal predation; acting to mask its scent | | | | harem. This change in gender can be accomplished in |
| from potential predators. | | | | as little as 10 days. These fish are not known to |
| These make good community tank fish. They are | | | | breed in captivity. |