Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Two Little Fishies 

Pseudocheilinus

Pseudocheilinus hexataenia

(Bleeker, 1857)

Sixline Wrasse

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to South Africa, east to the Tuamotu Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to Lord Howe Islands.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coral branches in outer reef areas and usually found at depths between 15 – 100 feet (5 – 30 m) where it feeds on small benthic invertebrates, mainly small snails, worms, and shrimp.

General Husbandry: Common in the trade having a reddish body with six dark blue lengthwise lines. Males and female are similarly colored, except males are larger.

Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having ample crevices and caves, as this is a shy species. Should also be maintained with larger and more aggressive fishes, e.g., dottybacks and some damsels.

As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and should be fed once daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Labroidei

    Family: Labridae

    Genus: Pseudocheilinus

FYI: One per aquarium, unless in a very big aquarium and all are introduced at the same time and have different body lengths.

They don't bury themselves in the sand at night, as do many other wrasses. Instead, they rest in rock crevices/caves or branches of corals.

Quite hardy.

If harassed or frightened, may jump out of uncovered aquariums.

An adequate diet seems to be a problem with maintaining those in this genus.

Can eat the parasitic snails that infest Tridacna clams.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Larger, and moderately aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 80°F (23 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Pseudocheilinus hexataenia (Sixline Wrasse)
Photo © Bob Fenner
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Ocean Nutrition