Description

Sixline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)

Colourful, Active & Pest-Controlling Reef Favourite

The Sixline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) is one of the most popular and practical reef fish thanks to its striking colours, energetic personality, and natural ability to help control pests such as flatworms, pyramid snails, and small unwanted invertebrates. With its vivid blue horizontal stripes, bright orange-pink body, and glowing green-to-blue facial markings, the Six-Line Wrasse adds a brilliant splash of colour and constant motion to marine aquariums of all sizes.

Growing to a manageable 8–9 cm, this species is incredibly active, darting in and out of rockwork throughout the day. It’s a hardy, adaptable reef fish ideal for well-established tanks with plenty of caves and hiding spots. Known for its curiosity and impressive agility, the Six-Line Wrasse becomes a captivating part of any reef environment.

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Why the Six-Line Wrasse Is a Top Pick for Reef Keepers

✨ Bright, Beautiful Colouration

The Six-Line Wrasse features six vivid blue stripes running across a vibrant orange base, with iridescent splashes of green and purple around the face. Under reef lighting, this fish glows with exceptional intensity, making it a standout in any aquarium.

✨ Excellent Natural Pest Control

This species is well known for hunting and consuming various nuisance organisms, including:

• Flatworms

• Small parasitic snails (e.g., pyramidellid snails)

• Copepods and amphipods

• Small worms hiding in rockwork

While not a replacement for good tank husbandry, it is often chosen specifically for its beneficial behaviour.

✨ Extremely Active & Fun to Watch

Few fish explore their surroundings as constantly as a Six-Line Wrasse. You’ll see it weaving through coral branches, inspecting rock crevices, and darting across the tank, bringing lively energy to your reef.

✨ Hardy & Adaptable

Six-Line Wrasses are tough, resilient, and suitable for intermediate hobbyists. They tolerate a wide range of reef-safe conditions and quickly adapt to captive life.

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Care Requirements

The Six-Line Wrasse thrives in stable, mature reef systems with plenty of structure.

📏 Tank Size

• Minimum: 120 L

• Ideal: 150–200 L+ with abundant rockwork

Despite its small size, this fish appreciates space and complex aquascapes to explore.

💧 Water Parameters

• Temperature: 24–26°C

• Salinity: 1.024–1.026

• pH: 8.1–8.4

• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0

• Nitrate: Low

Stable, reef-style conditions help maintain its long-term health.

🍤 Diet

The Six-Line Wrasse is a carnivore and thrives on a varied, protein-rich diet, including:

• Frozen mysis

• Frozen brine (enriched preferred)

• Marine pellets

• Copepods

• Small crustacean-based foods

• Occasional live offerings

A diverse diet enhances coloration and overall vitality.

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Temperament & Compatibility

The Six-Line Wrasse is reef-safe and does not harm corals or most invertebrates. However, its temperament can vary:

👍 Suitable Tankmates

• Clownfish

• Tangs

• Gobies

• Blennies

• Many wrasses (in larger systems)

• Dwarf angels

• Peaceful-to-semi-aggressive reef fish

⚠️ Important Behaviour Notes

• Six-Line Wrasses can become territorial, especially in smaller tanks.

• They may bully very timid species, new additions, or other wrasses.

• Adding them later in the stocking order often helps reduce aggression.

With the right setup and tankmates, they integrate beautifully into community reef systems.

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A Vibrant, Hardy & Highly Useful Reef Addition

The Six-Line Wrasse offers a rare combination of beauty, utility, and personality. Its constant movement, bright colours, and natural pest-control behaviour make it an incredibly rewarding fish for reef aquariums. Whether you’re looking to enhance your tank’s biodiversity, add a hardworking micro-predator, or simply introduce a colourful, energetic species, the Six-Line Wrasse is a fantastic choice.

Bring colour, activity, and natural balance to your reef with the Six-Line Wrasse.

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