Common Names: Six-Line Wrasse, Six-Striped Wrasse

Scientific Name: Pseudocheilinus hexataenia

Origin: Indo-Pacific (Red Sea to the Tuamotu Islands)

Max Size: 78 cm (approx. 3 inches)

Lifespan: 510 years

Temperament: Semi-aggressive; can be territorial toward similar-sized fish

Diet: Carnivore Exceptional pest hunter

Care Level: Very Easy

The “Stripes”: Features six horizontal, vibrant orange lines set against a deep blue-to-purple body.

The “Eyes”: Its eyes are particularly strikingred with two distinct white horizontal bars. They move independently, giving the fish a very “alert” and intelligent look.

The Tail: A small, bright green-to-yellow tail fin often features a tiny black “eyespot” (ocellus) to confuse predators.

The Mucus Cocoon: Like its cousin the Mystery Wrasse, it doesn’t sleep in the sand. Instead, it creates a transparent mucus bubble in the rocks at night to hide its scent.

Pest Control Specialist: This fish is often “hired” to handle biological problems. It is a ruthless predator of flatworms, pyramidellid snails (which attack clams), and bristle worms.

The “Darter”: It doesn’t swim in open water much. Instead, it “darts” in and out of rockwork with extreme precision, hunting for tiny crustaceans.

The Aggression Warning: In smaller tanks, a Six-Line can become a “terror.” It may harass more peaceful fish like Firefish, Dragonets, or Fairy Wrasses.

Reef Safe: 100% Reef Safe with corals. It is a perfect addition to a “working” reef, but be cautious with very small ornamental shrimp.

Tank Size: A minimum of 75L115L (2030 Gallons). While they are small, they are extremely active and need a lot of surface area to forage.

Rockwork: Provide a complex labyrinth of live rock. The more holes and tunnels you have, the more you will see its natural hunting behavior.

Lid is Mandatory: They are very “twitchy” swimmers and can easily jump out of the tank if startled.

Feeding: They are “pigs” at feeding time. They will eat frozen mysis, brine shrimp, flakes, and pellets. However, they will also spend the entire day finding their own “natural” snacks in your rockwork.

Common Names: Six-Line Wrasse, Six-Striped Wrasse

Scientific Name: Pseudocheilinus hexataenia

Origin: Indo-Pacific (Red Sea to the Tuamotu Islands)

Max Size: 78 cm (approx. 3 inches)

Lifespan: 510 years

Temperament: Semi-aggressive; can be territorial toward similar-sized fish

Diet: Carnivore Exceptional pest hunter

Care Level: Very Easy

The “Stripes”: Features six horizontal, vibrant orange lines set against a deep blue-to-purple body.

The “Eyes”: Its eyes are particularly strikingred with two distinct white horizontal bars. They move independently, giving the fish a very “alert” and intelligent look.

The Tail: A small, bright green-to-yellow tail fin often features a tiny black “eyespot” (ocellus) to confuse predators.

The Mucus Cocoon: Like its cousin the Mystery Wrasse, it doesn’t sleep in the sand. Instead, it creates a transparent mucus bubble in the rocks at night to hide its scent.

Pest Control Specialist: This fish is often “hired” to handle biological problems. It is a ruthless predator of flatworms, pyramidellid snails (which attack clams), and bristle worms.

The “Darter”: It doesn’t swim in open water much. Instead, it “darts” in and out of rockwork with extreme precision, hunting for tiny crustaceans.

The Aggression Warning: In smaller tanks, a Six-Line can become a “terror.” It may harass more peaceful fish like Firefish, Dragonets, or Fairy Wrasses.

Reef Safe: 100% Reef Safe with corals. It is a perfect addition to a “working” reef, but be cautious with very small ornamental shrimp.

Tank Size: A minimum of 75L115L (2030 Gallons). While they are small, they are extremely active and need a lot of surface area to forage.

Rockwork: Provide a complex labyrinth of live rock. The more holes and tunnels you have, the more you will see its natural hunting behavior.

Lid is Mandatory: They are very “twitchy” swimmers and can easily jump out of the tank if startled.

Feeding: They are “pigs” at feeding time. They will eat frozen mysis, brine shrimp, flakes, and pellets. However, they will also spend the entire day finding their own “natural” snacks in your rockwork.