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Six Line Wrasse

Pseudocheilinus hexataenia · family Labridae

Also: Sixstripe Wrasse, Pyjama Wrasse

Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) — aquarium fish
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA

Parameters

Temperature
24–28 °C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
12–18 °dGH
Tank volume
from 120 L
Maximum size
up to 8 cm
Group size
min 1, ideal 1
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Swimming zone
Middle
Difficulty
Intermediate
Lifespan
5–8 years

Description

The Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) is the premier biological pest-control specialist for coral reef tanks. Sporting six horizontal orange-and-violet stripes and bright red eyes with double white lines, it tirelessly patrols live rock crevices to eradicate flatworms, coral-eating nudibranchs, pyramidellid snails, and bristleworms.

Care

Provide a 120+ liter (30+ gallon) reef tank rich in porous live rock caves (SG 1.023–1.025, pH 8.1–8.4). Introduce the Six Line Wrasse as one of the final fish additions to minimize territorial behavior. At night, it secretes a protective mucus cocoon inside a rock crevice.

Feeding

Frozen Mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, high-protein marine pellets, and natural live-rock microfauna.

Breeding

Pelagic broadcast spawner at dusk.

Compatibility

  • Ocellaris Clownfish

    Amphiprion ocellaris

    Отлично уживается с рыбами-клоунами в рифовых аквариумах от 120 л. / Coexists well with Ocellaris Clownfish in 120+ liter reef tanks.

    Good
  • Firefish Goby

    Nemateleotris magnifica

    Заселяйте огненного бычка раньше шестиполосого губана в аквариумах от 120 л. / Introduce the peaceful Firefish Goby before adding a Six Line Wrasse.

    Caution

FAQ

What is the clear web-like bubble around my Six Line Wrasse at night?
Six Line Wrasses secrete a protective mucus sleeping cocoon inside rock crevices every night to mask their scent from nocturnal predators.
Goldie editorial team — collective profile photo
AuthorGoldie Editorial

Goldie editorial team

Practising aquarists with a combined 30+ years of experience · Biologists and editors, fact-checking against FishBase and Seriously Fish · Every piece is reviewed by a qualified ichthyologist before publication

Goldie Science Board — collective scientific review panel
Reviewed byGoldie Science Board

Scientific board — ichthyologists and veterinarians

Ichthyologists and veterinarians with university degrees · Reference FishBase, Seriously Fish and peer-reviewed literature · Sign every reviewed article with their credentials shown

Sources

  1. FishBase: Pseudocheilinus hexataenia · FishBase · 2026-05-22
  2. Seriously Fish: Pseudocheilinus hexataenia · Seriously Fish · 2026-05-22