How big does Six-line Wrasse get?

Six-line Wrasse reaches an adult standard length of 6–8 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.

What water does Six-line Wrasse need?

24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, 7–12 dGH, 7–9 dKH, specific gravity 1.023–1.026. That is only 3 °C wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.

What is the smallest tank for Six-line Wrasse?

At least 120 L, and no shorter than 90 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.

What is Six-line Wrasse like to keep?

Temperament: semi-aggressive. Difficulty: beginner. It occupies the middle and is carnivore. Reef safety is "Reef safe".

Can Six-line Wrasse be kept with its most common tank mate?

The checker returns "Not recommended together". Six-line Wrasse and Blue Cleaner Wrasse is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.

G-01 / 57Marine

Six-line Wrasse六线龙

Pseudocheilinus hexataenia · Labridae

Six-striped purple wrasse; a famed pest hunter that also eats small shrimp.

Illustration to come

G-01 / 57 · Six-line Wrasse Pseudocheilinus hexataenia

SpecificationsFish atlas

Name: 六线龙
Scientific name: Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Family: Labridae
Origin: Indo-Pacific coral reefs
Adult size: 6–8 cm
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Water level: Middle
Level: Beginner
Min. tank: 120 L
Min. length: 90 cm
Reef safe: Reef safe

Water requirementsMarine

Temp.24–27 °C

pH8.1–8.4

Salinity1.023–1.026 SG

Alkalinity7–9 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Preys on peppermint and sexy shrimp and attacks small newly added gobies.
2Hunts small snails and pests on rock; harmless to corals themselves.
3Competes with mandarins for live-rock microfauna; make sure the mandarin feeds first.
4Active and roaming; needs ample live rock and a tight lid against jumping.
5Carnivore that takes frozen mysis and brine eagerly.

Check a tank mate

Jump straight to the verdict for Six-line Wrasse against this one — no need to pick it again.

Frequently asked questions

How big does Six-line Wrasse get?: Six-line Wrasse reaches an adult standard length of 6–8 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.
What water does Six-line Wrasse need?: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, 7–12 dGH, 7–9 dKH, specific gravity 1.023–1.026. That is only 3 °C wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.
What is the smallest tank for Six-line Wrasse?: At least 120 L, and no shorter than 90 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.
What is Six-line Wrasse like to keep?: Temperament: semi-aggressive. Difficulty: beginner. It occupies the middle and is carnivore. Reef safety is "Reef safe".
Can Six-line Wrasse be kept with its most common tank mate?: The checker returns "Not recommended together". Six-line Wrasse and Blue Cleaner Wrasse is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.