six line and firefish goby

My wife and I are starting up our saltwater tank (90 gallon and 40 sump). Our first fish was a yellow eyed kole tang. We waited a few weeks then added a six line wrasse and a firefish goby.

Everything seemed fine for a few days, then we noticed the firefish was hiding and not out strutting his stuff like usual. Then we found when the firefish came out the wrasse would nip him and chase him around. This happened all over the tank and not just in a specific area.

I rearranged the rocks a bit with no luck. I tried feeding a bit more in case I wasn't feeding enough. No luck on either.

Is this normal? I thought the six lines usually weren't such little bastards....

 

Yes Six-line wrasses can become aggressive and usually stay that way once they turn. You may have issues with adding more passive fish in the future.

 

Ok, thanks for the quick answer. Is there a magic trick to catching him? I was trying to get him out last night without any success. He tends to go into hiding when the net enters the tank. I guess the only way he's coming out is remove the rock.

 

Try to figure out were he is sleeping if you can, and attempt to catch him while asleep or just upon awaking. If he dives into a hole in the LR and you can remove that piece that works as well.

The small fish hook idea may not work for a six-line. Unfortunately I have found them to by one of hardest fish to catch and remove, hence the reason I no longer keep them.

He might go for a fish trap, but they are smart little buggers.

May the force be with you.

 

Haha, thanks. I'll post back with my success.

 

Ok, you're right they suck to catch. I ended up draining half the tank and wedging some plexiglass in to stop him from going from side to side, then dug him out of where he was hiding.... never again. I filled the tank back up, topped off, let settle and added an algae blenny instead. The little bastard went to my brother in law who has a semi-aggressive tank.