Sixline wrasse attitude adjustment

I have a sixline wrasse that has been in the tank for a little over a month now and having a problem with it bullying my other fish. I read that they can be aggresive and should be added to the tank last, so I kinda saw this coming. Last week I added two black occellaris clownfish (not a mated pair) and the smaller of the 2 which is about the same size of the wrasse is constantly getting dive bombed by the wrasse, and the smaller clown now has ripped fins. I have seen the larger clown rush the smaller clown but never nip fins or anything so I think its the wrasse doing the damage. during the day the smaller clown is hidding in the corner of my tank by the powerhead and at night when the wrasse is sleeping both clowns are swimming right next to eachother so I thought if it was the bigger one rejecting the smaller they wouldnt be together at night......so my question. Id like to keep the wrasse so I was thinking pulling him out of the tank and quarantine him off for a couple days and re introduce him. I have a 5 gallon homedepot bucket that I use to mix my water for doing water changes and was wondering if anyone has tried or heard of anyone keeping a fish like that for a couple days..my concern is filtration but figured a couple days wouldnt hurt...plan b is to take fish back to lfs. I plan on grabbing him at night when he is sleeping as i can see him wedged in a piece of LR on the top and think I could do it pretty quick like.
what do you guys think?? is it worth it to try the timeout, or if i get him out consider myself luck and take him back?

Tank is a 57g oceanic illuminata
1 sixline wrasse
2 black ocellaris clown
1 orange spotted goby
1 cleanershrimp
1 royal gramma

Thanks for your input

 

It will take more than a couple of days, and I'd try to do a partial rearrangement of the aquascaping to break up any old territorial boundaries.

You'll want to at least wait until the clownfish is well-established and settled or you'll likely be doing the same thing all over again.

 

Yeah I was planning on a partial rescape . Especially since I know where he sleeps and was planning on taking that rock out to capture him while he is asleep. Do you think a week would be adequate?

 

I just removed my 6 line he was great for 6 months then all of a sudden he started attacking everything

 

You could try it but I'm guessing you will have to get rid of him.

 

came home last night and smaller clown was worse noticed rear fin ripped now. girlfriend was at home all day yesterday and said that the wrasse was chasing everyone around. so got w/c buket ready last night letting it mix today and will try to capture him tonight when I get home. not going to take a chance if I get him out, he unfortunatley is going back to lfs....now to catch him

 

goodluck with that, i did a tank transfer back in the day and the only way i could get my net around him was after having removed ALL rock work and some water.

 

yeah not looking forward to it. However he sleeps in a rock on the upper corner of my scape and the rock is pretty twisted and i know he has to force himself in there. all i need is a couple seconds to remove it so i was going to maybe put a net over the top and try to wrap it up in the tank and remove it.

 

that could work but make sure not to harm the fish

 

Good luck getting the guy out!!

I have vowed to never get a sixline because of there attitude issues. I dont even think they are all that great looking just a useful part of a CUC. Fortunately, many other wrasses do the same job at removing snail and worm pest such as a melanarus, xmas, yellow coris, or green coris wrasse.

If you are interested in a wrasse for you tank PM evolved or post your question on his all about reef safe wrasses thread, it is a sticky on the fish section.