Tank size · Saltwater
What size tank for a Six-line wrasse? (30 gal minimum)
Six-line wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) — adult 3″, slim-bodied, semi-aggressive.
The three sizes — minimum, good, ideal
| Tier | Tank size | What it gets you |
|---|---|---|
| Absolute minimum | 30 US gal | Survives adult life. No extras — no tankmates beyond the essentials, no aquascape that eats footprint. |
| Good | 45 US gal | Room for a small community, decor, and parameter buffering. This is where most people should aim. |
| Ideal | 75 US gal | Natural-feeling space. Active swimmers stop pacing, schoolers school freely, aggression drops. |
Parameters at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–80 °F
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Salinity
- 33–35 ppt
- Adult size
- 3″
- Body type
- slim
Source for the tank-size minimum
Reef2Reef wrasse-keeper consensus.
Next steps
- ▸ Build a candidate stocking list with the aquarium stocking calculator — it'll warn if your community is incompatible.
- ▸ Confirm tank water volume after substrate and rock with the aquarium volume calculator.
- ▸ Read the nitrogen-cycle guide before adding the first fish.
People also ask
- What is the absolute minimum tank size for a Six-line wrasse?
- 30 US gallons as an adult, no strict footprint requirement. Reef2Reef wrasse-keeper consensus.
- Can I keep a Six-line wrasse in a smaller tank when it's a juvenile?
- Briefly, yes — fish stores often sell juveniles that haven't reached adult size yet. But you should plan, buy, and cycle the adult-minimum tank from day one. Upgrading mid-life stresses the fish and is far more expensive than buying the right tank up front.
- Can I keep more than one Six-line wrasse together?
- It depends on the species' behaviour (semi-aggressive). Aggressive and semi-aggressive species often need to be kept solo unless the tank is dramatically larger than the minimum. Verify before adding a second.
- What temperature and pH does a Six-line wrasse need?
- Temperature 72–80 °F, pH 8.1–8.4, salinity 33–35 ppt.
Last reviewed