Finally Found a Fish My 6-Line Hates

[cybermeez]

It took 4 years, but I finally put a fish in my tank that my 6-Line wrasse wants to beat the crap out of; a Bristletail Filefish.

I bought a cute little 2" Bristletail to eat the aiptasia I can't seem to get rid of. I put him in the tank and within a few minutes he started exploring. My 6-Line took one look at him and decided he had to go. I was hoping it would pass and the 6-Line would eventually let him be, but that didn't happen. So I netted the little guy and put him in my refugium where he can live quietly until he's bigger.

He's about the same size as he wrasse so once he's grown bigger than the 6-Line I'll try again and see what happens. In the mean time it's back to Aiptasia-X.

 

[albano]

In the mean time it's back to Aiptasia-X.

Actually it's time for 6 line-X !
IMO the file fish will never be big enough to intimidate the 6 line

 

[MIKE NY]

Actually it's time for 6 line-X !
IMO the file fish will never be big enough to intimidate the 6 line

x2..mine hates everything..I put it in the fuge.

 

[cybermeez]

x2..mine hates everything..I put it in the fuge.

Yeah, I thought about that but the Filefish was a lot easier to catch in a tank full of live rock. Guess that will be my project for next weekend. The 6-Line can go back into the main tank once the Filefish has polished off all the aiptaisia and is ready to move on to another tank that needs his services.

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

How long did it take your filefish to fully eat all the aiptasias in the tank?

 

[cybermeez]

He's very small so he started eating the little ones right away, but I had to remove him to the refugium before the 6-Line killed him. He sampled my Pink Sandollar monti, but then focused on the aiptasia and pods without giving the coral a second look.

 

[Awibrandy]

Robin, best wishes in catching the 6 line.. I need to catch my 4 line too.

 

[cybermeez]

Robin, best wishes in catching the 6 line.. I need to catch my 4 line too.

I bet I'll have to take out most of the live rock to get him. He's a fast little bugger.

 

[tangy84]

poland spring bottle trick. 5 mins and he will be out.

 

[Bry17nyc]

I need to catch my 6 line too
He wanted to assassinate my fire fish
I was SOOO lucky to catch the firefish while the wrasse was chasing him

How does that Poland spring bottle trick works ?

 

[reefer4eva]

i had an 8 line that hated every fish in my tank

 

[albano]

i had an 8 line that hated every fish in my tank

IMO, all the 'lined' wrasses are a problem...(not talking about Red Sea 8line flasher wrasse)

 

[MIKE NY]

actually mine was Ok with any midwater swimming fish, but very territorial with any other rock dwellers....when I wanted to keep other wrasses out it went.

 

[fishman1069]

I need to catch my 6 line too
He wanted to assassinate my fire fish
I was SOOO lucky to catch the firefish while the wrasse was chasing him

How does that Poland spring bottle trick works ?

Cut the top off the bottel and invert it. Place it back in the bottom half of the bottle and use a lil crazy glue gel to hold them together. Place some bait in it and put in tank. Fish can go go in but can't get out

 

[Awibrandy]

I bet I'll have to take out most of the live rock to get him. He's a fast little bugger.

I hope not sweetie! I'm hopeful for you to get him without going that far... Do try the bottle trick.

Cut the top off the bottel and invert it. Place it back in the bottom half of the bottle and use a lil crazy glue gel to hold them together. Place some bait in it and put in tank. Fish can go go in but can't get out

Fishman, I bore 4 evenly spaced out little holes around both pieces. Then I use fishing line to tie them together leaving one extra long so I can just pull the bottle out of the tank.
Now, here's the deal; My fish are quite smart. They all seem to know what fish I am after, and that one fish never goes in the trap. I also have a few that know how to go in, and how to get out.LOL

 

[cybermeez]

The bottle trick is a great idea. I bet my Zebra Dartfish will go in, chow down and leave. They really like those small bolt holes. They don't call them dartfish for nothin'.

 

[cybermeez]

I've concluded that I have a smarter than average 6-Line Wrasse. He didn't fall for the bottle trick. He's just too suspicious for his own good. I ended up having to remove most of the live rock and shake the piece he'd wedged himself into - in an effort to evade me - until he went "plop" into the refugium.

The File fish is now peacefully cruising around the main tank picking at the live rock. He doesn't seem interested in the larger aiptasia. Is this just because he's still small (2" nose to tail) and the bigger he gets the bigger the aiptaisia he'll eat? Or, will have to use Aiptasia-X on them?