With many fish it is
very difficult to really
appreciate their beauty
until you can see them
slow down or take a
"swimming break" or so
you can get a good view
of it, or better yet a
photo.
While a Sixline Wrasse (
Pseudocheilinus
hexataenia) is a
truly pretty fish when
you can take a close
look at it (which is
generally pretty
difficult as it is
usually whizzing around
tank at a very fast clip
- but does take pauses
often enough get a clear
view or photo)...
(Reddish face with same
color lateral lines
seperated by blueish
lines, all blending into
a lime green colored
tail end and fin.)
...but its coloration is
almost "plain" when
compared to its close
"cousin" the "Four" or
"Twelve" Line wrasse -
(Paracheilinus
tetrataenia) ( As
stated above, it is
called a Four Line
Wrasse if only main
lateral lines are
counted. Is called a
"Twelve Line Wrasse" if
the thin colored stripes
on either side of main
four lines are counted.)
is really an
incredible beauty...
While habits much the
same as the Six Line,
the Four/Twelve Line is
much more skittish and
only makes periodic mad
dashes out in open from
safety of rock. It also
may spend long periods
hidden away completely
from view, almost always
if/when anyone
approaches front of
tank. Making it very
difficult to see or get
a picture of. (I would
guesstimate about two
hours of sitting with
camera and taking about
100 pics before
capturing a halfway
decent photograph.) You
never know where it is
going to pop out from,
or which direction it is
going to go for a very
short exposure to open
tank - even at feeding
times - and when out in
open, it is in high gear
the whole time
)
But once you do, what
you see is really
astounding!!!
(these pics are not "photoshopped"
- all natural pigments.)
A literal "Rainbow" of
different colors!!!
Almost florescent blue
lateral lines, trimmed
with dark blue or purple
ones. Deep blue fins,
gradually turning to
light blue, then trimmed
with bright red. Green
belly, going from a
fairly light green to
dark green from front to
rear.
Different colored
lateral lines all blend
together at purple tail
(which is trimmed in
dark green)
The front of fish is
highlighted by a very
bright florescent blue
stripe along throat.
Green underneath and a
blue lower front fin.
Reddish head and same
"striped" eyes as a Six
Line.
Really is a blaze of
glorious color when out
tripping around
tank...but without pics,
you really would never
know.
(well worth the extra
searching for and extra
expense if in market for
a "lined wrasse")
