How related are they?
Same subfamily, Cirrhilabrinae (Fairy wrasses and allies): close cousins
They split at the genus level: the Fairy Wrasse belongs to Cirrhilabrus (Fairy wrasses), the Six Line Wrasse to Pseudocheilinus (Lined wrasses).
Find the Fairy Wrasse on the tree · Find the Six Line Wrasse on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | Fairy Wrasse | Six Line Wrasse |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Chordata Chordates | |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata Vertebrates | |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata jawed vertebrates | |
| Parvphylum | Osteichthyes bony fishes | |
| Gigaclass | Actinopterygii ray-finned fishes | |
| Superclass | Actinopteri | |
| Class | Teleostei Teleost fishes | |
| Order | Eupercaria (unplaced) Unplaced eupercarian fishes | |
| Family | Labridae Wrasses | |
| Subfamily | Cirrhilabrinae Fairy wrasses and allies | |
| Genus split | Cirrhilabrus Fairy wrasses | Pseudocheilinus Lined wrasses |
| Species | — | Pseudocheilinus hexataenia Six Line Wrasse |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Fairy Wrasse | Six Line Wrasse |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Wrasse | Fish · Wrasse |
| Care level | Easy | Easy |
| Reef safe | Yes | Yes |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Semi-aggressive |
| Diet | Planktivore | Carnivore |
| Favorite foods | Enriched frozen mysis shrimp, Enriched brine shrimp, Frozen copepods and Calanus | Live amphipods and copepods found on live rock, Frozen mysis shrimp, Enriched brine shrimp |
| Max size | 6.3 in (16 cm) | 3.5 in (8.9 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 55 gal | 55 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.020–1.025 | 1.020–1.025 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Lifespan | About 5-8 years is quoted for fairy wrasses by a hobby source (AquariumSource); no published longevity study found. | About 4-6 years is commonly quoted for aquarium fish (Aquariadise); no published longevity study found. |
| Breeding | Not achieved | Not achieved |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |