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")
FOTM JULY 2008 - Four/Twelve Line Wrasse 
"Rainbow" 
