Blue-Spot Jawfish

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12938381#post12938381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flamehawkfish
To All-

After 4 months, the same Blue-spot Jawfish (purchased from eBay and named "Rodney" by my wife) remains healthy and happy!

He eats any type of food, but craves squid & shrimp. He swims backward which is cool. Sometimes, his burrowing becomes annoying b/c he buries my nice blue mushrooms & yellow polyps...

Anyway, I maintain that 'blue-spot jawfish disease' is more fable than fact. If collecting practices are sound (and the tank is well covered), I can say, firsthand, that these fish adapt well to aquaria...

Take care,

Flamehawk

You can say first hand that your fish has done great for for 4 months. Maybe he'll live several years and I honestly hope so, but your experience is extremely limited.

As far as "jawfish disease" being fable maybe you should actually read this thread. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79880&highlight=bluespot
as well as the others I listed in my post above earlier in this thread.

I'm sure collection technique is critical, but do you actually have any idea how your fish was collected? Public aquariums have trouble keeping these for long periods, maybe you should give them a call. I believe at least in one case, they collect the fish themselves.

As we learn more and improve collection, handling and husbandry, obviously things will improve. Congratulations to the "seven monthers" above. But your dismissal of the experience, pain and trials of other reefers leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[USC-fan]

Still doing great, only had to be rescue out of my over flow once!

Had him for about a 1 year now.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12125190#post12125190 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by USC-fan
I had my blue spotted jawfish for over 7 months...no problems. It is my favorite fish!!

 

[finsurgeon]

There's some science. With an N of 1, you've proven Blue spot jawfish disease to be a fable. I hope yours continues to do well - but I also hope that you can appreciate how many people are going to optimistically buy fish that are soon to be dead.

 

[gcpowers]

klasiksb, your BSj pictures are amazing!! Those made my day. I'm sticking with the pearlies for now but may try a BSJ later.

Congratulations to everyone that has had success. Keep the stories coming but dont dismiss others' knowledge on the subject based on keeping 1 fish alive for 7 months.

Best of luck and keep us updated!

Gpow

 

[klasiksb]

Yes this is a challanging fish to keep and I know one reefer on another board that has lost more than I even want to count. I just want to tell them: STOP ALL READY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I think after you have tried an failed more than a couple of times, it's just selfish.

 

[dvlax40]

seriously these fish come from the sea of cortez..... why in gods name are you subjecting them to tropical conditions? if your tank is hotter then 77-78 degrees your just being cruel. its no wonder why their natural populations are declining

 

[flamehawkfish]

To All

I apologize for labeling 'Blue Spot Jawfish Disease' as a fable. I'm not discounting other people's experiences.

I'm a very conscientious reefer, breed clownfish, and follow the hobby carefully. Some delicate species like Hawaiian boxfish, Moorish Idols, Coral Beauties, and Meyer's Butterflies should remain in the ocean, and should never be collected.

What became of the BSJF survival poll? Last I checked, several people reported keeping them for over a year. Also, when I GOOGLE 'Blue Spot Jawfish Disease', I find almost nothing. However, what little I do retrieve, is dated 5-6 years ago- much like Marie's (Angel-Fish) link. Maybe, times changed, and the fish is now available to the hobby in a more healthy state?

When I first posted, several people declared that my Blue-Spot Jawfish would necessarily jump or be dead in 2-3 months. That turned out to be false.

I have my experience. Others have their own. I feel like if your Blue-spot Jawfish has friendly tankmates, a deep tank, a nice sandbed, and a good lid, it can acclimate very well to aquaria.

 

[flamehawkfish]

BTW... my "theory" that 'Blue-spot Jawfish Disease' results from sketchy collection practices came from this dialogue:

(See the last post from Philter4):

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1264924

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12944651#post12944651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dvlax40
seriously these fish come from the sea of cortez..... why in gods name are you subjecting them to tropical conditions? if your tank is hotter then 77-78 degrees your just being cruel. its no wonder why their natural populations are declining

Thank you! I think maybe the problem is that because they are sometimes found at depths where the water is warmer or there are hot months, people decide that means they are fine with those temps long term.

I am so sick of hearing the sad stories, it's hard for me to look at gorgeous photos of them like klasiksb's. It just makes me sad. They have so much personality.

 

[dvlax40]

i live in phoenix... it sucks, my major WAS marine biology, but i couldnt afford tuition at UCSB or SDSU so i am stuck going to Uof A as a pre-med student anyways we used to travel to rocky point (in the sea of cortez) to study marine biology, the temperature range from low 60s to about mid 70s. this fish comes from similar climates as the catalina goby

 

[Bluespot22]

I hyad one for a month but it slippet through a small crack when my plexiglass cover bent due to the light. I got another and habd it for a month before it started twitching and couldn't swim. I think she might have been collected using cyanide. I have another on the way though, I will not give up!Here's some shots of mine:

 

[Bluespot22]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12648844#post12648844 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SuperR
Been in my tank just over a month now. Very curious fish! Likes to know whats going on in the tank

Nice dendros!!

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12946427#post12946427 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bluespot22
I hyad one for a month but it slippet through a small crack when my plexiglass cover bent due to the light. I got another and habd it for a month before it started twitching and couldn't swim. I think she might have been collected using cyanide. I have another on the way though, I will not give up!

Just so you know, there's some question as to whether or not it's a good idea to keep trying.

 

[dvlax40]

seriously.... this fish is in danger of over fishing and collecting, and you already killed two, now want to kill another? funny how if its a fish your like whatever ill just get another one, how about if it was a dog, a cat, or even a human? not so easy is it now

 

[Bluespot22]

I couldn't have prevented the first 2 deaths, my temp is at lower temp and the cover bent due to the heat. I love the personality on these fish, and I don't understand how I killed mine.If my dog died I would get another.

 

[JStorey]

16 months and counting on mine. He has a well established fortress in the front of the tank so he can watch everything going on.

 

[BrianD]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12948574#post12948574 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bluespot22
I couldn't have prevented the first 2 deaths, my temp is at lower temp and the cover bent due to the heat. I love the personality on these fish, and I don't understand how I killed mine.If my dog died I would get another.

The two situations aren't remotely similar. There is an extremely high mortality rate for blue spot jawfish in captivity. The person who keeps one successfully is by far the exception, rather than the rule. One year is no measure of success.

The same can't be said of dogs.

 

[dvlax40]

my point w if killed two dogs i think i would be giving up on taking care of a dog... but to most people they see it as just a "fish" and that its more easily replaced

 

[flamehawkfish]

Updated pics of my Blue-spot Jawfish, "Rodney", bought from eBay about 5 months ago (which started this thread...):

No issues. Very active, lots of character, and eats well...

surface feeding...and stealing the spotlight from my female maroon clown...

Refusing to back down to my purple tang...

A pic of the entire tank (95g Wave-shaped, glass)...

 

[mrp2g]

I am wondering about BSJF life expectancy. I have heard it is not great in captivity. Is this due to collection methods, infection or just dont do well?

I am considering BSJF for a seahorse tank.