Blue spotted jaws...anyone successful?

make sure you have a screen on the top of your tank as these fish are notorious for jumping. Even through the smallest gaps. My friends has kept them for years.
 
From what I've read the tank needs to be kept at cooler temps as the fish comes from the Sea of Cortez. It is apparently the rare bsj which does well long term at higher tropical temps. It's easier to obtain healthy ones now as more handlers understand that they suffer tail abrasions.

So the species tank would need to include other fish that like cooler water. That could be a Potter's angel? Not sure if temps overlap for the the two fish. A Potter's would be comfortable at 70 f. I believe. Maybe a Catalina goby Again not sure about specific temps. The blue spot might eat the goby anyway.
 
Angel*Fish said:
From what I've read the tank needs to be kept at cooler temps as the fish comes from the Sea of Cortez. It is apparently the rare bsj which does well long term at higher tropical temps. It's easier to obtain healthy ones now as more handlers understand that they suffer tail abrasions.

So the species tank would need to include other fish that like cooler water. That could be a Potter's angel? Not sure if temps overlap for the the two fish. A Potter's would be comfortable at 70 f. I believe. Maybe a Catalina goby Again not sure about specific temps. The blue spot might eat the goby anyway.
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Marie, what temperature range do they require? (thrive not survive). thanks!!

:)
 
snorvich said:
Marie, what temperature range do they require? (thrive not survive). thanks!!

:)
Click to expand...
On one of the old threads about it, I believe we got info directly from someone at a large aquarium who had personally collected them, but I couldn't find it.

Bob Fenner says 60-70 f or at least below 72 f. A high of 74 may be the max. Here's a list of location sites that he refers to http://fishbase.org/museum/OccurrencesList.php?genus=Opistognathus&species=rosenblatti
He says look at those locations -- cool waters.
 
4yrs strong at 78*. I don't think temperature is a big issue with these guys, it's more of the atmosphere in the tank. Peaceful to moderate tank mates seems to be just right. Had a pair but lost the male when the two spawned. I suspect he died from starvation while incubating the fry. IMO the best and most important thing to have is a deep and I mean deep sandbed, mine is 6"+ and different gradiants of sand. (not so much of the sugar grain) Also I have used shells about dime size, they use these to help build up their burrow and make the fish feel comfortable. I know people make their own custom jawfish burrows but IMO these are not adequate and I've noticed my jawfish moved out after two weeks. Blue spots as well as yellow heads prefer a more vertical burrow in the sandbed. My remaining jawfish has built a passage system under a 1x1 ft rockpile so stability of the structure is also a factor.
 
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the temperature issue because plenty of people have failed with what you describe.
 
Have a look at this map, this is sea surface temps for today. Most of our fish come from orange areas and areas where it stays orange year round. Look at the colors in the Sea of Cortez. I imagine in January it was cooler and in August it will be warmer, but you can see what Bob Fenner means by cool water. http://surfingsports.com/global_sst.asp

He seemed pretty emphatic about it.
 
I've seen maps like this and I agree with the whole temp. thing, it's just in my case I had temps to start with at 73* and slowly progressed up to 78*. Also They were the first fish in my tank to be introduced which probably helped with the whole peaceful and comfortable atmosphere.
 
The fish collected today are taken care off much better than a few years ago. The only thing I would add is buy small/young ones. Just like any other fish juvies do better at acclimating.
 
reppo13 said:
I've seen maps like this and I agree with the whole temp. thing, it's just in my case I had temps to start with at 73* and slowly progressed up to 78*.
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Well thanks for the helpful information. I'm stunned that you wouldn't have mentioned this before when you said:
reppo13 said:
4yrs strong at 78*. I don't think temperature is a big issue with these guys
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I've had one that has been in captivity now for 2+ years at 76-77 degrees. I took a 3" hippo tank out of the tank when I first got the jawfish; the tang would not leave him alone. Definitely place mesh above the tank!
 
My daughter was doing a completely rotated full twisting triple layout on the floor at the age of 10.

A few people have success with this fish. The vast majority haven't. By vast majority I would guess something like 90%. Everyone knows the sand bed issues, the shipping issues and the fact that these fish are extremely sensitive to boisterous tank mates. If that's all the fish needs, why so many failures?
 
I would bet the success rate is less than 10%. I know many people who have purchased blue spot jawfish, and I can't tell you one of them who kept it alive for more than a few months. This includes some very experienced aquarists.
 
Angel*Fish said:
My daughter was doing a completely rotated full twisting triple layout on the floor at the age of 10.

A few people have success with this fish. The vast majority haven't. By vast majority I would guess something like 90%. Everyone knows the sand bed issues, the shipping issues and the fact that these fish are extremely sensitive to boisterous tank mates. If that's all the fish needs, why so many failures?
Click to expand...

Sorry about the temp. mishap, its just that, that was when I started my tank a long time ago and I never bothered to tell how I did it.

Just looking for the fish that doesn't suffer from BSJF disease is what I guess.:) I'm not even sure if there's such thing as this disease and I haven't experienced it before. Can someone explain it to me?

Also people know what the fish needs but most people, and even a few of my friends that attempt them tell me they know but they fail to apply what they know to their tanks and often loose these beautiful fish. It's hard to assume your tank is peacefull unless you start with the jawfish.

Another thing that I think should've included is acclimation. Drip acclimation is good but when you empty excess water out of the acclimation bucket, a normal fish will display its fins. Jawfish on the other hand will make a great attempt at jumping. I believe this is very hard for them to get over. Also I acclimated in complete darkness which most people do.

This is all I can think of.
 
I've had my BSJ for about 4 months now. He is doing extremely well and is a pig. I keep my tank at 70-72 degrees F.
 
I have had Bsj for about 7months now they are not for inexperienced aquarists they have special needs , i keep it at 24 celsius in large aquarium they all will jump and they find themselves often in awkward areas of the aquarium. I would only say one is successful with them after keeping it at least 2 -3 years. In my aquarium there are many large fish and i have had to think up innovative ways of making sure the shy jawfish gets enough food!
 
Reppo, it was truly was nice of you to give such a detailed description for what they seem to need. And I get your point that not everybody who's tried them has met all these conditions, but like Brian said many experienced aquarists have failed - huge numbers of these beautiful fish have been lost in serious, earnest, dedicated attempts to keep them. Including fish who came in with no visible signs of the infamous disease
ianiwane said:
I've had my BSJ for about 4 months now. He is doing extremely well and is a pig. I keep my tank at 70-72 degrees F.
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Good to hear.

It occurred to me that the temp range Fenner gave, 60-70f may refer to the swings in their natural environment. If that's what he was saying then 72 would be like living in summer year round. Whether that's desirable or not, I have no idea. But he could also have been referring to different depths or locations - just a guess on my part - good luck :)
 
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