Bluespot Jawfish tunneling Question

[triguy]

Now that I finally have it so he is not able to jump into the overflow, I'm trying to figure out if he is happy. He is eating mysis regularly, but he only stays in a hole he's dug for about a few days before he moves on and digs another. Is this normal or is he telling me he is not happy? Is there anything I can do to get him to stay in one hole? Do they pair with pistol shrimps like Gobies do?

 

[basser1]

It's not uncommon for BSJF to have more than 1 tunnel. Mine had 3. He would go in one and "pop" out of another! Eventually, they will settle down to one. As far as the pairing with pistol shrimps, I have not seen where they do this. But then again, I've never owned a pistol shrimp!

 

[Jerry W]

How deep is your substrate and is there plenty of rubble/shells for the jawfish to use? If they can't construct a suitable den, they will move around in an effort to do so. I kept a mated pair of jaws before in a tank with a 4-5 inch sand bed. They made a single burrow and stayed there for the couple years I had them.

 

[philter4]

In the ocean jawfish move their burrows during different seasons, I have seen whole colonies move from shallow water to deep water at different times of year, I have never actually witnessed them moving, but as the seasons changed they would be found deeper and deeper, then the next year they would show up shallower and shallower, between 15 and 80 ft. In tanks they frequently move burrows, I have had them stay in a single burrow for as long a year, then for a month or two would move around at night, then settle on a spot and stay there for a while. I don't heat my tanks, so maybe it has to do with the temp change as a trigger, so if your tank is stable over the year they never get the trigger to move, just know that for what ever reason, even in an established burrow, if they decide to move you need to always have your tank covered to prevent escape and death on the floor.

 

[WestTexasReefer]

+1 on keeping your tank and overflow covered. They also need a sand bed of 4-5 inches and shell or rock rubble to construct a burrow. I have had mine for about 3 years now and he has changed burrows about 3 times for no apparent reason. Great fish with tons of personality IMO.

 

[triguy]

thanks for all the replies. I used to have a DSB, but now I have about 3" of sand. do you think this is enough? I should also put in some more rubble. He has pulled some of my zoa/paly frags on the disk to construct his burrow.

 

[arcprolife]

I was just going to post about my new bluespot jawfish when I saw this thread. I bought mine with the rock he made his burrow in for over a month at the store, he even stayed in it in the bag on the way home. Once he got in the tank though he disappeared. I did not see him for the first 24 hours but now I found his spot covered by caulerpa. I am so bummed I cant see him where he picked. I put his old rock right up front because at the store he would pop up and down like a whack a mole game. They are so cute I hope he doesnt stay hidden or I may pull out the caulerpa. It is such an expensive fish to never be able to see.

 

[triguy]

Thought I'd share a picture. I know what you mean expensive fish, but I got my on from a member of my local reef club who went up to LA on a wholesale run. Only $60.

 

[basser1]

Man you stole that one!! I paid $150 for my first one and $125 for my second one!

 

[triguy]

Man you stole that one!! I paid $150 for my first one and $125 for my second one!

Quite often they sell for that price on the wholesale LA runs.

 

[Jared J]

Will they use PVC as a burrow?