Dusky Jawfish

[wii64brawl]

I have a 10 gallon that I'm setting up as a Caribbean biotope and am about to order the first animals for the tank. I'm looking to add two small fish. The first will be a neon goby and I am undecided on the second. Im looking at the dusky jawfish. I've heard of people keeping jawfish in this size tank but I'm not sure. Would this be alright?

 

[eatbreakfast]

O. whitehursti would be great in a 10g. This is one of my favorite fish.

 

[reeferstace]

I have a dusky and they are great fish. I would not put one in a 10 gallon tank. Mine has burrows all over my tank (150g) so he uses a lot of real estate. Reputable livestock recommend a minimum of 30 gallons for them.

Have you considered a watchman goby/shrimp pair?

 

[wii64brawl]

I already have a watchman in my main reef tank. I decided I'm just ordering the neon goby for now. The main point of the tank is inverts+gorgonians, so I'll get those situated first before I worry too much about fish.

 

[reeferstace]

Give the possum wrasses a look if you decide to get another fish. They are very cool and would be suited for a 10g.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have a dusky and they are great fish. I would not put one in a 10 gallon tank. Mine has burrows all over my tank (150g) so he uses a lot of real estate. Reputable livestock recommend a minimum of 30 gallons for them.

Have you considered a watchman goby/shrimp pair?

A jawfish that behaves as it should does not maintain multiple burrows. If one is moving from burrow to burrow it is because he does not feel secure. This could be for several reasons such as lack of suitable building materials, too much activity by larger fish around him, not enough food getting to him, not a good enough vantage point for seeing what is going on around him, or being displaced by another fish/invert that wants his burrow.

Even though some recomend 30g, this recomendation is a generality to a common reef tank where quantituy of live rock takes up significant real estate. As long as you have 6" squared of sand near the base of a rock and rubble for him to build with a 10g is perfect for O. whitehursti.