GSM Owners - QUESTION! :)

[kimsie]

Hi!

So - Here's my question. I'm currently in the process of getting a new tank that will house my Gold Sriped Maroon Clownfish pair. It will be a 28g JBJ HQI... (yes - it's actually for my new anemone too - I think he'll appreciate the more space and extra light! )

The GSM pair are the only fish that will start out in the tank.

Could I possibly put a jawfish in with that pair in the future? I really like the bluespot jawfish. But I'm not sure how the pair will like the new fish? What do you think? Would you think a jawfish and GSM pair could be compatible? Or no?




If you think it's a possibility and you've kept jawfish - what are the sandbed & rock requirements for these fish? If there's a possiblity that I may add a jawfish in the future - I want to make sure that I plan my tank accordingly.

What do you think?

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

I have never owned a GSM but I have owned a pearly jawfish. Are you going to keep the 14 gallon? If so, then I would put the jawfish in the 14g by itself or with other small fish that won't be a threat to it. I also wouldn't put a jawfish in a tank with an anemone. Even more so with a jawfish that cost that much. Just make the 14 gallon sand bed deeper and make sure none of the live rock will fall when the jawfish makes a den under it.

Edit: the 14g would also be better for the jawfish because there is no risk of it jumping out of the tank. Jawfish are good jumpers like dartfish.

 

[kimsie]

Christina - thanks for the advice - I wasn't sure if it would work.

The 14g will be going to my mom - so I won't have that anymore!

You wouldn't put a jawfish with an anemone that wouldn't hurt it? Why? I'm curious as to this one...

It was just a thought. I love these fish (just jawfish in general) but wasn't sure if they could be housed together.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

How do you know the anemone wouldn't hurt it? I wouldn't take the risk. The other problem is..will the new tank be covered? I don't know if it will be ok with maroons. I am curious to see if jawfishes can be kept with anemone fishes. I was thinking about putting a pair of pearly jawfishes with my ocellaris.

 

[kimsie]

I guess I don't KNOW the anemone wouldn't hurt it. But my other 2 H. Malu's are in a mixed reef home to a Black Capped Basslet, Mandrin, Twin Spot Goby and Bi-Colored Blenny and they all even swim close to the anemones with no harm?

Yes - the new tank is covered - it's a NanoCube so it has a full hood. I wasn't sure if one would be ok with Maroon's because I don't know a lot about their habitats. I know the dig burrows - do they spend most of their time in them or most of it out and about?

I would think you'd be fine to put a pair of jawfishes with your ocellairs - I just wasn't sure how many people kept Maroon's in mixed reefs with other fish.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

Oh good, that tank sounds fine, I'd just be worried about it making its home near the foot of the anemone and disturbing it or the jawfish injuring itself. Well pearlys like to hover above the hole and stay as close as possible to their home..they will wonder about the tank looking for new shells to decorate their home, thats if they think its safe enough. I heard that blue spots are braver than the pearly.

 

[kimsie]

Thanks for your help Christina - the more I think about it - I should just wait until I get moved before I get a different tank. My anemone seems fine so far - doesn't seem like it doesn't have enough light or anything. So I really shouldn't mess with a good thing!

 

[davocean]

My exp w/ maroons is they don't like fish close to their color(had a flame angel once, lasted one day) and nothing near their nem.
Mine won't even let me put coral close, and she will head butt or move anything near, so if jaw tunnels near that could be an issue.
As that nem grows(and it will) it may crowd that tank a bit, and also it won't be far from intakes, so make sure you got that covered.

 

[Toddrtrex]

In a 28 I wouldn't put any other fish in with a pair of GSM. Many years ago I had a pair in my 29, any other fish that was in the tank was harassed until it either jumped, or was killed outright.

A bluespot jawfish would be, IMO, a really bad choice, besides the price of them, they stress very easily which could lead to its downfall.

 

[kimsie]

Yep - seems to be the consensus! Thanks Todd!

I'll have to wait on the jawfish until I have a different tank...