Jawfish, which one and tankmates

[OodleyBoodely]

I want to try a pair or a single jawfish in my 37g and would like to hear pros and cons of these two species that I am considering; the pearly yellowhead, or, the tiger jawfish. I seen some posts on the pearlies, but, have yet to see anything on the tigerjawfish. Anyone here kept both species that can give a rundown on thier differences, general behavior, compatibility issues to be aware of, ect. Also, how likely is either species to eat small cardinals like redspots or orangelined?

 

[Lynnmw1208]

i have a pearly and i LOVE him. he's always out of his burrow so you can actually see him He doesn't travel more than 5 inches on either side, but at least he hovers above it unlike other jawfish species. He was also really easy to feed and is eating NLS pellets now. I can't speak for the other type you want though.

 

[MikeandNicole]

I would go with the pearly yellowhead. They stay smaller and you will have much more of a chance getting a pair in the 37g. The tiger gets to a mature size of 8 inches which would be way to big in a 37g especially if you were trying to pair them. Jawfish of all species do not take too kindly to members of the same sex and can kill them off pretty easily. The tiger would probably eat smaller fish if it got the chance, the pearlies will not.

As far as your setup goes, how deep is your sand bed and what sort of mix is it? Is the tank securly covered? What other fish do you plan on putting in there?

 

[OodleyBoodely]

Thanks for the replies! I was actually leaning towards the pearlys and now I think with your recommendations that is what I will go with. I am aways from actually getting any fish yet, however, as I am still working on getting my tank set up. I just yesterday tried to get my plumbing going between the sump and main tank, and, unfortunately have major leaks and will have to completely tear the dt tank down again to get to the back of it to fix...so it will be awhile before getting the fish. My leak test on the overflows by just filling with water and letting sit apparently wasn't good enough. It didn't leak then, but, with close to 800gph going through it, it leaks like a sieve! I glued it all, too, so I will have to completely do over by cutting out from the bulkheads down. (d@mn! and I thought I was so cleaver with my plumbing! Two years into this build and still going backwards, lol!)

I am planning a 4-5 inch bed using Hawaiian puka shell substrate over a course sand base. As for other fish, its still in planning, but, I definatley want a small group of cardinals, either redspots or orange lined, and then perhaps a yellow assessor or swissguard, or, a trio of vanderbilt chromis. A lot of fish in the plan for this tank, but, all are small and my filters once matured should handle the bioload easily. Again this is just the current wish list and is likely to change due to availability and costs by the time I'm ready for them. One other fish I would love to have is the pink-barred goby, Amblyeleotris auroa, but, am not sure of the compatibility with the jawfish. Any one with experience with these two species together, pearly jaw and pink bar?

 

[MikeandNicole]

I have not had any experience with those two fish together. Your stocking list looks good, you want peaceful fish in with the jawfish or they can out compete them for food.

As a side note sexing jawfish can be very tough. When fish come into the LFS you will see them "pair" off and think ok I am going to buy that pair. However, they are just stressed and grouping together, next thing you know they are in your tank and one kills the other.

 

[Hookup]

I have my 3rd BlueSpot Jawfish now. Its the 5th one in a series of these that we are trying to keep alive for more than 1year. (myself and another hobbiest).

Jumping and Starvation are the two most common causes for our lack of success... and same goes with others we've talked to.


As mentioned above, getting food to them, in enough supply is often a challenge... I'm not saying A blue-spot is unkeepable, but they are difficult...

 

[Angel*Fish]

I have my 3rd BlueSpot Jawfish now. Its the 5th one in a series of these that we are trying to keep alive for more than 1year. (myself and another hobbiest).

Jumping and Starvation are the two most common causes for our lack of success... and same goes with others we've talked to.


As mentioned above, getting food to them, in enough supply is often a challenge... I'm not saying A blue-spot is unkeepable, but they are difficult...

I'm am stunned at this post. I think most on this forum consider this an environment requiring respect for animals.

Jumping and starvation are the most common causes of death and "others we've talked to"?!!!! Really? Try feeding the fish properly and covering the tank.

 

[GTR]

The cover thing is a no brainer. Getting them to eat can be a challenge. It's not as simple as just supplying enough food, you have to hope they'll eat. In the LFS most I've seen look beyond hope.

 

[hoffy02]

flabbergasted!

 

[Angel*Fish]

Just to be clear for anyone who might read this thread and misunderstand, getting one eating is not the "trick" to success. They may eat like pigs and still die anyway.

My poor little guy was a pig, he even tried to eat a yellow clown goby.

 

[OodleyBoodely]

Thanks M&N for the tips! If I go with a pair, I will buy from a guy in FL that occassionally offers pairs of yellow-head jaws that he catches as pre-established pairs. I don't recall his web id at the moment, I'll have to find it again, lol! I've had a lot of bad experiences trusting my local fs, so, I really am leaning away from buying my fish locally this time around and trying some of the top rated online vendors instead. And, yes...I am going with a passive only community so there should not be too much problem with feeding.

Hookup, sounds like you've had some bad luck with the bluespots. They are beautiful fish, but, after reading quite a few reports on them being so delicate, I decided they were too pricey to attempt. I appreciate you sharing your experiences with them. I will leave them until I have a lot more experience with jawfish in general before I consider keeping one...and perhaps by then more will be known about what they require to do well more consistantly. Regardless to which species I end up with, I will have a screen cover for my tank and have no problem with feeding multiple times daily with a pipette if needed to direct food directly to the jawfish.

 

[alton]

http://sealifeinc.net/catalog/produ...d=146&osCsid=cb890b1f5236d63cafd797a3e338b5d5

Can't beat it for Yellow Heads which come from Florida. Pearlys come from the Carribean and there head is not quite as yellow. I have a pair of yellows in a 40L with 4 to 5" of substrate, and two pearly's in a 29 with 3 to4", that are not a pair but get along. On Blue spots buy smaller younger ones, they are just like other fish, the younger they are the easier they are to acclimate. One thing I learned the hard way, just because there are two in a tank that get along, does not mean they are a pair!

 

[piusma]

I could testify keeping them well feed is a challenge if you have a tankful of aggressive eaters. My bluespotted jawfish has been with me over a year now and it eats pretty much everything I put in the tank. I feed my tank exclusively with home made frozen. (mysis, mussel, clam, scallop, shrimp, brine shrimp frozen mix with selcon and other vitamins) And my jawfish will eat anything you offer.

However, their problem is that they feel insecure leaving their burrow and if the food doesn't flow close enough to their burrow, they won't try to catch it. I have tried adjusting the flow of the tank and have even ran a tube right next to its burrow to target feed him. It only works for a short period of time before all other fish figured out it's a feeding ground near the burrow and all camp out there.

This indeed had cause my BSJ moved its burrow once because all the aggressive eater is hanging out by it's front door! I have tried target feeding and that results in the same situation. If I didn't have a sps tank, I could probably overfeed everyone, but it does not work well when you try to keep a low nutrient environment.

I think to successfully keep the jawfish happy, choosing it's tankmates are quite important. Somewhat like keeping mandarin dragnets / firefish / basslets. Just watch out from those wrasses, they are pretty but they could be BOLD! Good luck.

Steven

 

[billdogg]

Yellowhead (or pearly) are your best bet, as mentioned above. They stay small, but can easily be intimidated by other fish. Given the chance, THEY WILL CARPET SURF!!!!! A tightly fitting (mesh - 1/4" max) top is a must.

The problem with bluespots is that they are a TEMPERATE, not TROPICAL species. They require water no warmer than 72 degrees or so. Yes, the can survive for awhile in a warmer tank, but it WILL kill them.

Whatever you decide, a mixed substrate of at least 6" is what will make them feel safest.

 

[Korrine]

I helped stock a 29g biocube at the place I volunteer. I opted for a trio of yellow head jawfish. So far all is well and they are the only fish in the tank. They are all adults at around 4" long.

oh and they have been in there since April. I will try to remember to update this every so often. They have at least 3-4 burrows dug and they often will switch out and share holes with each other. These are a more social species than other jawfish.

 

[OodleyBoodely]

Thanks the all the great feedback, everyone! I will definately be careful what I put in with them!

Alton, thanks for the link...that's the same seller I was looking at, too!

 

[Hookup]

Since no one asked for clarification on my post, I guess you'll do fine with your own assumptions? After all its not ony easy to grab a torch and pitchfork, it's fun too.

Equally Flabbergasted, Stunned...

And, I thought this was an environment for respect for each other.

 

[OodleyBoodely]

I prefer NOT to jump to conclusions, personally. It amazes me just how quick some are to jump in and flame away!

 

[Angel*Fish]

I could testify keeping them well feed is a challenge if you have a tankful of aggressive eaters. My bluespotted jawfish has been with me over a year now and it eats pretty much everything I put in the tank. I feed my tank exclusively with home made frozen. (mysis, mussel, clam, scallop, shrimp, brine shrimp frozen mix with selcon and other vitamins) And my jawfish will eat anything you offer.

However, their problem is that they feel insecure leaving their burrow and if the food doesn't flow close enough to their burrow, they won't try to catch it. I have tried adjusting the flow of the tank and have even ran a tube right next to its burrow to target feed him. It only works for a short period of time before all other fish figured out it's a feeding ground near the burrow and all camp out there.

This indeed had cause my BSJ moved its burrow once because all the aggressive eater is hanging out by it's front door! I have tried target feeding and that results in the same situation. If I didn't have a sps tank, I could probably overfeed everyone, but it does not work well when you try to keep a low nutrient environment.

I think to successfully keep the jawfish happy, choosing it's tankmates are quite important. Somewhat like keeping mandarin dragnets / firefish / basslets. Just watch out from those wrasses, they are pretty but they could be BOLD! Good luck.

Steven

Jawfish are best not kept with a tankful of aggressive eaters - in the right environment that would be less of an issue. Congrats on your success so far with your fish. For posterity, what's your tank temp?

Thanks M&N for the tips! If I go with a pair, I will buy from a guy in FL that occassionally offers pairs of yellow-head jaws that he catches as pre-established pairs. I don't recall his web id at the moment, I'll have to find it again, lol! I've had a lot of bad experiences trusting my local fs, so, I really am leaning away from buying my fish locally this time around and trying some of the top rated online vendors instead. And, yes...I am going with a passive only community so there should not be too much problem with feeding.

Hookup, sounds like you've had some bad luck with the bluespots. They are beautiful fish, but, after reading quite a few reports on them being so delicate, I decided they were too pricey to attempt. I appreciate you sharing your experiences with them. I will leave them until I have a lot more experience with jawfish in general before I consider keeping one...and perhaps by then more will be known about what they require to do well more consistantly. Regardless to which species I end up with, I will have a screen cover for my tank and have no problem with feeding multiple times daily with a pipette if needed to direct food directly to the jawfish.

Generally, local fish have fewer problems, but if these people are really bad then I guess you have to order.

The problem with bluespots is that they are a TEMPERATE, not TROPICAL species. They require water no warmer than 72 degrees or so. Yes, the can survive for awhile in a warmer tank, but it WILL kill them.

Whatever you decide, a mixed substrate of at least 6" is what will make them feel safest.

This is what I'd been telling people, even showing surface water temperature maps and quoting Bob Fenner. And I'm still leaning that way. But there's a guy (phiter4, I think) who has experience collecting them and keeping them and he feels really strongly that the issue is collection and handling. Do you have a good source for the water temperate argument? I would love to hear about anything you might know.

I prefer NOT to jump to conclusions, personally. It amazes me just how quick some are to jump in and flame away!

If you were more familair with the history of this fish's poor survival, you might not see my post as flaming.

Since no one asked for clarification on my post, I guess you'll do fine with your own assumptions? After all its not ony easy to grab a torch and pitchfork, it's fun too.

Equally Flabbergasted, Stunned...

And, I thought this was an environment for respect for each other.

Ok, you say you can somehow defend why you killed 5 of them in your "experiment"?

 

[Hookup]

Ok, you say you can somehow defend why you killed 5 of them in your "experiment"?

I know you're somewhat of a celebrity around these parts, and with good cause from what I've seen/read of your system and success. Still, I think your response is pretty bit*hy, both here and above. Not sure if it's an ego-trip or simply you're having a bad-day.

I cannot "somehow defend the 5 fish" but I can EXPLAIN and CLARIFY what happened.

First fish - Mine - Jumped out of the badly disigned lid I had.
Second Fish - was dying in the store, recended stomach - i bought it for 20$ and tried to bring it back. Died after 2 weeks, it never ate without regurgitating. I even tried target feeding and pretty near hand-feeding this guy to help him out. Just was too far gone by the time I found him.
Third Fish - Alive and well in my current system (2months to date)

Fourth Fish - In other Hobbiest system - Jumped and bounced into the overflow off of the glass cover.
Fifth Fish - In other Hobbiest System - Alive and well in his system (5months to date)


Other referenced fish - all rumored from local club and other casual acquaintance.... the # 1 cause of death seems to be jumping and closely followed by "he never ate"... which could be shipping and collection, i'm not sure.


Not sure if you have any other questions.