Jawfish

[ctran]

Hi All,
I would like to keep a jawfish in my tank. The problem is i have only 1" crushed coral subtrate. Do you think i can still keep one?

Thanks,

Chris

 

[michael_cb_125]

No!

 

[tcmfish]

+1

No, give them a deep crushed coral substrate and you will be forever entertained. I would say at least 4 inches. Everyone should keep a species of jawfish at somepoint they are awesome fish!

 

[ctran]

If i add 4" sand to an isolate area in the tank, will jawfish construct his burrow in that area?

 

[phil519]

maybe...

I've heard of people (with bare bottoms) setting up small zones of sandbed for wrasses to sleep in.

But jawfish inhabit this burrow 24x7 (except when mine comes up to eat).

Speaking of which - is this for a blue spot or a pearly head? One is a lot bigger than the other.

 

[ctran]

I would go for the blue spot. if i set up a zone for it, is there any prefer spot in the tank?

 

[michael_cb_125]

Here is mine. I had him for over two years, then I lost him during a tank upgrade.

I can say without a doubt that these fish are absolutely hilarious. By far more personality that any other fish.

I trained Jose to eat from my hand. And I eventually got him to where if I cupped my hand in the tank, he would swim in and just sit there.

~Michael

 

[ctran]

very nice!
You made me want to get this fish in my tank even more. any advices are greatly appreciated

 

[michael_cb_125]

My best advice, is have a tank that is 100% covered, have a minimum of 3" of sand THROUGHOUT the tank, and keep aggressive tankmates at a minimum.

These fish will stay out in the open almost all of the time provided they are totally comfortable.

Also, my opinion on keeping a small section of the tank for the fish is different from most.
I simply would not do it, these fish enjoy moving sand and there is no way to keep a 3" section in one area.

~Michael

 

[phil519]

My best advice, is have a tank that is 100% covered, have a minimum of 3" of sand THROUGHOUT the tank, and keep aggressive tankmates at a minimum.

Totally agree. If possible I'd add the fish first, with maybe some "dithering" type fish so that they know it's safe to come out.

 

[tcmfish]

I see my post with "crushed coral" went unnoticed. I would not use sand because it will collapse when the jawfish burrow with it. That is why people who keep jawfish with sand, always have them tunneling under rocks, because they can construct a real burrow. If you have seen them in the wild their burrow will be away from rocks in the sand, but is supported by larger chunks of crushed coral, rocks, shells, etc. They make burrows in the shape of a volumetric flask, which cannot be support by sand alone.

 

[phil519]

I see my post with "crushed coral" went unnoticed. I would not use sand because it will collapse when the jawfish burrow with it. That is why people who keep jawfish with sand, always have them tunneling under rocks, because they can construct a real burrow. If you have seen them in the wild their burrow will be away from rocks in the sand, but is supported by larger chunks of crushed coral, rocks, shells, etc. They make burrows in the shape of a volumetric flask, which cannot be support by sand alone.

tcmfish -you are right. my pearlies live under /around my LR. I have seen a jawfish-only display and CC was used where they were spreadout in the open of the tank. Makes sense. Though have you tried the PVC-made home? Just wondering.

 

[tcmfish]

Yes, when I kept a large group of them (yellowheads or pearlies) and some did not want to burrow at first, so I stuck some 3/4" and 1" pvc straight up in the crushed coral. They would then use the pipe for the burrow and would hollow out underneath and build above the pipe to the point where you didn't even know a pipe existed.

 

[Pudge957]

Besides having the sand bed the next most important thing to have is a secure top! They are jumpers and will jump, so you need to have every corner covered. And from past experience the can jump through egg crate with ease. Sense then I've upgraded to multiple layers of the "bird netting"

 

[basser1]

Another option would be to use live rock rubble, of all sizes. I have put handfuls in my tank and within a matter of minutes, my BSJF would use it all for his burrow(s).

 

[WestTexasReefer]

Agree with above. The top needs to be covered with 1/4" mesh and the overflows as well. They need a minimum of 3-4 inches of sand along with rock rubble and shells to construct a burrow. I have had mine for 2+ years and when feeding always make sure he gets plenty using a turkey baster. He now swims up to it and bites at it. They have a great personality and are lots of fun to watch.

 

[tcwoodrn]

Piling on what others have said, these guys are jumpers and they are VERY smart. My brother in law had a custom made pond screen on top of his tank to allow for evaporation but keep the BSJ in. The BSJ used to stick his head literally out of the water looking up at the screen. One day he came home to find his cat batting it around on the floor. Still to this day cannot figure out how he managed to fit through any of the holes, the screen was three layers all intermingled.

 

[tcmfish]

philter4 has commented on jawfish many times before here too, and he dives a lot and used to collect in florida and he says that the jawfish migrate a lot in the wild so when they hit a structure they just go over it, but if that is the side of our tank they will just jump out. But yes they are one of the best fish at jumping along with some of the wrasses.