Long Term Success with Blue Spotted Jawfish
- Thread starter snorvich
- Start date
dfs/la2
.Registered Member
Snorvich,
Thank you for your post. The Blue spotted Jawfish, known as opistognathus rosenblatti, is one of the most beautiful Jawfish species. This fish can be kept successfully long term given the right tank conditions.
This species is a jumper, and can find the smallest hole through which it can escape, so a covered tank is required. They burrow in mixed shell fragments and sand, covering their entrance at night. Two to three inches of substrate is necessary for them to create burrows.
They tend to be more aggressive towards their own species. The minimum aquarium size is 20 gallons with a preferred temperature of 70- 82. They can be enticed with small pieces of mussel, daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworms, or other meaty foods. Eventually, prepared foods can be offered. Feeding must be done near the burrow.
Barb T
LiveAquaria
Drs Foster and Smith
Thank you for your post. The Blue spotted Jawfish, known as opistognathus rosenblatti, is one of the most beautiful Jawfish species. This fish can be kept successfully long term given the right tank conditions.
This species is a jumper, and can find the smallest hole through which it can escape, so a covered tank is required. They burrow in mixed shell fragments and sand, covering their entrance at night. Two to three inches of substrate is necessary for them to create burrows.
They tend to be more aggressive towards their own species. The minimum aquarium size is 20 gallons with a preferred temperature of 70- 82. They can be enticed with small pieces of mussel, daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworms, or other meaty foods. Eventually, prepared foods can be offered. Feeding must be done near the burrow.
Barb T
LiveAquaria
Drs Foster and Smith
SaraB
Coral Killer
Steve - I too had read about the poor success with this fish and was skeptical about purchasing one of them. Through discussions with a member of Live Aquaria, I purchased one off of Divers Den this past Saturday and he's doing great so far in my tank. He's a real good eater too!
On side note, he may not make it long if he continues to take my precious frags that I have laying in the sand and adding them to his new house though! Sunday I found my Oregon Blue Tort buried in his house and yesterday he had a really nice red metallic chalice there too. I guess it's time for me to break out the glue and place my frags! Just make sure you provide him with lots of building materials as I keep adding more each day and he's using them up. Keep your eye on Diver's Den as there will be more posted soon as they are in QT currently and will be posted after that!
On side note, he may not make it long if he continues to take my precious frags that I have laying in the sand and adding them to his new house though! Sunday I found my Oregon Blue Tort buried in his house and yesterday he had a really nice red metallic chalice there too. I guess it's time for me to break out the glue and place my frags! Just make sure you provide him with lots of building materials as I keep adding more each day and he's using them up. Keep your eye on Diver's Den as there will be more posted soon as they are in QT currently and will be posted after that!
dfs/la2
.Registered Member
We have found the book by Scott Michael called Basslets, Dottybacks & Hawkfishes offers excellent information regarding the captive housing requirements for long term success, native distribution, biology and more. Captive care for the Jawfish can be found on page 164 and more specific information on the Bluespotted Jawfish is offered on page 171
You are able to purchase this book here:
Basslets, Dottybacks & Hawkfishes
Or you may wish to check it out at your local library. We hope you find this information helpful when deciding whether to keep this specimen in your own aquarium.
Joyce F.
Technical Support
Drs. Foster & Smith
You are able to purchase this book here:
Basslets, Dottybacks & Hawkfishes
Or you may wish to check it out at your local library. We hope you find this information helpful when deciding whether to keep this specimen in your own aquarium.
Joyce F.
Technical Support
Drs. Foster & Smith
DFS
.Registered Member
Sara, dohc97, snorvich,
Opistognathus rosenblatti are one of my favorite fish with their incredible vivid blue spots and great personality.
Fish of the genus Opistognathus will find a comfortable spot in the aquarium and start moving large quantities of substrate with their giant mouths to make a nice hole next to some structure such as live rock. These fascinating fish will spend countless hours perfecting this burrow, then capping it off with a wall of small rocks (or in Sara's case her frags!). I always like to provide these fish with quite a few small pieces of rock or coral rubble that are less than 1" in length so they have all the building material they need to complete their project.
Once settled into the aquarium that has a very tight fitting lid and covered overflow boxes in reef ready aquariums, Blue Dot Jawfish require several feedings a day of enriched mysis and other meaty fare. When provided with the proper environment and husbandry, and with the acquisition of a healthy, quarantined specemine, these fish can adapt well to most reef aquaria that are maintained between 70-80 degrees, and live for many years.
Unfortunately the biggest problem with Opistognathus rosenblatti is the handling of these fish directly after they are harvested. When these fish are stressed by overcrowding and are exposed to less than ideal water conditions, this can open to doors to numerous bacterial infections and other pathogens from open wounds, or lack of protective body slime (they can be very aggressive among themselves when kept together in tight quarters).
Some Blue Dot Jawfish are not handled properly, and this normally will not show up until weeks later as they travel through the chain of custody. This is why some hobbyists and retailers may have very poor luck when trying to maintain this species.
They key to success with this incredible fish is to make sure you obtain a very healthy specimen that has been handled and cared for properly all through the chain of custody. Purchasing specimen from a place that has strict quarantine procedures, and can administer the proper antibiotics if the fish shows signs of disease is very critical. Once in your care and provided with the criteria listed above, this beautiful fish should adapt well and be happy and healthy for many years to come.
Regards,
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith
Opistognathus rosenblatti are one of my favorite fish with their incredible vivid blue spots and great personality.
Fish of the genus Opistognathus will find a comfortable spot in the aquarium and start moving large quantities of substrate with their giant mouths to make a nice hole next to some structure such as live rock. These fascinating fish will spend countless hours perfecting this burrow, then capping it off with a wall of small rocks (or in Sara's case her frags!). I always like to provide these fish with quite a few small pieces of rock or coral rubble that are less than 1" in length so they have all the building material they need to complete their project.
Once settled into the aquarium that has a very tight fitting lid and covered overflow boxes in reef ready aquariums, Blue Dot Jawfish require several feedings a day of enriched mysis and other meaty fare. When provided with the proper environment and husbandry, and with the acquisition of a healthy, quarantined specemine, these fish can adapt well to most reef aquaria that are maintained between 70-80 degrees, and live for many years.
Unfortunately the biggest problem with Opistognathus rosenblatti is the handling of these fish directly after they are harvested. When these fish are stressed by overcrowding and are exposed to less than ideal water conditions, this can open to doors to numerous bacterial infections and other pathogens from open wounds, or lack of protective body slime (they can be very aggressive among themselves when kept together in tight quarters).
Some Blue Dot Jawfish are not handled properly, and this normally will not show up until weeks later as they travel through the chain of custody. This is why some hobbyists and retailers may have very poor luck when trying to maintain this species.
They key to success with this incredible fish is to make sure you obtain a very healthy specimen that has been handled and cared for properly all through the chain of custody. Purchasing specimen from a place that has strict quarantine procedures, and can administer the proper antibiotics if the fish shows signs of disease is very critical. Once in your care and provided with the criteria listed above, this beautiful fish should adapt well and be happy and healthy for many years to come.
Regards,
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith
Last edited by a moderator:
dohc97
Active member
Kevin,
You guys are very nice to provide info on a fish we are all concerned with, I have wanted a blue spotted jawfish since i started in this hobby but after reading all the horror stories and seeing what happened to the one at my favorite lfs i gave up. It might be just what your referring to so i will keep an eye on Sara's, I hope that it does well for her and then i might consider one. What do you guys think about blue spot jawfish disease? there is no scientific term for it(i don't believe) but it seems that a lot of these get a disease were their body slime just starts sloughing off and then their whole skin darkens up and boom, one day you find a dead fish.
This happened to the fish i had mentioned at an lfs after months of being good and healthy. By the way you guys at the doctor's have amazing customer service and i will likely buy a few fish from you just because of this. way to go with helping us even after the sale.
Jose
You guys are very nice to provide info on a fish we are all concerned with, I have wanted a blue spotted jawfish since i started in this hobby but after reading all the horror stories and seeing what happened to the one at my favorite lfs i gave up. It might be just what your referring to so i will keep an eye on Sara's, I hope that it does well for her and then i might consider one. What do you guys think about blue spot jawfish disease? there is no scientific term for it(i don't believe) but it seems that a lot of these get a disease were their body slime just starts sloughing off and then their whole skin darkens up and boom, one day you find a dead fish.
This happened to the fish i had mentioned at an lfs after months of being good and healthy. By the way you guys at the doctor's have amazing customer service and i will likely buy a few fish from you just because of this. way to go with helping us even after the sale.
Jose
DFS
.Registered Member
dohc97,
On some occasions during the collection, holding and handling of these fish before export coupled with the transport stress through the chain of custody, Opistognathus rosenblatti will oftentimes be affected by a ciliated protozoan that will manifest itself on the fishes body. Once these protozoans become overbearing for the fish (which can happen in just 24-48 hours), they cause severe stress and even death to these fish very quickly.
Proper quarantine procedures are critical for this species so that if these protozoans affect the fish, a treatment protocol can be incorporated immediately as Jawfish do not have large thick scales for protection. Due to this common problem we incorporate Formalin baths and a few other proprietary techniques to combat this issue, with very good results.
More often than not this pathogen is Brooklynella hostilis, the same ciliated protozoan that affect clownfish in the marine aquarium trade.
Cheers!
Kevin Kohen
On some occasions during the collection, holding and handling of these fish before export coupled with the transport stress through the chain of custody, Opistognathus rosenblatti will oftentimes be affected by a ciliated protozoan that will manifest itself on the fishes body. Once these protozoans become overbearing for the fish (which can happen in just 24-48 hours), they cause severe stress and even death to these fish very quickly.
Proper quarantine procedures are critical for this species so that if these protozoans affect the fish, a treatment protocol can be incorporated immediately as Jawfish do not have large thick scales for protection. Due to this common problem we incorporate Formalin baths and a few other proprietary techniques to combat this issue, with very good results.
More often than not this pathogen is Brooklynella hostilis, the same ciliated protozoan that affect clownfish in the marine aquarium trade.
Cheers!
Kevin Kohen
SaraB
Coral Killer
Thanks Kevin for the additional information on these fish! He's still doing well and I have to give him new rubble just about everyday and he's putting them somewhere in his den! I figure he should run out of room soon in there, but who knows! Just as long as he says away the the precious frags!!!
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