Pearly Jawfish Won't settle in

[Triggerfish]

fish has been in tank over a month now 9/27 and still hasn't settled into a burrow. sometimes it will go over a week without seeing the fish.
saw it the other day laying in the corner. target fed it and it hardly ate.
later in the night with lights off I noticed it right up front in the middle laying on the bottom.

only thing I notice is when he is out and laying in the left side my diamond goby will move him out but only on the left side not on the right..

Any ideas here??

here he is laying in corner.

 

[Betta132]

How deep is your sandbed? They need deep sand to be able to burrow, and they don't feel good without a nice safe burrow.
Does he have anywhere else he could possibly hide?

 

[Triggerfish]

the sand varies in depth from 0-3" in varying locations. I just imbedded a pvc 45 into a deep part of the sand near some rocks. maybe that will help.

 

[alton]

Dump about five pounds of Caribsea Super Reef in a corner of your tank for the jaw fish to build a home

 

[Triggerfish]

ill get some more sand tomorrow and do that.

 

[JTJreef]

If he's still moving after adding sand it's probably aggression. They won't settle in if they are being harassed. I had one move again and again until I sold my aggressive lawn mower blenny. Settled in for good after that. Once he starts a burrow, try placing rubble and seashells nearby. They really put them to good use.

 

[Triggerfish]

been trying to catch the diamond goby as that is the only fish I have seen startle the jawfish.

 

[Betta132]

First give the jawfish his sand, then just give them a bit.

 

[Triggerfish]

got the goby out. so now maybe the jaw can settle I hope.

 

[m0nkie]

good luck... a lot of folks say their Goby never bothers with their Jawfish. Maybe it's something else stressing it

 

[Triggerfish]

the goby was the only fish I saw nipping and chasing him. his tail is torn and I saw that happen last night.
right now the goby is sitting in the back corner and normally now would be the time the goby chases him and he flys around the tank. didn't happen tonight as the gobies sitting in the sump.

 

[nicdu]

My BSJawfish continues to burrow hop in the tank he is in right now. He'll spend a few days making the most gorgeous little burrow with a perfect entrance and exit, and then he'll move to an old burrow and begin to fix it up again. And he's all by himself with no other fish in the tank yet. I have about 5" deep sand bed with the super reef mix as well. I think sometimes they just move around if they can. But laying out in the open is definitely a sign something is not quite right. I hope adding more sand, and booting the possible bully has helped!

 

[nicdu]

Oh, and the sand needs to be quite a bit coarser than what I see you have. I think the super reef mix is a good blend for jawfish.