Recommendations about jawfishes

[Dins]

Hello everyone!

I am building a new reef and my plan is to include a section of it completely for jawfishes. The section will be "isolated" from the rest of the aquarium with live rock and it will have lots and lots of sand and gravel

1. What jawfish would you recommend for beginner?

2. How many would already form a social unit? Maybe 3?

3. How soon could I add jawfishes? When water parameters mach or does the tank need to mature a bit? How about other fishes -should jaws be introduced before them?

If you have experiences with jaws or other comments, PLEASE share them!! I am sure I am not the only one who is in love with these odd fishes!

 

[2OceanLovers]

1. I would recommend a pearly jawfish for your first jawfish. It would fit in with what you are wanting to do.

2. How many you get really depends on how big your setup is. If it is the 200g in your sig, you could get away with 3 probably and not have any issues. These guys are found sometimes in communities with a dozen or so fish in a relatively small area. I would say you would need about a foot square for 3 jaws to have there own burrows and all.

3. They are pretty shy at first and while they build their burrow. If possible, add all three together as part of the first fish added to the tank. Make sure your parameters are stable and fish and coral friendly.

Make sure that you have at least a 3in sandbed (4in or deeper is preferred) along with many little pieces of rubble and shells for them to use as needed for their homes.

Post some pics when this all happens. It would be a great display. HTH

 

[Dins]

Yest, pearly jawfishes were in my mind too! I have read lots of books, and I have gotten a picture that they would fit the best for my setup.

I sure will post pictures for you gyus when the aquarium is finally set up... ummm... actually in less than a month!!! But ofcourse it will take some time for it to be suitable for the fishes.... *I cant wait!!*

 

[philter4]

I love jawfish, I have kept several different species, a few things you may need to know. First they are jumpers, even after they have burrows and are comfortable they will jump at night. From years of diving and collecting they move often, and in tanks this urge is evidant with them frequently moving their burrows.

I have kept them in colonies and alone, they don't do better or worse either way. They do need some space though, you didn't say how much room your isolated area will be, if it is small only one or two should be kept or they will not get along. I have had as many as 23 at one time in a very lg system and they used to breed regularly. If you have several to choose from the males have larger heads and jaws, if you pick the one with the biggest head then one or two with smaller, slender heads you should end up with both sexes.

There are other factors for keeping them that may be interesting. Depending on species they choose different places to burrow. For instance yellow heads (pearly) find a flat stone that is fully under the sand, how they know where the stone is I don't know but they find it, then they build a tunnel to this and it is the roof of the burrow. I used to bury a flat piece of coral about 2 inches under the sand at least 1 1/2 inch above the tank bottom and they almost always built their burrow there. Blue spots did the same, but duskys like to build right into the reef so they almost always built their burrow under the live rock even if better places were available.

Jawfish are pretty hardy once acclimated. Once your tank is cycled they can be added at any time. As far as which one to choose first yellowheads and duskies are probably the best. Blue spots are harder to keep but worth the extra trouble.