why the big price tag on blue spot jawfish?

[timdam]

everywhere i see them for sale has them for about $100. why the big price tag?

don't get me wrong, they are pretty fish. and more power to ya if you have one. but is the big price tag b/c of their beauty? or b/c they are hard to get in the wild?

 

[minhvu]

These are starting to go down a lot in price. 2 years ago when I bought one, they were going for $150+. I've seen them as low as $60 lately. Not sure how rare they are but they're definately a beautiful fish. Plus there personality are unbeivable. One of the coolest fish I've ever have. Unfortunately, mine went carpet surfing.

 

[timdam]

yea, i've seen it for $60 lately at my lfs's. but that's on sales. maybe they are going down.

what do u mean by personality of it? does it greet you?

seems to me like it may find a hole, and only stick it's head out. which would suck, cuz then you wouldn't be seeing the blue spotted body ever, the part that probably makes it costly.

 

[michael_cb_125]

Not all Jawfish are created equally. Some can be taught to stay out and about most of the time. My little one, only went into his burrow at night and was out and about swimming with my anthias during the day.

I even had him trained to swim into my cupped hand. If you interact with these fish they will quickly learn to loose all fear of you.

~Michael

 

[timdam]

wow, very beautiful pics. sounds like he may have a nice personality. maybe that's why the high price tag, huh?

so is it normal for jawfish to swim around like yours? or is yours the exception?

 

[michael_cb_125]

Typically these fish do not swim around freely. But any fish, if worked with enough, will become accustomed to human interaction.

~Michael

 

[timdam]

i see under your name it says "elo 120". i bet that's a sweet and pricey tank!

 

[michael_cb_125]

I really like it. As for the price, for what you get I do not think they are pricey at all.

~Michael

 

[minhvu]

The one I had also swim around during the day. He usually swim from burrow to burrow. Very cool fish cause the way he watch u and the way he watch other fish. Mine acts like he had the "little man" snydrome. Very cool behavior

 

[basser1]

While my BSJF won't let me cup him, like michaels, mine will eat from my hand. They are very entertaining fish to watch, always digging and moving rocks around.

I would be a a little cautious of the jawfish that are offered at "sale" prices. The ones listed on Divers Den for example have been quarantined and are eating. Plus they have live arrival and 14 day guarantee as well. Worth the extra $$$ IMO.

BTW, I paid $150 for mine from my LFS.

 

[reef_doug]

I believe they are pricey because they come from a small area in Mexico vs. more widely distributed indo pacific fish. Supply and demand. Also heard they like slightly cooler temps than what most of us run our tanks at.

 

[inselaffe]

Mine was up for £189 in the shop (got him for £125 though) and he got killed in the 1st month by my £20 Flymo blenny. Not a good month.

 

[EvilMel]

If you've ever had one, you'd absolutely know why they are so expensive. They are one of the coolest fish on the planet if you've got the right set up.

 

[falconut]

I've also been confused about the price of the BSJF. I had a Pearly Jawfish once and it was very cool. They seam to be very similar to the Blue Spot, except for the colors and price. I tried to add one to my latest system and I think it got squashed by the rock when it dug it's den. So, I've stayed away from them, but they are really cool.

Don't they both have the same typical behaviors or are the Blue Spots really that different? The Pearly Jawfish are around $30 at my LFS.

 

[timdam]

If you've ever had one, you'd absolutely know why they are so expensive. They are one of the coolest fish on the planet if you've got the right set up.

could you go into more detail about it being the coolest fish? and what is the right set up for them?

i'm not doubting u. i just wanna know more.

 

[melanotaenia]

If you've ever had one, you'd absolutely know why they are so expensive. They are one of the coolest fish on the planet if you've got the right set up.

that argument has absolutely NOTHING to do with the price of the fish. Coolness factor is subjective; this is not what is driving the price up on these fish. It probably has more to do with their coloration and abundance in areas in which they are collected.

 

[michael_cb_125]

The BSJF is much more bold and outgoing than the Pearly Jawfish, IME.

As for the pricing, these fish are collected in the Sea of Cortez and are not an easy fish to collect in a manner that does not harm the fish.

~Michael

 

[basser1]

Pearlies are nice, but.... If you look at Michaels' pics of his BSJF, there's no comparison, IMHO!

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

Make sure your tank is 100% covered. Mine found the quarter sized hole and jumped out after a few months. It use to come and eat pellets from a turkey baster! (had to do it this way or the tangs ate it all too fast).

 

[justnmatt79]

They are a phenomenal looking fish. I think their prices are high because of the depth they are found, and they are spread out a bit. Not sure how much truth there is to that. Jawfish are by far my favorite fish, but I am waiting to buy one when I upgrade tanks.

Michael, what temp do you keep your tank at? Those pics are fabulous. Great looking fish