Yellowhead Jawfish Hiding

[Bnortz]

I got a yellow head jawfish off divers den 2 weeks ago and haven't seen it since two Wednesdays ago. When i put him in my tank he went immediately under a rock in the sand. The next day when i looked at the tank i noticed that he made a burrow overnight. I have not seen him since and am thinking that the clean up crew got him. But a few days ago it appeared that he made another burrow behind a rock but i still haven't seen him. He will probably starve soon if he's alive because he hasn't eaten in TWO weeks.

Please help me figure this out and give me past experiences about keeping this fish.

Thanks

 

[Bnortz]

My stock list:

two true percs
Melenarus Wrase

I am also thinking my melenarus wrasse is scaring him to death because the wrasse sleeps in the sand.

 

[andip3]

I havnt seemed to have too much luck with the jawfish I bought a blue spotted and he jumped out the same day I got him and I just picked up a yellowhead jawfish and we fed him but he wont eat and we put him in the display tank and havnt seen him since. I keep hoping he will get comfortable enough to come out. I also have a melanarus wrasse but he doesnt sleep near the jawfish.

 

[nonimmigrant]

I got a yellow head jawfish off divers den 2 weeks ago and haven't seen it since two Wednesdays ago. When i put him in my tank he went immediately under a rock in the sand. The next day when i looked at the tank i noticed that he made a burrow overnight. I have not seen him since and am thinking that the clean up crew got him. But a few days ago it appeared that he made another burrow behind a rock but i still haven't seen him. He will probably starve soon if he's alive because he hasn't eaten in TWO weeks.

Please help me figure this out and give me past experiences about keeping this fish.

Thanks

SOP for jaws. What's the size of the fish? I've had mine for 4 years or so now and its a hog. Do ensure that your tank is covered as these guys can get thru the smallest of openings. Also, you'll need to spot feed just up-flow from where the fish sets up its den. They typically are a bit shy about coming out for the first few weeks, but they will get rather bold there after once they're eating. Did you QT the fish and fatten it up first or no?

 

[reeferstace]

I have had a dusky for about 6 months now. He found the burrow that I initiated for him. (I released him right near the opening). In the past week he has made a new burrow near the original one but almost out of sight . Mine accepts about everything I feed-mysis, bloodworms, pellets and flakes. There is one flake flavor, however, that he won't eat. He takes it in then immediately spits it back out everytime.

Are you certain that he is not eating?

 

[Bnortz]

SOP for jaws. What's the size of the fish? I've had mine for 4 years or so now and its a hog. Do ensure that your tank is covered as these guys can get thru the smallest of openings. Also, you'll need to spot feed just up-flow from where the fish sets up its den. They typically are a bit shy about coming out for the first few weeks, but they will get rather bold there after once they're eating. Did you QT the fish and fatten it up first or no?

I did not go about quarantining him because he is from divers den. I don't think it jumped because it has not been seen on the floor. The fish is about 2.5" long. The day i saw him i saw his big, black eyes peeking out of his burrow then he darted back in. Couldn't he still be eating food out of the water column and how long can it go without a nice meal?

 

[alton]

When I started my 40 gallon long the only fish added where a pair of yellow headed jawfish from Sea Life Inc. For the first week I could not find either one, after the first week I saw one, but it took three weeks for both to be seen at the same time. Things I noticed were rocks being moved in the morning after, also this tank was full of mysid shrimp that I could see at night. Well after a few weeks no more mysid so I figured they where building tunnels and eating at night, sleeping during the day. I am not sure about your wrasse?

 

[nonimmigrant]

I did not go about quarantining him because he is from divers den. I don't think it jumped because it has not been seen on the floor. The fish is about 2.5" long. The day i saw him i saw his big, black eyes peeking out of his burrow then he darted back in. Couldn't he still be eating food out of the water column and how long can it go without a nice meal?

If its denned up already then you should be fine. Just pay attention to whether or not it moves. You will be able to tell by the absence of freshly moved gravel and rock. If it moves, make sure that all holes are covered in the canopy.

 

[Bnortz]

If its denned up already then you should be fine. Just pay attention to whether or not it moves. You will be able to tell by the absence of freshly moved gravel and rock. If it moves, make sure that all holes are covered in the canopy.

Like i said, a couple days ago i saw what appeared to be a new burrow behind a rock in the tank. I still have not seen the actual fish for 2 weeks which really frustrates me.:worried:

 

[saltyjarhead]

Have you watched at night? My brother has a white jawfish and you can really only see it at night in the moon lights.

 

[nonimmigrant]

Like i said, a couple days ago i saw what appeared to be a new burrow behind a rock in the tank. I still have not seen the actual fish for 2 weeks which really frustrates me.:worried:

Don't get too frustrated. Just keep on the look out for freshly moved gravel. I've only seen my blue spot female once in the last four weeks, but I know she's still in her den eating by the construction going on...

 

[Bnortz]

Don't get too frustrated. Just keep on the look out for freshly moved gravel. I've only seen my blue spot female once in the last four weeks, but I know she's still in her den eating by the construction going on...

The first burrow it made is kind of filling in but it made a new burrow behind one of the rocks about a week ago. I really haven't seen much difference in the movement of the sand but i will keep looking.

 

[Bnortz]

Its probably still stressed from the shipping in a bag for 2 days.