yellowhead jawfish primer

[Antonais1391]

idk how to start one of these but ive had truble finding info and would love to hear what the community has to say on keeping theses guys. iv tryed to do some research but its hard to find any thing on the besides that they like a deep sand bed and that the like to dig in it. there scientific name is Opistognathus aurifrons, and there mouth brooders. i recently ordered on but it was dead when i got it. im going to try one again when there in stock but would like to learn tips and tricks that arent well known thx guys :bounce1:

 

[jd474]

I wouldn't be surprised if your next one is dead, also. They are terrible shippers, if you order 12 you'll probably get 1 or 2 that makes the transit, and those will probably die the next day. If you get one that lives, they are a difficult fish to care for, and will require at least a 6" sand bed to burrow, and possible live foods to entice feedings. I have had a little better luck with dusky jawfish (O. whitehursti). They are pretty ugly, but ship and acclimate better, and still have interesting jawfish behavior (they won't "hover" like the yellowhead, however)

 

[tcmfish]

Geeze, they aren't that hard to care for.

 

[jd474]

Geeze, they aren't that hard to care for.

you must've had a better supplier than the 3 dozen that ALL died in shipping both times we ordered them.

 

[tcmfish]

Yes. But didn't you ask yourself "hey maybe we should try a different source?" These aren't hard fish to care for and many people have success provided they have a substrate for them to make their burrow and a lid to keep them in. I mean 3 dozen dead really? Instead of spreading that hey your fish is going to die, why don't you chalk it up to a bad source.

 

[chameleofreak]

I can only think of three that showed up dead in probably fifteen orders. I have had more success with the Yellow heads than the duskies.

 

[Antonais1391]

where did you get yours cham?? i really like the species. my tank has been up for about 6 and a half months now to so its stable enough.

 

[tcmfish]

What is the depth and makeup of your substrate? Also are your rocks on top of the substrate or are they touching the bottom glass, if you have rocks?

 

[chameleofreak]

I work for a LFS in Saint Louis. PM and I'll let you know when we get more in.

 

[chameleofreak]

I've found that they don't need as deep a substrate as some of the others. I've had mine for two years on three inches of mixed aragonite and crushed coral. They tend to move it around to make it acceptable. Mine likes to set up under different brain corals, always facing the front of the tank so he can watch what I'm doing. Truly one of my favorite fish. Just make sure you have a tight lid.

 

[saix88]

you must've had a better supplier than the 3 dozen that ALL died in shipping both times we ordered them.

Petco?

why did you order 36 jawfish? that's just crazy...

 

[Antonais1391]

ya my substrates 5 in deep with a mixed partical size that looks like its what they need to build/ burrow.

 

[small alien]

3" sandbed is sufficient if you have stable rockwork for them to burrow under.

 

[Tylt33]

I had two pairs, I have none now. Over the period of ~one year three went blind, and died despite target feeding. One died of who-knows-why reasons. I'm done with them.

 

[tcmfish]

I kept 7 in a 55 gallon, with a sankeyi dottyback and some peppermint shrimp. The tank was set up for them, with 6" of crushed coral, literally 6". There was a sponge filter in one corner and whisper hang on the tank filter. The fish spawned once in less than a year, but they were maintained in the lab and I really couldn't feed them enough to keep them spawning and holding the eggs. Those that didn't burrow right away needed help and therefore I put a few 3/4" and 1" PVC aboue 4" long in the substrate to start their burrows. All that didn't burrow picked one of those and then burrowed it out. The best description of their burrow if they have enough room to build it is in the shape of a round bottom flask. They are one of my favorite types of fish and if you choose one you will soon come to that same conclusion. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

 

[Antonais1391]

ya id love to try to breed them eventualy maby something to do when i upgrade my 55g would a better option on aquiring them be to have a LFS get ahold of a few then get them directly from them?? with the pvc did you just kinda shove it into the sand with the sand still in the middle or did you hallow it out? ive also heard of ppl making a square shaped burrow for them to live in with a barnical as the hole.

 

[tcmfish]

Just shoved it in so the first 2 or 3 inches were hollowed out. Kind of pushed it in sideways then uprighted it so it didn't fill up. Again I used crushed coral though, not sand because sand will just cave in. That is why you see most people's jawfish buried under a rock or soemthing because the sand won't support their burrow.

 

[Jerry W]

I kept a mated pair for a couple years. Not difficult at all. Very entertaining. Substrate was 4 inches of Southdown fine grain sand but I had a lot of small rubble pieces, shells, etc which they used to reinforce their den. The settled under one large piece of rock for the duration and wer quite content. The spawned on three occassions. You could see them holding the eggs in their mouth. Never saw fry though.
Lightning fast and very skittish so be sure the tank is well sealed or they will launch. Also don't keep them with tankmates that are aggressive or that might pester them. Interestingly, I traded them in at my lfs when I was re-working my tank. Two years later he had a pair of them which were huge, and he told me they were the same ones I had traded in two years earlier. I was tempted to pick them up again but didn't have the right tank mates. Feed them meaty foods. Mine ate pretty much everything except flake.
I'm considering setting up a devoted tank for another pair at some point. Great little fish.