So about 3 months ago we got a jaw fish. Lasted a night , never saw him again . I'm guessing he died and the CUC got him. Then a month later tried again , he lasted a night. To never see him again. So Friday I came across another , yes I got him. He has lasted all weekend. He didn't borrow but he did have a nice spot in the front under a rock. Perfect. This morning , nowhere to be found. Then I found him in the overflow alive. So I went out to get some more crushed coral , put it where he had been all morning amongst other places. I have a 75 gal reef , with 2 clowns , scissor Benny, hippo tang. I've tried just about everything. If anyone has any ideas I'm game! This will be my last attempt at the jaw fish if I can't make him happy. Sorry wife.
Wife wanted a jaw fish...
- Thread starter Jets33
- Start date
CoralJunkie
John
Probably a good idea to find a different fish
Overlook reef
Non-member
Is the clowns or blenny harassing it?
I lost one to a watchman goby that kept chasing it and it ended up in my overflow.
I lost one to a watchman goby that kept chasing it and it ended up in my overflow.
CoralJunkie
John
Try keeping a moonlight on. Mine would go crazy once all the lights shut off so I started keeping the uv light at 1% and it worked.
CAPSLOCK
Yes, I am a giraffe.
What type of jawfish? I believe blue spots have pretty bad survival records overall. Pearly / yellow heads do better.
Do you have some rubble and/or old shells for him to construct a burrow with? Or you could maybe add just a PVC elbow for the time being so he's got a safe zone until he constructs a burrow.
Do you have some rubble and/or old shells for him to construct a burrow with? Or you could maybe add just a PVC elbow for the time being so he's got a safe zone until he constructs a burrow.
wpeterson
Well-Known Member
Jawfish are quite difficult to keep. You need a deep sand bed of 6" or more and all of your rockwork needs to be reinforced so it will hold up when they dig a burrow underneath it.
I also had the same experience needing a night light. If I left the tank dark all night, within 3-4 days our Pearly Jawfish would freak out and tear up the entire substrate over night if it was dark.
Our Jawfish was one of our favorite fish and had a ton of personality, but was a ton of work and wrecked our tank 3-4 times. I would reconsider keeping one or make sure you have a tank prepared for them.
I also had the same experience needing a night light. If I left the tank dark all night, within 3-4 days our Pearly Jawfish would freak out and tear up the entire substrate over night if it was dark.
Our Jawfish was one of our favorite fish and had a ton of personality, but was a ton of work and wrecked our tank 3-4 times. I would reconsider keeping one or make sure you have a tank prepared for them.
CAPSLOCK
Yes, I am a giraffe.
I've heard other stories of them needing night lights as well. I don't have a nightlight but the tank is right near a window, so there's likely at least a little residual light most times. And there's a light in the room that is on for a bit after the tank's lights are off.
My current pearly jawfish is excellent. Aside from setting up his burrow in a shallow area instead of the deep area that I went to great trouble to put in solely for a jawfish... Mine is at the front corner, and has never moved his burrow. He dug a little golfball sized hole overnight a few places the first few nights, but after the first 2 weeks or so he hasn't messed with sand anywhere except right at his burrow. He is only in his burrow overnight. He is typically hovering about 5" above the burrow, and will leave the area a pretty good distance for food (he'll go about half the tank, and to the surface).
They are really worthwhile fish once settled in. Fun personality and not scared or skittish of people at all. But until they are settled in, they are quite skittish of assertive fish. And also big jumpers. And with the wrong tankmates or inappropriate substrate, they'll never pan out.
My current pearly jawfish is excellent. Aside from setting up his burrow in a shallow area instead of the deep area that I went to great trouble to put in solely for a jawfish... Mine is at the front corner, and has never moved his burrow. He dug a little golfball sized hole overnight a few places the first few nights, but after the first 2 weeks or so he hasn't messed with sand anywhere except right at his burrow. He is only in his burrow overnight. He is typically hovering about 5" above the burrow, and will leave the area a pretty good distance for food (he'll go about half the tank, and to the surface).
They are really worthwhile fish once settled in. Fun personality and not scared or skittish of people at all. But until they are settled in, they are quite skittish of assertive fish. And also big jumpers. And with the wrong tankmates or inappropriate substrate, they'll never pan out.
JasonandSarah
Non-member
Did you ever get it out of the overflow? I normally use my hand to catch them when they get into the overflow.
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