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Advice/experience with a blue spotted jawfish?
- Thread starter Miketc17
- Start date
Lmao! This is great
One of my favorite fish of all time... I've owned 2 in the past couple years. The first one I bought from Harry's Marine Life, which is the cheapest place I've ever found them in recent years. Much cheaper than any local place - I figure maybe because they're out in Cali where the bluespots are from?
That guy was a real trooper. FedEx managed to screw up the delivery in the middle of the summer and he arrived in 87 degree water! Not great I figured for a fish that likes cooler water. Nonetheless, he went into the QT, ate like a horse, and then into an established DT where he continued to be active and bold despite a bunch of other fish in there. He was doing great for a few months until one morning I found him on the floor next to my tank... Just when I thought I had a healthy jawfish with a great personality. Yes, these guys jump at anything like the lights going on in the room, a shrimp wandering into their burrow, etc!
The 2nd one was from NY Aquatics when they sold them for $99. He made it through QT but was always a bit skittish. In my DT, he spent a lot of time hiding and was timid when feeding time came. He changed burrows a few times. I don't think he ever really got comfortable. After awhile, he barely came out and I only saw him looking thin and pale. He ultimately didn't make it.
My advice is 1) Definitely put a lid on the tank and 2) Try to introduce as one of the first fish in the tank. I think they do better when they get comfortable in an established burrow that they're willing to defend. If there's too many other big fish around, they'll hide and starve to death. I've also read that they like it a little on the cooler side (since they're from the California coast). There's some mysterious bluespot jawfish disease as well, but my two passed away for other reasons.
Jawfish - Harry's Marine Life
harrysmarinelife.com
That guy was a real trooper. FedEx managed to screw up the delivery in the middle of the summer and he arrived in 87 degree water! Not great I figured for a fish that likes cooler water. Nonetheless, he went into the QT, ate like a horse, and then into an established DT where he continued to be active and bold despite a bunch of other fish in there. He was doing great for a few months until one morning I found him on the floor next to my tank... Just when I thought I had a healthy jawfish with a great personality. Yes, these guys jump at anything like the lights going on in the room, a shrimp wandering into their burrow, etc!
The 2nd one was from NY Aquatics when they sold them for $99. He made it through QT but was always a bit skittish. In my DT, he spent a lot of time hiding and was timid when feeding time came. He changed burrows a few times. I don't think he ever really got comfortable. After awhile, he barely came out and I only saw him looking thin and pale. He ultimately didn't make it.
My advice is 1) Definitely put a lid on the tank and 2) Try to introduce as one of the first fish in the tank. I think they do better when they get comfortable in an established burrow that they're willing to defend. If there's too many other big fish around, they'll hide and starve to death. I've also read that they like it a little on the cooler side (since they're from the California coast). There's some mysterious bluespot jawfish disease as well, but my two passed away for other reasons.
Agreed on importance of making jawfish comfortable. If you just release them into a tank they will spazz and not ever really settle down. Especially if other tank mates are curious. I would acclimate as normal, create a small home out of 1” pvc, and Cap one end. While acclimating in the bucket, gently nudge the fish into the pipe, then take that makeshift home With the fish inside and place the whole thing into the tank. Take step further and glue some rubble around the opening. I just did this to acclimate a sailfin jawfish and worked like a charm. The fish never stressed out and Eventually built a burrow nearby on its own when it felt comfortable venturing out.
What t
what temp did you keep while you had them?One of my favorite fish of all time... I've owned 2 in the past couple years. The first one I bought from Harry's Marine Life, which is the cheapest place I've ever found them in recent years. Much cheaper than any local place - I figure maybe because they're out in Cali where the bluespots are from?
Jawfish - Harry's Marine Life
harrysmarinelife.com
That guy was a real trooper. FedEx managed to screw up the delivery in the middle of the summer and he arrived in 87 degree water! Not great I figured for a fish that likes cooler water. Nonetheless, he went into the QT, ate like a horse, and then into an established DT where he continued to be active and bold despite a bunch of other fish in there. He was doing great for a few months until one morning I found him on the floor next to my tank... Just when I thought I had a healthy jawfish with a great personality. Yes, these guys jump at anything like the lights going on in the room, a shrimp wandering into their burrow, etc!
The 2nd one was from NY Aquatics when they sold them for $99. He made it through QT but was always a bit skittish. In my DT, he spent a lot of time hiding and was timid when feeding time came. He changed burrows a few times. I don't think he ever really got comfortable. After awhile, he barely came out and I only saw him looking thin and pale. He ultimately didn't make it.
My advice is 1) Definitely put a lid on the tank and 2) Try to introduce as one of the first fish in the tank. I think they do better when they get comfortable in an established burrow that they're willing to defend. If there's too many other big fish around, they'll hide and starve to death. I've also read that they like it a little on the cooler side (since they're from the California coast). There's some mysterious bluespot jawfish disease as well, but my two passed away for other reasons.
I went with 76 which is supposed to be the top of the temp range for them. I had a borbonius anthia in there as well too so I figured he'd appreciate the low temp as well. I read somewhere that the blue spots can survive but don't live as long if the tank temperature is too high.