Jawfish care

[Djbetterly]

How hard are jawfish to take care of? Liveaquaria has them listed as intermediate so I thought I ask real people.

 

[skene]

If you have to ask... it means you are not ready.

:lol2:

 

[Djbetterly]

I appreciate the candid response , but it doesn't quite answer my question. I gather from your response they are not easy. Humor me a bit and fill me in. I have yet to find a quality resource to inform with elaborate details on care of a jawfish.

 

[reefs4life]

I personally never found them to be difficult to keep, mine all settled in pretty quickly. The only two things about them is that one, its going to be a matter of luck where they'll make their burrow, hopefully for you it will be somewhere where you can see him or else you won't see him much and two is that you better have a tight lid on your tank because they are notorious jumpers. Also, IME, anemones and jawfish are no good, especially carpets, somehow they just find their way into them.

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Reefs

 

[PhoenixOne]

I have a Bluespot Jawfish. I love his personality. One important thing is that they are JUMPERS. You HAVE to have a lid on your tank or he will eventually be a carpet surfer. They need rock work and/or a deep substrate with some rubble rock and/or shells so they can build themselves a burrow. LFSMarineGuy sold me mine about 3-4 years ago. He eats just about everything, from flakes to prime reef. As Reef4Life said, it's potluck where they decide to make their burrow. Mine built his behind the rocks....ugh! Only way for me to see him was to squeeze my head in between the tank and the wall so I can see his head sticking out. After a month, he moved to the rock work in the front of the tank and has been there ever since. I have an Anemone in my tank. It's on the opposite corner of where my Blue Spot is and let's hope it stays there.

 

[Djbetterly]

Ok cool. I'll definitely keep reading. The only open space in my tank is an area for the auto feeder to drop food, it's about a 2 x 2 inch area. I plan on making a plexiglas chute for the feeder to close up that space a bit.

I have great rock with a lot of holes in it and a 3 in deep sand bed. I do have more sand I could add as well. I have always found these fish interesting and would love to go for it. I don't like offending anyone though. However, I do feel that people on these forums rarely encourage you, but typically try to steer you away when you seem to lack knowledge on a subject.

 

[ruha456]

Ive had one for a couple of months in an enclose tank which is very important. They must be well fed and have enough sand bed to borough. They must also be in a tank with docile tank mates, this is very important because my friend bought the same fish together with me and his did not make it because he had too many tank inhabitants competing for food, other than that mine seems pretty healthy and enjoying his living arrangement with me. Good luck an hope you get one as they are awesome fish with cool personalities.

 

[Djbetterly]

I don't follow your response ruha...

 

[ruha456]

They are simple as long as you follow these simple procedures I stated pal.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I found them easy as long as you have a good lid and that no other fish is harassing it such as an adult algae blenny, a six line wrasse. Eats anything. 3 inch sandbed is enough, the burrow can be horizontal not necessarily vertical. You can encourage it to make a burrow where you want it by sticking a PVC pipe to sandbed at an angle and put small rubble around the area. Make sure the fish can see at least half the pipe is hollow. If he decide to take the pipe, he will cover the protuded portion of the pipe with rubble. If you have a web cam, get it on standby you may capture how he build a burrow.

 

[greybolt03]

I loved me bluespot jam greatest fish I ever owned eat well got along with all my other fish never had a problem with him till I went away on vacation and had a friend tank sit for me he forgot to close the lid and I came home to him dried up on the carpet...

 

[Reef Reaper]

As you can see from my avatar, i love jawfishes. I have four right now and the most important thing, is to keep the tank covered!! Give them time to adjust to the tank. In the beginning , they will hide alot. Make sure pellets do reach them when you feed. I use a plastic tube and drop food directly on top of them. After a couple of months, they will come out during feeding and fight for feed with the rest of your fishes. Any questions, just pm me and good luck!!

 

[jdnumis]

Jawfishes are great looking fish. Please do not leave any spaces on the top of your tank when you close it. They will slip through anything.

 

[OOtzie]

Yes we do, to steer one away from potentially killing any animal due to lack of knowledge on the subject is best. Persistent research on any specific reef creature will help you better enjoy it and it live a better life. For example, I recent purchased a favia, I spent a week reading hours a night to fully understand that sucker inside and out!

Ok cool. I'll definitely keep reading. The only open space in my tank is an area for the auto feeder to drop food, it's about a 2 x 2 inch area. I plan on making a plexiglas chute for the feeder to close up that space a bit.

I have great rock with a lot of holes in it and a 3 in deep sand bed. I do have more sand I could add as well. I have always found these fish interesting and would love to go for it. I don't like offending anyone though. However, I do feel that people on these forums rarely encourage you, but typically try to steer you away when you seem to lack knowledge on a subject.

 

[skene]

Yes we do, to steer one away from potentially killing any animal due to lack of knowledge on the subject is best. Persistent research on any specific reef creature will help you better enjoy it and it live a better life. For example, I recent purchased a favia, I spent a week reading hours a night to fully understand that sucker inside and out!

Pictures... I would love to see this Favia...

 

[jdnumis]

+1

Pictures... I would love to see this Favia...

Me too!

 

[skene]

What you fail to understand with your posts is that through careful research on livestock you will be able to understand and will be able to fulfill the fish/coral needs.
Anyone can tell you that they need this... and that... and it's either difficult or easy.. all of this can be based on your experience..
While you can only take a persons opinion with a grain of salt... who is that person that is behind the computer telling you their experience... But their experience in this hobby is not yours. You are the one that has to provide... you have to feed... you have to create the sustainable habitat for critters to live and thrive.

Ever heard the saying... If you have to ask how much it is... That means you can't afford it.
It's not a saying of what you can and can't do... it means that you lack the experience needed and are not ready.
If you feel that you need to challenge yourself... by all means purchase the fish and see what happens.
Nothing ventured.. nothing gained.

 

[Djbetterly]

Skene your opinion is valued, don't get me wrong. I guess I'm the type I person to make suggestions of where to research or great articles I have read rather than send discouraging advice. I agree with your statement about caring for the lives of the fish, but at certain points in everyone's lives, advice and encouragement go a long way.

I did find some great articles and really do appreciate everyone's advice.