Feeding Pearly jawfish

[chinaman34cents]

Anyone have any tips on feeding these guys? I just got two of them and they built their own dens already. I put some frozen krill in but they didn't go for it. Then i tried some squid and it looks like they like it. But the only problem i'm having is that the water gets merky with the squid. If anyone has experence with these guys please tell me your methods.

Also, I notice that one of them was working hard on the den, while the other one watched. When i was trying to feed them, the less hard working one went in the other den. They looked like they were fighting. Then, for the next few minutes i only coould see one of the sticking his head out. The other one came out later. My question is how can you tell gender? Can two males live together?

Thank you all in advanced.

david

 

[Anonymous]

What size tank is this ? In a smallish tank 2 Opistognathus aurifons ( Pearly Jawfish ) males may declare war.
From what I can tell you're feeding the wrong size foods. Try spraying brine shrimp close to their lairs. Once that is taken you can then try *small* shredded pieces of krill, squid, shrimp, etc. From the activity you descibe it's entirely possible that the female ( if you have one ) has already laid eggs and the male who will normally have small black dots on its chin ( the one spending time in the lair ) is orally incubating the eggs. Or you have two of the same sex and they're simply building separate lairs. :?

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[chinaman34cents]

thanks for your fast reply. I have them in a 29G tank, reef, 7 corals, 3 inverts, purple head wrasse and one chromes, and cleaner shirmp + 5 hermits (blue leg). 30lbs of live rock.
I think both of them have black dots on their chin.....gay? haha j/k.
I will try what you said. What do i use to keep the other fish away?

 

[Anonymous]

chinaman, you are stocking your system WAY too quickly!

Please, I implore you, read up on animals BEFORE you buy them!