Missing Pearly Yellowhead Jawfish??? :(

Orion2012 · 06/18/2012, 08:21 AM

I bought a Jawfish the other day and after acclimating it. I netted and put it in my 75 gallon tank with lots of live rock. It dart for the live rock and substate and I have not seen it since and it's been a week. I have a glass top so it couldn't jump out. I have not seen a dead fish so I was wondering if this is normal for them to vanish?

dannyp02908 · 06/18/2012, 09:17 AM

My guess would be that it depends where it took up residence. I got lucky. I didnt see mine the first couple days (assuming he was scouting the tank), then the 3rd morning, i saw him in a nice hole right in the front of the tank. He never leaves that burrow save to eat. But he sits there with his head out all day. At night, he blocks the hole.

PMazz · 06/18/2012, 03:11 PM

Interesting, and he doesn't come out for food?

Orion2012 · 06/21/2012, 08:59 AM

No I have not seen him since I introduced him last week. No way he could jump out and I have not found him dead. He darted into the live rock and the last I seen him. I have checked my sump and overflow. I don't want to start moving live rock around because there is a lot of it. I left some space between the back glass and live rock to provide good water circulation and he may have made a home back there. Can't get enjoyment from him if he's back there.... If he's still alive he is hidden well.

mike_cmu04 · 06/21/2012, 09:35 AM

I have gone a couple weeks without seeing mine then he will show back up. I knew he was still in there because i could see mounds of sand that he had dug up.

mbd521 · 06/21/2012, 11:40 AM

watch for ammonia spike, that could indicate his demise... hopefully not the case.though!!!

Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

aquaticsbeyond · 06/21/2012, 04:27 PM

Keep an eye on your aquarium and the levels, I once added a second jawfish to an aquarium and couldn't find her for over a month. I assumed she was a goner but found her later sharing a burrow with the other jawfish in the tank.

As they get more comfortable with their environment they will start to venture out, especially around feeding time.

Guygettnby · 06/21/2012, 07:41 PM

I had one vanish as soon as I put it in the tank that showed up 3 weeks later making a home under one of my clams.

hkmhrns · 07/11/2012, 06:29 PM

I really like all the creatures (big or small) that occupy the sea, but I have a special spot in my heart for the ones that you can actually see thinking. The Yellowhead Jawfish is an amazing add on to just about any saltwater aquarium with substrate.. Mine disappeared the first few days i had it, then I started noticing small sand piles around the base of some rock- after keeping an eye on that area and sending some mysis down there during feeding during feeding time- a couple days later i had a sighting : ) . Don't loose hope- this is to anyone who might have picked up one of these fascinating little fish...

06/18/2012, 08:21 AM	#1
Orion2012 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 37	Missing Pearly Yellowhead Jawfish??? :( I bought a Jawfish the other day and after acclimating it. I netted and put it in my 75 gallon tank with lots of live rock. It dart for the live rock and substate and I have not seen it since and it's been a week. I have a glass top so it couldn't jump out. I have not seen a dead fish so I was wondering if this is normal for them to vanish?

06/18/2012, 09:17 AM	#2
dannyp02908 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 190	My guess would be that it depends where it took up residence. I got lucky. I didnt see mine the first couple days (assuming he was scouting the tank), then the 3rd morning, i saw him in a nice hole right in the front of the tank. He never leaves that burrow save to eat. But he sits there with his head out all day. At night, he blocks the hole. __________________ Dan 110 Gallon Aquarium Numerous corals and some fish Current Tank Info: 110 SW various corals and a few fish.

06/21/2012, 09:35 AM	#5
mike_cmu04 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shepherd, Mi Posts: 2,348	I have gone a couple weeks without seeing mine then he will show back up. I knew he was still in there because i could see mounds of sand that he had dug up. __________________ 92 Gallon corner tank, 2-radion gen 2 led lights, 2 mp40's Current Tank Info: 92 Gallon Corner Tank

06/18/2012, 03:11 PM	#3
PMazz Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 82	Interesting, and he doesn't come out for food?

06/21/2012, 08:59 AM	#4
Orion2012 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 37	No I have not seen him since I introduced him last week. No way he could jump out and I have not found him dead. He darted into the live rock and the last I seen him. I have checked my sump and overflow. I don't want to start moving live rock around because there is a lot of it. I left some space between the back glass and live rock to provide good water circulation and he may have made a home back there. Can't get enjoyment from him if he's back there.... If he's still alive he is hidden well.

06/21/2012, 11:40 AM	#6
mbd521 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 113	watch for ammonia spike, that could indicate his demise... hopefully not the case.though!!! Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

06/21/2012, 04:27 PM	#7
aquaticsbeyond Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Youngstown, Ohio Posts: 6	Keep an eye on your aquarium and the levels, I once added a second jawfish to an aquarium and couldn't find her for over a month. I assumed she was a goner but found her later sharing a burrow with the other jawfish in the tank. As they get more comfortable with their environment they will start to venture out, especially around feeding time.

06/21/2012, 07:41 PM	#8
Guygettnby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: FL Posts: 3,050	I had one vanish as soon as I put it in the tank that showed up 3 weeks later making a home under one of my clams.

07/11/2012, 06:29 PM	#9
hkmhrns Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 34	I really like all the creatures (big or small) that occupy the sea, but I have a special spot in my heart for the ones that you can actually see thinking. The Yellowhead Jawfish is an amazing add on to just about any saltwater aquarium with substrate.. Mine disappeared the first few days i had it, then I started noticing small sand piles around the base of some rock- after keeping an eye on that area and sending some mysis down there during feeding during feeding time- a couple days later i had a sighting : ) . Don't loose hope- this is to anyone who might have picked up one of these fascinating little fish...