Strange Pearly Jaw Behavior

abulgin · 07/16/2008, 07:27 AM

I have a 30 gallon cube in which I keep a Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp and a Pearly Jawfish. Everyone has always gotten along fabulously. Well, Monday I came home from work to find that the YWG and/or his Pistol Shrimp have rearranged everything, and they are now living in the hole in which my Pearly Jaw lived for the past 4 weeks. My Pearly Jaw is nowhere to be found--not a single trace of him. Thinking he may have jumped, I searched the area around my tank--under my couch, behind the tank, etc.--no trace of any Fish Jerky. Thinking he may have died/been killed (although he's bigger by far than the YWG and the pistol shrimp--and fast), I tested my water. Ammonia and Nitrite are both 0.

What gives? Does anyone know if Pearly Jaws periodically go into hiding? I'm sure there is a tunnel network under my substrate, so it is possible that he's just chilling underground. But you would think he would at least come out to eat his favorite live black worms.

lizardarm · 07/16/2008, 08:11 AM

are you sure that it's not still in the hole?
mine has several holes in the same rock pile/area, most of them do seem to be connected by a large-ish central cave underneathe.

abulgin · 07/16/2008, 08:12 AM

No, I'm not sure. The only thing I'm sure about is that the PJ was always out and about, and now he is nowhere to be found. I know that there is an extensive tunnel network--on the scale of Escape from Alcatraz--so anything is possible.

tush · 07/16/2008, 11:36 AM

mine disappeared when things were redecorated by my urchin- didnt see him for 3 weeks... then one day he popped his head out and was fine... go figger!

abulgin · 07/16/2008, 11:37 AM

I hope that's the case--he's really cool. If he were dead, I would think I'd see a small ammonia spike in a 30g

07/16/2008, 07:27 AM	#1
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	Strange Pearly Jaw Behavior I have a 30 gallon cube in which I keep a Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp and a Pearly Jawfish. Everyone has always gotten along fabulously. Well, Monday I came home from work to find that the YWG and/or his Pistol Shrimp have rearranged everything, and they are now living in the hole in which my Pearly Jaw lived for the past 4 weeks. My Pearly Jaw is nowhere to be found--not a single trace of him. Thinking he may have jumped, I searched the area around my tank--under my couch, behind the tank, etc.--no trace of any Fish Jerky. Thinking he may have died/been killed (although he's bigger by far than the YWG and the pistol shrimp--and fast), I tested my water. Ammonia and Nitrite are both 0. What gives? Does anyone know if Pearly Jaws periodically go into hiding? I'm sure there is a tunnel network under my substrate, so it is possible that he's just chilling underground. But you would think he would at least come out to eat his favorite live black worms.

07/16/2008, 08:11 AM	#2
lizardarm Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: between a rock and a hard place Posts: 182	are you sure that it's not still in the hole? mine has several holes in the same rock pile/area, most of them do seem to be connected by a large-ish central cave underneathe. __________________ Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently motivated fool. Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

07/16/2008, 08:12 AM	#3
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	No, I'm not sure. The only thing I'm sure about is that the PJ was always out and about, and now he is nowhere to be found. I know that there is an extensive tunnel network--on the scale of Escape from Alcatraz--so anything is possible.

07/16/2008, 11:36 AM	#4
tush Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: phx,az Posts: 117	mine disappeared when things were redecorated by my urchin- didnt see him for 3 weeks... then one day he popped his head out and was fine... go figger!

07/16/2008, 11:37 AM	#5
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	I hope that's the case--he's really cool. If he were dead, I would think I'd see a small ammonia spike in a 30g