Recommendations on how to catch a jawfish?

Leandrae · 07/09/2006, 12:08 AM

I love my blue spotted jawfish, but he's really getting to be a PITA! I may put him in my new tank in a few months, but was wondering if anyone had some suggestions on how to catch the little bugger. Its getting tiresome to have to go in and unbury all the corals he covers with sand on a daily basis.

He pretty much stays in his little cave under the rocks so going in with a net or a container isnt gonna work. As soon as anything goes in the tank, he darts for the cave du jour. This includes food. When I feed, he stays in the cave and only when a piece of food gets real close does he dart out and then immediately back in again.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get him out? Thank you very much!

-Janel

salty joe · 07/09/2006, 07:36 AM

Cut the top off a clear plastic bottle and invert it back into the bottle. Put something tasty inside & put it by the jaw's den.

salty joe · 07/09/2006, 07:38 AM

I just noticed the cave of the day comment. Is there enough rubble to satisfy the jaw?

Krazy · 07/09/2006, 08:52 AM

I just did this last night to remove a golden headed sleeper goby who was putting sand everywhere but back in the sand bed...

I removed all rocks from my tank into two 30 gallon tubs and caught the fish and then redid my entire aqua-scape (I had planned on re-scaping due to no flow in the back) it worked perfect but I'm sure that isnt what you want to hear.. lol

Good luck though

nterry · 07/09/2006, 09:55 AM

Add some rocks/sand to the bottle. I used this method to catch my jawfish when it was in my overflow.

Leandrae · 07/09/2006, 11:02 AM

Thanks for the tips everyone!

I'd like to avoid pulling everything out as I have 3 anemones in there which I'm afaid of pulling apart if I go moving rocks around. Also, the clownfish are spawning regularly as well as my royal grammas and I'd rather not upset them if I dont have to.

Question about the bottle...so I cut off the top and then invert the top into the bottom, right? How do I attach them together, assuming you have to. Wouldnt it just come apart?

As far as rubble goes, I dont have much in the way of rock rubble, but I have shells out the wazoo, which is uses to decorate with (sometimes he uses shells that are already occupied, rather funny to see the hermit crab get about an inch away and then the jawfish snatches it back)

As far as the cave of the day thing, he has 2 caves he likes to use and switches between them every few days or so. One is great, there isnt much around it so when he starts throwing the sand, it doesnt bother anything. The other one however, when he goes to re excavate it, he buries my GSP and I think killed a brain coral. (It was buried in the sand for a day before I noticed it and now the flesh is all gone where it was covered in sand)

I love the fish, I really do! He's got a great personality and is fun to watch, but he's killing my corals that are on the sand =( I knew when I got him that he was a digger, but I figured he would build himself a hole and stay there. I should have come here and asked for practical experience with these fish, then I would have known they could be a real PITA at times.

-Janel

godoggo · 07/10/2006, 12:11 AM

I have never been able to catch anything in traps - those critters can be so clever!

Pump the water out or your tank into clean containers with a powerhead - or siphon tube. When the water level gets low enough - you can catch him.

Pump the water right back in - you don't have to tear up your tank everything in you tank can survive low tide for a short time.

Good Luck!

Serioussnaps · 07/10/2006, 03:12 PM

Drain the tank

waynemk · 07/10/2006, 04:08 PM

I was able to get one via commercial trap. It took several hours but was less work that tearing everything down. Plus tearing down wasnâ€™t really an option in an SPS dominated tank. The one I used had a sliding door you had to hold open with fishing wire.

ERICinFL · 07/10/2006, 09:59 PM

Slurp gun.

07/09/2006, 12:08 AM	#1
Leandrae Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thornton, CO Posts: 286	Recommendations on how to catch a jawfish? I love my blue spotted jawfish, but he's really getting to be a PITA! I may put him in my new tank in a few months, but was wondering if anyone had some suggestions on how to catch the little bugger. Its getting tiresome to have to go in and unbury all the corals he covers with sand on a daily basis. He pretty much stays in his little cave under the rocks so going in with a net or a container isnt gonna work. As soon as anything goes in the tank, he darts for the cave du jour. This includes food. When I feed, he stays in the cave and only when a piece of food gets real close does he dart out and then immediately back in again. Anyone have any ideas on how to get him out? Thank you very much! -Janel

07/09/2006, 07:36 AM	#2
salty joe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: medina, ohio Posts: 2,419	Cut the top off a clear plastic bottle and invert it back into the bottle. Put something tasty inside & put it by the jaw's den. __________________ Time to roll the dice.

07/09/2006, 07:38 AM	#3
salty joe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: medina, ohio Posts: 2,419	I just noticed the cave of the day comment. Is there enough rubble to satisfy the jaw? __________________ Time to roll the dice.

07/10/2006, 09:59 PM	#10
ERICinFL Rejisturd Mimbur Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brevard County, FL Posts: 1,346	Slurp gun. __________________ Ummmm... yeah... don't touch the Mag Float. Sorry kids, your college fund is gone, but the tank looks SWEET right? Current Tank Info: 150gal mixed reef. ER CS135, 65gal sump/fuge with a Mag12 return. (2) Korillia 4s, (1) modded MJ1200, two SunSun 3200gph powerheads. 250+lbs LR.

07/09/2006, 08:52 AM	#4
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	I just did this last night to remove a golden headed sleeper goby who was putting sand everywhere but back in the sand bed... I removed all rocks from my tank into two 30 gallon tubs and caught the fish and then redid my entire aqua-scape (I had planned on re-scaping due to no flow in the back) it worked perfect but I'm sure that isnt what you want to hear.. lol Good luck though

07/09/2006, 09:55 AM	#5
nterry Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 263	Add some rocks/sand to the bottle. I used this method to catch my jawfish when it was in my overflow.

07/09/2006, 11:02 AM	#6
Leandrae Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thornton, CO Posts: 286	Thanks for the tips everyone! I'd like to avoid pulling everything out as I have 3 anemones in there which I'm afaid of pulling apart if I go moving rocks around. Also, the clownfish are spawning regularly as well as my royal grammas and I'd rather not upset them if I dont have to. Question about the bottle...so I cut off the top and then invert the top into the bottom, right? How do I attach them together, assuming you have to. Wouldnt it just come apart? As far as rubble goes, I dont have much in the way of rock rubble, but I have shells out the wazoo, which is uses to decorate with (sometimes he uses shells that are already occupied, rather funny to see the hermit crab get about an inch away and then the jawfish snatches it back) As far as the cave of the day thing, he has 2 caves he likes to use and switches between them every few days or so. One is great, there isnt much around it so when he starts throwing the sand, it doesnt bother anything. The other one however, when he goes to re excavate it, he buries my GSP and I think killed a brain coral. (It was buried in the sand for a day before I noticed it and now the flesh is all gone where it was covered in sand) I love the fish, I really do! He's got a great personality and is fun to watch, but he's killing my corals that are on the sand =( I knew when I got him that he was a digger, but I figured he would build himself a hole and stay there. I should have come here and asked for practical experience with these fish, then I would have known they could be a real PITA at times. -Janel

07/10/2006, 12:11 AM	#7
godoggo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Weld CO Posts: 198	I have never been able to catch anything in traps - those critters can be so clever! Pump the water out or your tank into clean containers with a powerhead - or siphon tube. When the water level gets low enough - you can catch him. Pump the water right back in - you don't have to tear up your tank everything in you tank can survive low tide for a short time. Good Luck!

07/10/2006, 03:12 PM	#8
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	Drain the tank

07/10/2006, 04:08 PM	#9
waynemk Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 98	I was able to get one via commercial trap. It took several hours but was less work that tearing everything down. Plus tearing down wasnâ€™t really an option in an SPS dominated tank. The one I used had a sliding door you had to hold open with fishing wire.