Help with a Blue Dot Jaw Fish

robnuti · 05/29/2008, 02:10 PM

I have been wanting a blue dot jaw fish since I set up my tank. Last week my wife bought me one, for a surprise. To make a long story short, he is in QT with 30lbs of live rock and a canister filter on it. So the QT is a fully operational tank. When we first put him in, he found a spot and was hiding under a rock. He moved enough sand the rock started closing in on his home. He is now sleeping in the corner of the tank, half buried in the sand, not under the rocks. When I turn on the lights he just stays there. I thought he was dead today so I reached into the tank. He jumped to life and hid in the rocks. He now seems to be normal in the rocks watching everything going on. He losses his color at night but regains it in the day, when awake. Is this normal? I test the water daily. the parameters are:

SG - 1.021
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 10
PH - 7.8
Dkh - 8

I don't test mag, calcium since there are no corals in the tank.

If I could get a little advice form everyone, wheter this seems normal or should I be concerned? If need be I could move him to the DT.

TIA for all the advice

reeftanksrule · 05/29/2008, 02:19 PM

I have never had one but this seems normal, since fox faces have the same behavior. I dont think id worry.

Achilles1208 · 05/29/2008, 04:06 PM

what r u dosing that is dropping ur ph to 7.8

did u test when the lights were on or off ,,,, no calcium right?

robnuti · 05/29/2008, 05:20 PM

That is the standard for the salt I use. I am test in the morning right when the lights come on. It's I thought 7.0 is neutral on the PH scale, and I'm safe from 7.8 to 8.2?

indydog1 · 05/29/2008, 05:49 PM

yep i tad low but no real threat imo

jamest0o0 · 05/29/2008, 05:51 PM

I have experience with jawfish along with seapug (I believe). In my experience these are very tough fish to keep alive. They are affected by stress VERY MUCH. The slightest stress can cause severe problems. I had mine for 2 months and one day he showed signs of ich so I figured I'd get a QT up the next day. By the next day he looked absolutely terrible and died that night. They also tend to get a mysterious disease that is uncurable.

Bottom line very colorful interesting fish, but they can die in a heartbeat. You should also have a lid.

05/29/2008, 02:10 PM	#1
robnuti Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Roseville, CA. Posts: 249	Help with a Blue Dot Jaw Fish I have been wanting a blue dot jaw fish since I set up my tank. Last week my wife bought me one, for a surprise. To make a long story short, he is in QT with 30lbs of live rock and a canister filter on it. So the QT is a fully operational tank. When we first put him in, he found a spot and was hiding under a rock. He moved enough sand the rock started closing in on his home. He is now sleeping in the corner of the tank, half buried in the sand, not under the rocks. When I turn on the lights he just stays there. I thought he was dead today so I reached into the tank. He jumped to life and hid in the rocks. He now seems to be normal in the rocks watching everything going on. He losses his color at night but regains it in the day, when awake. Is this normal? I test the water daily. the parameters are: SG - 1.021 Ammonia - 0 Nitrites - 0 Nitrates - 10 PH - 7.8 Dkh - 8 I don't test mag, calcium since there are no corals in the tank. If I could get a little advice form everyone, wheter this seems normal or should I be concerned? If need be I could move him to the DT. TIA for all the advice

05/29/2008, 05:20 PM	#4
robnuti Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Roseville, CA. Posts: 249	That is the standard for the salt I use. I am test in the morning right when the lights come on. It's I thought 7.0 is neutral on the PH scale, and I'm safe from 7.8 to 8.2? Last edited by robnuti; 05/29/2008 at 05:40 PM.

05/29/2008, 05:49 PM	#5
indydog1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: round lake, il Posts: 1,590	yep i tad low but no real threat imo __________________ Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself Current Tank Info: 210 gal

05/29/2008, 05:51 PM	#6
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	I have experience with jawfish along with seapug (I believe). In my experience these are very tough fish to keep alive. They are affected by stress VERY MUCH. The slightest stress can cause severe problems. I had mine for 2 months and one day he showed signs of ich so I figured I'd get a QT up the next day. By the next day he looked absolutely terrible and died that night. They also tend to get a mysterious disease that is uncurable. Bottom line very colorful interesting fish, but they can die in a heartbeat. You should also have a lid. __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

05/29/2008, 02:19 PM	#2
reeftanksrule Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4	I have never had one but this seems normal, since fox faces have the same behavior. I dont think id worry.

05/29/2008, 04:06 PM	#3
Achilles1208 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South FLorida Posts: 136	what r u dosing that is dropping ur ph to 7.8 did u test when the lights were on or off ,,,, no calcium right?