Yellowhead Jawfish

fatdaddy · 09/14/2008, 06:39 PM

I introduced a pair of yellowhead Jawfish to my tank, but they seem to have vanished.

There are plenty of caves where they could be hiding, but I'm starting to wonder.

I did see some excavation close to where my tomatoe clowns had spawned. I'm wondering if the clowns could have killed them.

However, I saw one after that where s/he was starting a hole in the back corner of the tank well away from the clowns.

It's a 100g tank with currently only a pair of tomatoe clowns, 1 hermit crab, 1 unknown crab that I rarely see, and a pair of coral banded shrimp.

It's been 2 weeks and I never see them even during feeding time. Any thoughts?

Just want to learn what I did wrong as I'd like to setup a larger Caribbean tank and like to have some jawfish.

anniesdad · 09/15/2008, 08:30 AM

MY yh jawfish dissapeared for about a week.
Then he finally started excavating.
It's been about a yr now, and he will come way out of his burrow during feeding.
A bit OT, but i just added 2 zebra dartfish. I already had a purple firefish and a hi fin shrimp goby. The shrimp goby has never come out from the rocks in a year. The firefish was out 80% of the time. Since the dartfish have been added, all are huddled up together, with the pff not out at all anymore. My food DEFINITELY gets into my rock pile. Just kinda odd. I also added a few tangs too, which could make them all hide a bit.

KB2202 · 09/15/2008, 01:45 PM

During the first week or so I got mine he hid in the rocks and wasn't seen at all. Now he comes out all the time to sift sand. However, I still don't usually see him during feeding time because he is a little cautious when someone is near the tank.

I would just give them time to get adjusted to their new home. Pretty soon they will be out and you'll be able to enjoy them.

Bignasty1 · 09/15/2008, 03:26 PM

The lfs shop had 2-3 of these, they are beautiful fish and I almost bought one. But having seen how a friends blue spotted jawfish stays hidden all the time and I wanted a fish I could enjoy watching.

fatdaddy · 09/15/2008, 06:51 PM

Well, I have no plans for additions to the tanks, so I'll let them get adjusted.

I love watching these fish while diving. I'll be drifting on the current and I'll come across a patch of 20 or 30. They are all hovering over their holes by maybe 18 or 24 inches. As I draw near, they get lower, lower, then their tail is in their hole, body, and then all I see are two little eyes. Then blip, they are gone.

I'll give them time. They are in a tank that is across the room from my usual watching spot. I hope they are doing well, but time will tell.

fatdaddy · 09/21/2008, 11:38 AM

Bad news. I found one of the jawfish dried up behind the aquarium. I didn't realize they were jumpers. I'll have to add egg crate to the top if I try this again.

nikon187 · 09/21/2008, 02:52 PM

jawfish can easily make it through eggcrate as well. try a bird netting lid

Darby · 09/24/2008, 09:19 AM

Sorry to hear about that, Fatdaddy. I've got the same thing going, a 150gal Caribean Biotope. I bought 2 mated pairs of Pearly Jawfish, but lost 3 out of 4 intransit due to Ike delaying the whole process. Luckily the one that survived only tried to jump once, and that was the first morning I had him when teh actinics came on for 'dawn'. I had the front doors to my canopy open, and he luckily bounced off just to side, back into the water.

He stayed in teh rocks for a good week, but now he comes out and digs some craters. He can't quite seems to get a hole going well, but he's trying.

Just received a package, with 2 new mated pairs! Yaaaaay!

Hope your next group go better for you!

fatdaddy · 09/24/2008, 09:40 AM

Thanks. I'll try again with a tall tank and bird net cover.

Still no sign of the second jaw fish. I'm assuming he didn't make it.

xskyzx · 09/24/2008, 10:32 AM

, my jawfish is s till hiding, and eggcrate didnt stop them from jumping the 1st time i got them, now i have one of those net bought from hobby lobby.

09/14/2008, 06:39 PM	#1
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	Yellowhead Jawfish I introduced a pair of yellowhead Jawfish to my tank, but they seem to have vanished. There are plenty of caves where they could be hiding, but I'm starting to wonder. I did see some excavation close to where my tomatoe clowns had spawned. I'm wondering if the clowns could have killed them. However, I saw one after that where s/he was starting a hole in the back corner of the tank well away from the clowns. It's a 100g tank with currently only a pair of tomatoe clowns, 1 hermit crab, 1 unknown crab that I rarely see, and a pair of coral banded shrimp. It's been 2 weeks and I never see them even during feeding time. Any thoughts? Just want to learn what I did wrong as I'd like to setup a larger Caribbean tank and like to have some jawfish. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

09/15/2008, 06:51 PM	#5
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	Well, I have no plans for additions to the tanks, so I'll let them get adjusted. I love watching these fish while diving. I'll be drifting on the current and I'll come across a patch of 20 or 30. They are all hovering over their holes by maybe 18 or 24 inches. As I draw near, they get lower, lower, then their tail is in their hole, body, and then all I see are two little eyes. Then blip, they are gone. I'll give them time. They are in a tank that is across the room from my usual watching spot. I hope they are doing well, but time will tell. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

09/21/2008, 11:38 AM	#6
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	Bad news. I found one of the jawfish dried up behind the aquarium. I didn't realize they were jumpers. I'll have to add egg crate to the top if I try this again. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

09/21/2008, 02:52 PM	#7
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	jawfish can easily make it through eggcrate as well. try a bird netting lid __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

09/24/2008, 09:40 AM	#9
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	Thanks. I'll try again with a tall tank and bird net cover. Still no sign of the second jaw fish. I'm assuming he didn't make it. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

09/15/2008, 08:30 AM	#2
anniesdad Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: long island, NY Posts: 93	MY yh jawfish dissapeared for about a week. Then he finally started excavating. It's been about a yr now, and he will come way out of his burrow during feeding. A bit OT, but i just added 2 zebra dartfish. I already had a purple firefish and a hi fin shrimp goby. The shrimp goby has never come out from the rocks in a year. The firefish was out 80% of the time. Since the dartfish have been added, all are huddled up together, with the pff not out at all anymore. My food DEFINITELY gets into my rock pile. Just kinda odd. I also added a few tangs too, which could make them all hide a bit.

09/15/2008, 01:45 PM	#3
KB2202 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 57	During the first week or so I got mine he hid in the rocks and wasn't seen at all. Now he comes out all the time to sift sand. However, I still don't usually see him during feeding time because he is a little cautious when someone is near the tank. I would just give them time to get adjusted to their new home. Pretty soon they will be out and you'll be able to enjoy them.

09/15/2008, 03:26 PM	#4
Bignasty1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: HSV Alabama Posts: 134	The lfs shop had 2-3 of these, they are beautiful fish and I almost bought one. But having seen how a friends blue spotted jawfish stays hidden all the time and I wanted a fish I could enjoy watching.

09/24/2008, 09:19 AM	#8
Darby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 4	Sorry to hear about that, Fatdaddy. I've got the same thing going, a 150gal Caribean Biotope. I bought 2 mated pairs of Pearly Jawfish, but lost 3 out of 4 intransit due to Ike delaying the whole process. Luckily the one that survived only tried to jump once, and that was the first morning I had him when teh actinics came on for 'dawn'. I had the front doors to my canopy open, and he luckily bounced off just to side, back into the water. He stayed in teh rocks for a good week, but now he comes out and digs some craters. He can't quite seems to get a hole going well, but he's trying. Just received a package, with 2 new mated pairs! Yaaaaay! Hope your next group go better for you!

09/24/2008, 10:32 AM	#10
xskyzx Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 439	, my jawfish is s till hiding, and eggcrate didnt stop them from jumping the 1st time i got them, now i have one of those net bought from hobby lobby.