Blue-Spotted Jawfish Impossible to Keep Long Term?

[LilElroyJetson]

Hopefully the title will catch the attention of anyone who’s had long-term success (1 year+) with their Blue-Spotted Jawfish. I successfully kept mine in a sand bed about 2-3” for about 6 months, the fish seemed to engage in its natural behavior and was a dominant fish in the tank, other fish respected the space around its burrow and it ate regularly, but the fish died while I was away and someone else was watching my tank for 2 weeks. I wish I knew the exact cause but I don’t.

Fast forward, I’m setting up a new tank and have been debating going 2” sand bed or 4”+ sand bed to enjoy the benefits of a DSB. In planning ahead, I’ve been trying to identify what I’ll want to keep in the tanks and another Blue-Spotted Jawfish is high on my list. Unfortunately from everything I’ve read, disturbing an established DSB can potentially crash a tank, and it’s advised you avoid anything sandsifting to allow the DSB to maintain its structure in order to remain a natural bio filter and food source. On the other hand, the general rule of thumb is that Blue-Spotted Jawfish absolutely need a DSB for long term success, but also that they eat the bacteria from the sand and sift sand which is bad for an established DSB.

These seem like two conflicting schools of thought and following logically, I would think that Blue-Spotted Jawfish just shouldn’t be kept in an aquarium because either they suffer or your tank/DSB suffer. But the fish are gorgeous and have great personality, I’d love to know how those who have kept them long term have managed to successfully keep them and not cause die off in their tank by disturbing the DSB.

 

[Thales]

At what temp did you keep it? They are temperate, so keeping them at tropical temps is a common reason they don't last long.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

At what temp did you keep it? They are temperate, so keeping them at tropical temps is a common reason they don't last long.

72 degrees. I was more curious about the: “Blue-Spotted Jawfish need a DSB” vs. “Disturbing a DSB will crash a tank” conflict though.

 

[Wurst]

I've had one for 15 months in a 300 gal mixed reef with 55 other fish. It goes from spot to spot making new dens along the sides of rocks. Sandbed averages 2", but some areas under rock dens have no sand and some corners have up to 4". 78 degree water.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

I've had one for 15 months in a 300 gal mixed reef with 55 other fish. It goes from spot to spot making new dens along the sides of rocks. Sandbed averages 2", but some areas under rock dens have no sand and some corners have up to 4". 78 degree water.

Do you siphon your sand regularly?

 

[Wurst]

During water changes a very little bit, but not anything serious. Just easily accessible areas, really quickly.

 

[bubbaque]

I have had mine for 18 months, this June will make it 2 years. My sand is roughly an inch deep but he has moved sand to the area he stays in to make it slightly deeper. I never vacuum my sandbed.

I’m not sure if temperature is as a big deal as some say. In my experience it is not as my temp averages 80° but on occasion gets up to 81°.

Mine seemed to be stressed out when I first got him but once it settles in it seems to be happy.

 

[VR28man]

Hello GeorgesBoyElroy,

I've owned a yellow headed jawfish from KP aquatics for well over a year now (mated pair, my assumed male died so I only have the assumed female now).

YHJs live on sandbeds near rocks and coral outcrops. In the tank, IME they prefer to always have a burrow next to a rock.

I am told they prefer somewhat larger (but not too large) grains of sand. Some people mix sand. I used Caribsea Seaflor. They also like mixed coral rubble, shells, etc. I also got that from caribsea, but one bag is a LOT of shells and coral rubble! (I think I have some; feel free to PM me and can mail a decent amount of what I have for the cost of shipping).

They should have, I've heard, at least 4 inches of sand. However, I regret having a deep sandbed throughout the tank. If I had to do it again, I would try to keep, say, a 1 inch sandebed and keep a hill burying a rock surrounded by 4-6" sand. Alternately, I might try to use a rock barrier to keep part of the tank DSB and the rest 1" or so.

I personally vacuum my sandbed; I did it about weekly for a while (and my algae onm the sandbed and such disappeared), however I haven't done it for a while and when I do it has an almost endless stream of detritus.

Finding ways to feeding YHJs has been hard since they are plankton feeders. Having food fly around your tank is a no-go. Using slow floating pellets controlled by a two little fishies mag feeder (with the pumps on feed mode), is one way it works. The YHJs will also eat more conventional pellets that float by their burrow once they get used to you and don't hide from your presence. (took months). Still trying to figure out the best way to feed them LRS nano frenzy.....

 

[LilElroyJetson]

I have had mine for 18 months, this June will make it 2 years. My sand is roughly an inch deep but he has moved sand to the area he stays in to make it slightly deeper. I never vacuum my sandbed.

I’m not sure if temperature is as a big deal as some say. In my experience it is not as my temp averages 80° but on occasion gets up to 81°.

Mine seemed to be stressed out when I first got him but once it settles in it seems to be happy.

Thanks for the reply. I may give it another shot because when the tank was stable the fish seemed happy and healthy. That photo looks incredible. Great shot.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Hello GeorgesBoyElroy,

I've owned a yellow headed jawfish from KP aquatics for well over a year now (mated pair, my assumed male died so I only have the assumed female now).

YHJs live on sandbeds near rocks and coral outcrops. In the tank, IME they prefer to always have a burrow next to a rock.

I am told they prefer somewhat larger (but not too large) grains of sand. Some people mix sand. I used Caribsea Seaflor. They also like mixed coral rubble, shells, etc. I also got that from caribsea, but one bag is a LOT of shells and coral rubble! (I think I have some; feel free to PM me and can mail a decent amount of what I have for the cost of shipping).

They should have, I've heard, at least 4 inches of sand. However, I regret having a deep sandbed throughout the tank. If I had to do it again, I would try to keep, say, a 1 inch sandebed and keep a hill burying a rock surrounded by 4-6" sand. Alternately, I might try to use a rock barrier to keep part of the tank DSB and the rest 1" or so.

I personally vacuum my sandbed; I did it about weekly for a while (and my algae onm the sandbed and such disappeared), however I haven't done it for a while and when I do it has an almost endless stream of detritus.

Finding ways to feeding YHJs has been hard since they are plankton feeders. Having food fly around your tank is a no-go. Using slow floating pellets controlled by a two little fishies mag feeder (with the pumps on feed mode), is one way it works. The YHJs will also eat more conventional pellets that float by their burrow once they get used to you and don't hide from your presence. (took months). Still trying to figure out the best way to feed them LRS nano frenzy.....

My previous also used to burrow right up underneath a large piece of rock. I was using Fiji Pink sand, but there were pieces of rock, shells and coral the fish used to drag to its burrow. Wondering if a coarser sand is necessary or if that will do.

Regarding feeding, my previous fish started to take sinking pellets on its third day in the tank which was great, but I probably often overfed to be sure enough dropped to the jaw fish. Then once he was comfortable I was able to use a large turkey baster to spray food directly two him a few inches above the burrow.

Yeah I don’t mind vacuuming the sand bed, but my curiosity in making this post was regarding the conflicting idea that for a DSB to be an effective bio filter and not a risk to the tank, it is not to be disturbed even by sandsifters, and to keep a blue spotted jawfish which many refers keep, it needs a DSB (which it will obviously disturb). So it didn’t make sense to me how people were keeping them and not causing spikes in their tank chemistry. Those who’ve responded here so far all seem to keep a SSB or mixed. I’ll likely do the same as I did the first time around but include your idea of mounding up some sand at the edge of some rock work.

I appreciate the informative reply.
- George’s boy, Elroy