Variable Jawfish/El Diablo Jawfish/Opistognathus variabilis information?

[Flatearth]

I see this species pop up from time to time, and I was curious if anyone had any information about them?


To my eyes there are two types of jawfish. The fat ones like the dusky jawfish and the skinny ones like the pearly jawfish. A 3 inch dusky is about twice as wide as a 3 inch pearly, and in my experience the dusky is a much bolder fish(it also gets about 6 inches).


I am wondering if the Variable Jawfish is basically just a smaller dusky as far as care and temperament go? They apparently reach about 4 inches, would at least like a confirmation on that.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I see this species pop up from time to time, and I was curious if anyone had any information about them?


To my eyes there are two types of jawfish. The fat ones like the dusky jawfish and the skinny ones like the pearly jawfish. A 3 inch dusky is about twice as wide as a 3 inch pearly, and in my experience the dusky is a much bolder fish(it also gets about 6 inches).


I am wondering if the Variable Jawfish is basically just a smaller dusky as far as care and temperament go? They apparently reach about 4 inches, would at least like a confirmation on that.

Sorry - I haven't kept this species myself, but here is a link to an extensive monograph of Indo jawfishes. Search "variabilis"

View of <p><strong>Review of Indo-West Pacific jawfishes (<em>Opistognathus</em>: Opistognathidae), with descriptions of 18 new species</strong></p>

Description of the species is on p. 96, and lots of cool color pics at the end.


Jay

 

[JMann]

I see this species pop up from time to time, and I was curious if anyone had any information about them?


To my eyes there are two types of jawfish. The fat ones like the dusky jawfish and the skinny ones like the pearly jawfish. A 3 inch dusky is about twice as wide as a 3 inch pearly, and in my experience the dusky is a much bolder fish(it also gets about 6 inches).


I am wondering if the Variable Jawfish is basically just a smaller dusky as far as care and temperament go? They apparently reach about 4 inches, would at least like a confirmation on that.

I had a beautiful Variable Jawfish for only about 2 weeks as sadly he found a tiny crack in the top and jumped out of the tank while I was out of town. He exemplified everything which is great about Jaws. They’re more the standard long/slender body type rather than the stockier Dusky types. He didn’t hover over his burrow like Caribbean/Florida Yellowheads. He was definitely full of character, of course. I had a tank setup for him with barely any rock work and deep sand.