Yellowhead jawfish constantly on the move.

[randalli]

So I have a Opistognathus aurifrons that inhabits no place for longer than 2 days in a row. The whole tank has on average around 3-5cm of sand with lots of small shells and small gravel like coral fragments. There's also a lot of holes around at sand level that he can slip in and dig into the sand from there.
So what he does: He slips into a hole, starts getting all the sand out and builds huge holes, then he starts building his stone walls, stays there for 1 or 2 nights, closes everything up even and moves on to the next place. He's currently having two places in rotation.

Is this normal behavior? Or is there something wrong here?

He's not chased around or anything. He isn't even noticed by most of the fish. He is not even too shy or something. I mean he is shy. But during feeding time he comes out quite a bit. Sometimes like 30cm's or more. He's a persistent eater. He's out chasing for food long after every other fish had to ly down because they overeat again, lol

 

[Tahoe61]

Sounds like normal behavior. It drove me NUTS. Lovely fish, but I like my scape and water clarity better.

 

[randalli]

I gave up on my scape because my Belulus and all the hermits do not mind turning everything over on a daily basis. Lol
Just wanted to make sure it's the normal behavior or whether I need to cater to this fish more? But if it's normal like you said, then I will leave hin to his restlessness and let him surprise me on a daily basis

 

[Sigmund]

Try laying a small flat rock on top of sand, in the open but close to your rockwork. They prefer a 360 view. I have started a home for my jawfish before, and guided them into it. Quicker they settle in the better. Once they find a spot they like, they will stay. The longer they are moving, more likely to get sick or jump. They can find the smallest crack if unsettled.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Mine moved around a few times when I first got him. I came to notice that he was very curious and was actually always moving closer to where more action was. They are really great fish, very curious, and personable. But they are jumpers, and I don’t have lids on my tanks so it didn’t work out.

 

[randalli]

Mine moved around a few times when I first got him. I came to notice that he was very curious and was actually always moving closer to where more action was. They are really great fish, very curious, and personable. But they are jumpers, and I don’t have lids on my tanks so it didn’t work out.

Try laying a small flat rock on top of sand, in the open but close to your rockwork. They prefer a 360 view. I have started a home for my jawfish before, and guided them into it. Quicker they settle in the better. Once they find a spot they like, they will stay. The longer they are moving, more likely to get sick or jump. They can find the smallest crack if unsettled.

He's currently circling 2 locations in a 2 day rhythm. In both he is continuing to build and dig. One is in a corner under a stone with lots of gravel. The other one is a central 360 plane with lot's of gravel under a stone.
I have a net on top so let's hope he does not find out he can get through the netting like one of my gobies who managed to fit through a 5x5mm mesh exactly ‍

 

[Sigmund]

He's currently circling 2 locations in a 2 day rhythm. In both he is continuing to build and dig. One is in a corner under a stone with lots of gravel. The other one is a central 360 plane with lot's of gravel under a stone.
I have a net on top so let's hope he does not find out he can get through the netting like one of my gobies who managed to fit through a 5x5mm mesh exactly ‍

Put different size rock rubble, extra empty shells by each location. The weirder the shape the better. They need that rubble to properly create their burrows. If dont have any, take a hammer to a piece of rock and make some.