jawfish burrows

[idgy]

Passage from Let's Jaw About Jawfish article

"The other type of den, what I like to call a "security den," occurs when the jawfish digs under some rocks and usually remains tucked into his hole with only his head or half of its body showing. This results from any number of factors ranging from: inadequate sand and rubble composition, not enough open sandbed, or even inappropriate tank mates. When this type of den occurs it is best to re-evaluate the habitat you're supplying and make sure you are not overlooking something".

The only one I do not have from above is not enough open sandbed. But he/she seems very happy and is eating like crazy. At first he/she did not come out much, just have his or her head sticking out. Seems like he/she has two different burrows. One for the day and at night goes back to the orginal one he/she made. The day burrow he/she seems to be displaying the kind of behavior I have read about that is natural to the jawfish. But at night he retreats to the old burrow.

I just want to make sure he is happy and will be fine with this. Can anyone share their experience with jawfish?

Thanks.

 

[NaH2O]

Tagging along...

Sounds like the fish is comfortable if its out during the day. Is it eating alright? It wouldn't surprise me if the fish goes to a more secure spot for bedtime.

Hopefully those with jawfish experience will post.

 

[idgy]

yeah, he/she eats whenever I put food into the tank.

Thanks for the response.

 

[joker577]

What do they eat? I just picked up alot of frozen mysis today and a new pearly jawfish, he made the coolest burrow and is still making it now...I turned around and my tank was cloudy and I saw a tiny head spitting out sand...the coolest thing!

 

[idgy]

I feed mine frozen mysis, blood worms (he loves), brine shrimp (he loves) and zooplankton (sweetwater brand, he loves also).

Very, very cool fish! yes, a lot of the times I will look over at the tank and it looks like a cloud of sand.

How deep is your sandbed Joker577?

 

[joker577]

It's like 3-4 inches in most areas, luckily he burrowed under the largest rock so it won't be going anywhere. I broke off a few pieces of rock and dropped them down in the burrow so now he's building up the wall in the front lol...I picked up some frozen mysis today for only 4.50$ and it has like 30 cubes or so on it and 1/8 of the cube feeds my tank so it's very efficient and cheap lol

 

[idgy]

Cool! They are really a lot of fun to watch.

 

[NaH2O]

joker - make sure you secure the top of the tank. The article on jawfish idgy mentioned is a good one.

 

[joker577]

I'm still trying to find out a plan on how to close the back of the biocube...but so far he's been a big sissy and stays in his burrow lol

 

[idgy]

I just used screen. Like a screen door. Works great.

 

[joker577]

Well I had this plastic stuff on the bottom of the crates that hold flowers that's in an X pattern and wouldn't let anything through so i'm trying to fit that on

 

[idgy]

The lights on my tank have been off for over an hour and the room was dark, except for the TV. I turned the room lights on to look into the tank and my jawfish darting around the tank like lightning. He must come out at night and check the surroundings out. Scared the hell out of me!

 

[joker577]

Mine is a big girly man...he bobs his head out looking around and sees my clowns (oooh man what a scare!!...NOT!) then goes back inside his cave...I've been giving him "building materials" hoping once he's done with his burrow he'll come out...he's only come out a little bit to nab some flake food

 

[spectra]

So not knowing a whole lot about these what other fish are they not able to be with? I like these little guys but do not want to get one in my 92 and have him be bullied by someone else. So far only fish in it is a Lawnmower blenny and a CUC.

Thanks!

 

[joker577]

I mean they'll have a burrow but they like peaceful tanks mostly.

 

[NaH2O]

Spectra - check out this article. It will help you learn more about these interesting fish: Let's Jaw about Jawfish

 

[spectra]

Thanks for the link it was interseting. So far am ok with the blenny but was going to pick up a Yasha Hasa Goby from a friend who does not want him anymore. Might have to put him in my sons tank now.

 

[idgy]

All I can say about this jawfish is... I feel like a mother hen watching over her chicks. Every time he/she does something I wonder he/she is ok. Be it moving to a new burrow etc.

 

[joker577]

Mine has a beastly den now that I got it some rock frags and about 5 more hermit crab shells