Blue spotted jaw fish care

[geddavis]

Hi everyone.
I was planning on getting a BSJF and was wondering what you thought. I know they are jumpers and I have a tight fitting acrylic lid and I know they need at least 3” of sand but I have 4”. Others have reported problems with temp so I looked up their habitats average tempeture (the gulf of California) and set my tank to it 73f. It is a established 10g stander with no other tank mates but coral and some inverts. I know 10g is small however I plan ongetting a juvenile and I am switching to a 20 high this summer. I plan on feeding mysis once a day. I am an experienced reef keeper however I know this fish is hard to keep and so wanted to show my plan and see if anyone had some feedback.
Thank you
-Ged D

here is the tank (I recently added more sand)

 

[lolmatt]

Hi everyone.
I was planning on getting a BSJF and was wondering what you thought. I know they are jumpers and I have a tight fitting acrylic lid and I know they need at least 3” of sand but I have 4”. Others have reported problems with temp so I looked up their habitats average tempeture (the gulf of California) and set my tank to it 73f. It is a established 10g stander with no other tank mates but coral and some inverts. I know 10g is small however I plan ongetting a juvenile and I am switching to a 20 high this summer. I plan on feeding mysis once a day. I am an experienced reef keeper however I know this fish is hard to keep and so wanted to show my plan and see if anyone had some feedback.
Thank you
-Ged D

here is the tank (I recently added more sand)

Make sure you treat it prophylacticly for blue spot jawfish disease. I had one go into my display tank a few weeks ago after a 6 week qt consisting of 2 weeks each of metronidazole + kanamycin (dosed every other day), prazipro (dosed twice a week apart), and chloroquine (dosed once). The qt had some marinepure balls in it that he actually moved around. He jumped violently if I ever went into the room before lights came on, and jumps in the morning now occasionally again before lights on.

Juvenile specimens are hard to find. Mine takes mysis and prepared dry foods readily, anything I've given it. I have read that the temperature thing may be more of a myth, I keep my tank rather warm (gets up to 80 in the summer) so we'll see if I have long term success. I don't see anything right now that would indicate otherwise. Really cool fish with an awesome personality.

 

[Thomashtom]

76 degrees or less for long term success!!!

 

[geddavis]

thank you for the information
I will make Sure to proactively treat for BSJFD.

 

[Florida Sunshine]

One of my very favorite fish that I will no longer attempt to keep.
They have great personality and I even had a pair for a couple of years which was really fun. The male's mating colors are awesome.
The only problem I ever had with them was the jumping. Even with a mesh lid on the tank they can and do still jump out. They can get through the tiniest hole. I honestly don't know how but I have lost at least 10 over the years and all to the same thing. If you think you have a cover, then add another and maybe even a third.
If you do get one, please post pictures. I just love these little guys and miss them greatly.

 

[lolmatt]

One of my very favorite fish that I will no longer attempt to keep.
They have great personality and I even had a pair for a couple of years which was really fun. The male's mating colors are awesome.
The only problem I ever had with them was the jumping. Even with a mesh lid on the tank they can and do still jump out. They can get through the tiniest hole. I honestly don't know how but I have lost at least 10 over the years and all to the same thing. If you think you have a cover, then add another and maybe even a third.
If you do get one, please post pictures. I just love these little guys and miss them greatly.

Here's mine, as of last week.

 

[geddavis]

yes, I have heard this is a big problem, luckily I do a lot of acrylic work and have a workshop. I am currently working on a top that is perfectly flush with the edges of the HOB fillter and skimmer and has what is essentially clamps on the sides. I will make sure to post a photo when I finish.

 

[geddavis]

I’ve done some research on BSJ disease and a lot of sources say it is eaither the result of a negative environment (to hot, abrasive substrate) or Brooklynella disease. So I will make sure the environment is right and proactively treat for Brooklynella.