Keeping a yellow head Jawfish

Sirsmiley9 · Jul 11, 2017

I am planning on a innovative marine mini 40 gallon tank and would like to keep a yellow head Jawfish is there any way i could keep a yellow head Jawfish without keeping a deep sand bed. Is there any way to build a mound of sand for it to burrow. Also is it possible to keep a yasha goby and candy cane pistol in the same tank.

leahfiish · Jul 12, 2017

You don't necessarily need your whole sand area to be a dsb, just a section. My sand is very shallow except one part that I built up to about 3" and I put small rocks and shells in that area too so they can fortify their burrow. When putting them in the display, a made a small indent where they could start making their burrow and then put them right on top of it when I introduced them. They stayed there for the first week or two and then one of them moved out and made his own burrow in a shallow area. He doesn't seem to mind the lack of sand at all, and they both seem very comfortable in my tank.

eatbreakfast · Jul 12, 2017

Agreed. 2-3" is all that's necessary. Small rubble is more important for jawfish.

alton · Jul 12, 2017

Both post are spot on, a pair would be great in a 40g. KP Aquatics has them

Sirsmiley9 · Jul 12, 2017

ok so keeping a mound of a dsp and the rest of the tank shallow is ok, and if they dont keep their burrow in the dsp they wont mind much. Also what did you mean by a pair

leahfiish · Jul 12, 2017

You could do a mated pair if you want instead of just one. I have a mated pair from kp aquatics and they are great.

Sirsmiley9 · Jul 12, 2017

Also would it be ok to also have a goby and pistol shrimp pair or would they fight for territory

eatbreakfast · Jul 12, 2017

Sirsmiley9 said:
Also would it be ok to also have a goby and pistol shrimp pair or would they fight for territory

They should be able to coexist in that size tank.

Sirsmiley9 · Jul 12, 2017

I just want to put it out there that the tank is a 24 inch by 20 inch footprint and I know that is a smaller footprint than most 40 gallons

eatbreakfast · Jul 12, 2017

If you have 1 jawfish, the watchman/pistol pr should work. If 2 jaws, maybe/maybe not.

Sirsmiley9 · Jul 12, 2017

ok cause i like the both of them and it that souns really good

Biokabe · Jul 12, 2017

Another thing you can do for jawfish is build them a burrow out of PVC, and decorate it with shells and sand and such. When you add the fish to the aquarium, dump him directly into the burrow. More than likely, they'll appreciate the fine home you've given them, and you won't have to worry about the jawfish deciding to take up residence where you can't see them.

Also, you probably already know this, but make sure your tank is completely covered. Jawfish are very nervous fish, and their natural instinct when startled is to swim up at rapid speed. In most tanks, that will send them carpet surfing very quickly. Even a small gap is enough for them to escape from. I speak from personal experience, sadly.

Sirsmiley9 · Jul 12, 2017

I would prefer for it to build a burrrow simply cause it is an interesting thing to watch and I plan on having covers because i am also getting a firefish

Vincent cimmino · Jul 12, 2017

I have about 1" of sand and he has been happy in 2 spots and I also have a goby pistol pair that have a home on the other side of a 30L which they have moved homes several times.I've never had any issues. I have many caves and spots they could live so I don't think there ever have issues

alton · Jul 13, 2017

Vincent give your little guy two cups of rubble and watch him build a home. Its very interesting watching them build up and update there home everyday. Jawfish are most happy being vertical inlife

Vincent cimmino · Jul 13, 2017

Yea he used to use these 2 stones to block his door at night.Idk where they went.I'll put some more near him , thanks for the advise

VR28man · Jul 13, 2017

Thanks all, for (respectively) starting or answering this thread. I'm also thinking of this kind of jawfish (from KP aquatics no less).

I've heard 3" inches is all that's necessary before (in contexts where other people say 4-6"), since the fish will arrange the sandbed as needed for their dens. But this is the most interesting:

eatbreakfast said:
Agreed. 2-3" is all that's necessary. Small rubble is more important for jawfish.

Are you saying that, basically, I could even have 1" or so sand, and if I provided enough rock rubble in a pile somewhere that would be good enough for it?

If so, I assume it's pretty small rubble. Is such rubble commercially available? I presume, say, that Marco Rock's dry rock rubble is too big (at least as shipped, I could always break it down even further........):
http://www.marcorocks.com/dry-rock/rubble-rock-any-amount-order-by-the-pound/

leahfiish · Jul 13, 2017

I used a mix of Seachem matrix and crushed coral and I keep adding more near their burrows since it keeps disappearing.

OPhelanK · Jul 13, 2017

I had a blue spotted jawfish. Before we made him a little burrow he was making holes all over the tank and doing quite a bit of "redecorating". Here's a pic of Hank hanging out in his pvc burrow.

leahfiish · Jul 13, 2017

Here are some videos of my jawfish. They only really work on their burrows at night, it seems.

Also, sorry I always forget to turn my phone to the side when I'm taking videos.