Pearl Jawfish
- Thread starter Arawk408
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Wick3d_1
Active Member
Have you checked around the tank? They are notorious jumpers.
Frostblitz20
Well-Known Member
they love to dig, if you have alot of corals/zoa's check around their sometimes the entrance to the home is in their.
Also did you place your rock down before your sand? if not then chance he dug his way so much to the point the rock shifted down ontop of him.
Also did you place your rock down before your sand? if not then chance he dug his way so much to the point the rock shifted down ontop of him.
JReef3
Active Member
I'd just give him some time to get comfortable. As long as he hasn't jumped out of the tank or into an overflow, he's likely just hiding at the back of the tank between the sand and rocks for now. I've had a BSJF in the past and he was quite shy. I had fairly fine sand but picked an ideal (for me) place in the front/center of the thank where I provided some larger pieces of crushed coral, LR rubble, and shells and he eventually took advantage of the stash I left him and created a burrow right where I wanted him. Have patience. 
If you haven't already, definitely consider putting gutter guard around any openings in the tank to keep him where he belongs.
If you haven't already, definitely consider putting gutter guard around any openings in the tank to keep him where he belongs.
Arawk408
Community Member
man i've moved rocks around and didnt see him now i'm worried if he was under the sand bed hiding i've put a rock over him and it might be stuck somewhere? the sand bed wasn't to thick towards the back also... If he was in the sand hiding i know hes not squished b/c I placed all the rocks softly... what should I do? Should I remove my rocks from the backwall and bring them towards the front and see if he comes out?I'd just give him some time to get comfortable. As long as he hasn't jumped out of the tank or into an overflow, he's likely just hiding at the back of the tank between the sand and rocks for now. I've had a BSJF in the past and he was quite shy. I had fairly fine sand but picked an ideal (for me) place in the front/center of the thank where I provided some larger pieces of crushed coral, LR rubble, and shells and he eventually took advantage of the stash I left him and created a burrow right where I wanted him. Have patience.
If you haven't already, definitely consider putting gutter guard around any openings in the tank to keep him where he belongs.
He was not out the tank.. looked around the back of my stand as good as I can and did not see it.
JReef3
Active Member
Really glad you found him, that's great news!
You mentioned that you placed the rocks softly so you know you didn't squish him. Are the rocks sitting on top of the sand? With a jawfish, you definitely want your rocks to be firmly set on the bottom of the tank/glass rather than sitting on top of the sand. If you have any aquascape with rocks stacked on top of each other, the jawfish will likely dig burrows under the rocks at some point and when he does, the rocks will shift and fall over possibly squashing fish/corals/inverts or scratching your glass. I don't know what your tank looks like, how deep the sand is, how high the scape is, etc... but this is something, if possible to do, that you may really want to consider. Search around if you like; things like jawfish, sand sifting gobies, and others will require that the rockwork has a very stable base. I put eggcrate under the sand on my tanks to protect the bottom glass and to give the rocks something to bite into for a firm base. Good luck!
Lsuhunter
Active Member
Just leave it alone and let it do his thing. Mine just made a quick burrow to hide at first. As they get more comfortable, mine would make new burrows closer to the front so he can see everything, then he picked a spot where he could see when I was feeding the tank still close to front. Once they are ready to make something more permanent, they will collect rocks to build the structure around the opening then cover with sand. You should put some small rock rubble in there for it. Just bust up a piece of rock with a hammer and drop it in the tank, he will go grab it to build.
Arawk408
Community Member
Well when re-arranging I made sure they were secure, the back end is more shallow then the front end of my tank. I'm going to pick up another bag and make sure they're more secure. I also did the push test when placing the rocks.
Never go looking for fish. This is something you want to do because it makes you feel better when you find them but it causes unneeded stress to the fish. They want to be left alone to settle. That’s why they are hiding.
Some fish will hide for weeks.
Some fish will hide for weeks.
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Without any stressors. . . . .
They typically hide and hide well until theyre comfortable enough to peek out. Additionally they are notorious for getting through openings of an overflow as well as known Jumpers.
They typically hide and hide well until theyre comfortable enough to peek out. Additionally they are notorious for getting through openings of an overflow as well as known Jumpers.
