[topher_t02]

I am thinking about getting a jawfish for my new tank. I have about 2'' of sand, and several LR edges that are possible cavernous dwellings. I could also put in a ruble pile. Do you think that would work?
What would be good to use for he ruble pile ?
Also, I have a yellow watchman goby, do you think that they would get along okay?

[pistol37]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that gobies and jawfish are actually related and my jawfish gets along nicely with my firefish gobies. Although I did have a longnosed hawkfish which is normally docile attack my jawfish.

[jbtexas]

shouldn't have to make anything special for your jawfish if you have plenty of holes in your live rock he'll pick one he likes. mine did and he seems pretty happy with it

[e_baer]

Which jawfish exactly are you looking to get? Depending on which one you get, what you have now will be fine. However, if you decide to get a sand dwelling jaw, for the jawfish to be completely happy, you will have to either contruct a hole made form pvc pipe and hope the jaw will go in there, or get a deeper sand bed of at least 4".

[furyous67]

We added a blue-spotted jawfish to our family exactly one month ago (my only experience with jawfish. He's about 4 inches long and simply amazing. I have a 4" sandbed of aragonite sand with lots of live rock. He went right for the sand in front of a rock and started digging. He dug, and dug, and spit dirt, and spit even more dirt. My wife and I watched in amazement as his tunnels and den progressed. I kept a little rublble pile for him all the time (6 - 8 pieces, pebble size) about a ft. away from his main hole so he could see them. He immediately went to town stacking rock and then spitting sand onto the rock armature. Then when his tunnels started to cave in, he brought rock into his den to support them from the inside- simply fascinating, like a mason. I add to his pile every now and then.
I don't believe he will ever stop as he seems to really enjoy his building. I started to worry a little with the tunneling but, nature keeps that in check as they do cave in. He seems to really like being vertical all the time so he can peer around. So, a 4" sandbed would be bare minimum and I definitely do not see the need for a more "rubbly" substrate with this fish. In fact, I think he would tear the flesh off his jaw digging a coarser/sharper material.
He will build up from there with the rubble pile.

So far, mine has used up about 40 small pieces. I started breaking up live rock for him but saw that was gonna' get ridiculous fast! Any broken rock will do. He is strong too. Amazed at the size pieces he can carry back to his den.

If you can see under your tanks bottom, you can see him tunneling at night with a red flashlight.

He is also a fearless eater and comes right out to hang with the longtime pack. Loves Mysis, Squid, and get this- Formula 2 frozen (mushed up with a fork well.)

I love him. My wife named him Dig-Dug from the video game when we were teens.


Oh yeah, if you can believe this...
he actually pulls a rock or shell over the top hole of his den when he goes under at night. Sealing himself off from predators.

I heard they jump also but, mine doesn't seem to. **Please, however, have a safe way to keep him in in the evnet that he does decide to fly- i do.

And, make sure he ends up in between some good solid base rock that is sitting on the absolute bottom glass of your tank. This guy could cause a huge crash if not.

He is also very clean. Pees outside his den and scoops / spits his poo out. Actually watched him spat it at the clownfish who had gotten too close. Again.... for real!

Good luck!

[lynnvangsnes]

Get two, if you have the room. Jawfish are some of the most peaceful entertaining fish one can get. Yes, at least 4" sand bed and some crushed/broken shells will add to the show.