I have 2 problems with my new Jawfish. He has burrowed underneath my rock and i can't seem to even see him. I put a PVC pipe in the tank for him to go into but i can't seem to get him to even go near the front of the tank! How can i get him to move w/o tearing my tank apart to catch him? The other problem is I can't get him to eat! I've tried rods food, mysis, artic pods, and pellets. I even tried giving it to him on a feeding stick but he thinks everything is an intruder in his little burrow and spits it all out so it is nice and clean. How can I get him to eat? I'm in desperate need for advice! Does anyone have any ideas?

does anyone have any idea?

I may be guessing, but it sounds like this a newer fish. Did you just get him?

BSJ's can take a while to get adjusted to new tanks, and burrows.

Entice him?

ya i just got him a couple days ago. its a pearly jawfish..it buried the night i got him do i guess he is happy. i'm just concerned about him not eating.
Bonsai: I saw this thread after i put him in lol. so i would have to catch him again to do this. but it might be my only choice now lol

In regards to him not eating - have you tried soaking his food in garlic? Garlic Xtreme works well ... what was the fish eating at the LFS?

Give him a couple of days. Keep in mind they sit and grab small stuff that floats by - they don't hunt. They also won't eat stuff right next to them that isn't moving. Mine always love live mysis and brine shrimp. Most fish have the instinct to eat when live brine goes by. Give that a shot.

Jawfish can be tricky, especially when they are new. I wouldnt try to force him to eat with "feeding sticks". That will def freak him out more. Just let him get adjusted. Rod's Food is soaked in garlic. Mine loves mysis as well...

alright good 2 know..thanks i'll try those out, how long can they go w/o eating?

I dont mean to hijack this thread but, how many inches of substrate is ideal for jawfish and what type is right.
Can you use 2-3 inches of fine aragonite or should it be more of a mixed substrate?

He is most likely eating something... How old is your tank? Is there an established population of pods? Mine has gone for about 4 days with no feeding while on vacation but my tank at the time was mature and had plenty of pods..





2-3 inches is pushing it. My tank has about 4 inches on the edges but the middle where the jawfish lives is more like 6-7. They will prefer more of a mixed substrate but if you give him lots of rubble he should be fine.