ironmics Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 I've been thinking long and hard about what to do for my next tank. I want some sort of themed biotope and I'm thinking a jawfish biotope could be really neat. I was thinking about going with multiple pearly jawfish, but have plenty of questions. First, how large of a tank would I need for multiple jawfish. Would like to go with a 30, but I don't know if this would be large enough. I was thinking I would go with a pretty deep sandbed, around 5 inches and a tall live rock formation to maximize sandbed area. Next question would be what other livestock would be cool? It would be Caribbean themed, so I was thinking flower nems, gorgonia, and ricordea, but don't know about other inverts other than anemone shrimp. Final question, how would one go about introducing the fish to avoid aggression? Add all at once or does it matter? Link to comment
SbCaes Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 all at once=) and depending on your actual tank footprint it sounds like 2-3 pairs would be your limit. maybe even less. Link to comment
ironmics Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share Posted April 4, 2009 all at once=) and depending on your actual tank footprint it sounds like 2-3 pairs would be your limit. maybe even less. Ok, so I've been reading WWM and one pretty in depth response indicates about 1 per square foot or every 10 gallons. A 30 breeder looks like it would be too short, so a 29 would probably be the best bet. If added all at once it was suggested 5 may work out in 4 sq feet, so 3 might be ok in 2.5 sq foot tank. I was also thinking that with such a big sandbed and probably a pretty small bioload, I wouldn't need very much rock, and the jawfish wouldn't need it to hide or graze in anyway right? So maybe just 15 lb or so of rubble and shells? This should be cheaper, safer for the jawfish, and give them plenty of building materials. Link to comment
dshnarw Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 have you considered the 40 breeder? its the same footprint as a 30 breeder, 4 inches taller. Link to comment
seahorsejl Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 You could also set up some pre-arranged holes for the jawfish made out of PVC pipe. There are a few threads on this board where some people have glued shells to the entrances. I would think this would help cut down on territory disputes. For my current jawfish, I just sunk a 4 inch pvc tub in the sand near some rockwork, and the jawfish added rubble to his liking. You can only see a little bit of the top at the moment: Link to comment
Amerijuanican Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 any more pics... this is an interesting tank... I've thought about doing something along these lines before Link to comment
seahorsejl Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 any more pics... this is an interesting tank... I've thought about doing something along these lines before Me? Not at the moment ... will have to get some new ones. The jawfish has been digging out more sand lately, so I think he is tunneling under the live rock behind his PVC tube (which is ok, as the live rock sits on the bottom of the tank ... planned for a jawfish). Link to comment
cody6766 Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 There's an aquarium in Oklahoma that has a jawfish species tank. They had quite a few in what had to be a 55g tank (or similar footprint). The jawfish burrowed pretty close to one another but were constantly popping out and threatening their neighbor (open mouth). It was pretty humorous actually! I'd say 4-5 in a 55g tank with a 'patch reef' set-up would be a very cool tank. A 65g or 40breeder would look cooler since they don't look so tall and long. Link to comment
seahorsejl Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Here are a few new pictures... I don't want to hi-jack this thread... I really want to see the original posters biotope (Click for larger pics). Link to comment
got2envy Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 OMG they are so cute! I want another jawfish...the last one I had tried to jump hit my glass top and knocked himself out and died I would love to see this biotope as well make it look like Florida reefs Link to comment
seahorsejl Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 Bumping to see if the original poster is still considering this biotope .... it sounded so neat. Link to comment
happyclam Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 For anyone interested in biotopes check out a book by John H. Tullock, Natural Reef Aquariums (shaky on title, look it up on amazon... it has an anthia & clam on cover). It is a great book that covers Floridian tidepool, "flower garden", sea grass bed, lagoon (includes Jawfish), grogonian forest, fore reef, and deep fore reef. Also goes over Pacific couterparts. Equipment section kinda out dated, but biotope section A+++, I've read it many times. Good luck Link to comment
Ranana_Plesia Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 So cute They have so much personality. Once he gets used to you the fun begins. My jawfish is fun, but my anchor coral is on the floor of the sandbed, and it is stuck on to a rock by putty, right near his dens yup, he has 2 dens, so he buries them when he digs sand up Lol. Link to comment
Paleoreef103 Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 I miss my Jawfish.... I think a 65 would be incredibly awesome. 5 inch sand bed, 5-6 Jawfish, a couple of cardinal fishes, maybe a chalk bass, gorgonians, zoas, flower anemone, and some neat macro algae. It would be a really sweet tank. Link to comment
pmoradi2002 Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 OMG they are so cute! I want another jawfish...the last one I had tried to jump hit my glass top and knocked himself out and died I would love to see this biotope as well make it look like Florida reefs LOL Link to comment
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