Yellowhead Jawfish
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
A luminously beautiful Caribbean fish with a full repertoire of social displays. Scott W. Michael
Overview
These comical fish are luminously beautiful and put on a constant show of interesting behaviors, especially if kept in colonies.
Family: Opistognathidae
Other common name(s):
- Pearly Jawfish
Native range:
- Florida
- West-Atlantic
- Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- South America
Habitat: Sand and rubble. Provide a 4-inch (10 cm) deep bed of mixed substrate consisting of sand, coral or rocky rubble, and bits of shell to facilitate burrow construction. Jawfishes will often dig under a flat rock placed on the sand, using it as a roof for their burrow chamber. Provide plenty of open sand bottom.
Maximum length: 10 cm (4 in)
Minimum aquarium size: 76 L (20 gal)
Water: Marine 24 °C (75 °F) - 28 °C (82 °F)
General swimming level: Near substrate.
Feeding
Carnivore. Feed meaty foods at least twice daily.
Aquarium Compatibility
Jawfishes are best housed with more passive fish species, especially in a smaller tank. They perform best in groups, and it is advisable to add all the individuals at once. A good rule of thumb is approximately 2 to 2.5 square feet per individual. This species will chase smaller fishes away from its burrow, but rarely harms tankmates. Aggressive fishes (dottybacks, some of the pygmy angelfishes, triggerfishes) may pester jawfishes. Many predatory fishes (eels, frogfishes, groupers) will eat these fish.
Breeding/Propagation
Mouthbrooders - demersal (on or near the bottom) spawners that protect their eggs and, in some cases, their fry, in the buccal cavity of one parent, often the male.
Notes
This species is a burrow builder, digging by taking mouthfuls of substrate and spitting the debris at the burrow entrance. The jawfish will hover near its lair or rest in its entrance waiting for food items to pass. It is also a jumper and an expert at finding small holes in the aquarium cover from which to leap.