finally.

ron popeil · 06-18-2005, 11:39 PM

after months of waiting, if not almost a year, i finally was able to catch a glimpse of some blue spot jawfish today at upscales. id seen a few of these pop up in pictures in tanks from RC, and then one showed up in the upscales show tank. back when they were $120 each. as far as i know, theyre a seasonal fish, collected only a few times a year, if even that. but since i last saw them, the price has come down a wee bit.

so i bought one.

if you dont know what they look like, they are a pretty spectacular fish. typical jawfish shape only larger and bulkier with large observant eyes. bright yellow body with irridescent neon blue spots that get more and more denser towards the tail. they like to dig burrows, but poke their head and eyes out and watch everything that goes on inside and outside the tank. once they get comfortable theyre definetely an eye catching fish.

ill get some pictures up soon as my camera charges up its batteries!

Illusion · 06-19-2005, 12:10 AM

Sweet.... I knew that you wouldnt be able to Resist... Nice score... Definetly awaiting pics..

James

jennmac415 · 06-19-2005, 12:46 AM

pics pics pics!!!!

Krux · 06-19-2005, 01:57 AM

i had one a couple years back when i had sand that i bought at soutas, beautiful fish they are indeed, can't wait to see yours!

Loverotties · 06-19-2005, 06:53 AM

Yes were all waiting!

Coralbeauty · 06-19-2005, 10:04 AM

I purchased one from upscales a couple of years ago and I lost it in about two weeks. I remember at the time people were posting about a specific disease that the spotted blue jawfish were getting. It was very strange. I have not seem anyting about it recently and then again I have not seen any spotted blue jawfish in the stores either. I sincerely hope that yours does well.

I was going to go to Upscales today but now I better no, because if I do I imagaine that I will try one again! They are wonderful beautiful fish.....

Good luck!
Connie

drock59 · 06-19-2005, 10:45 AM

ive seen it! Or at least its head. Great looking fish. Jordan, Ill help you take some photos when he starts coming out a little more.

ron popeil · 06-19-2005, 11:03 AM

thanks dan. as he said, its settled down in a little tricky spot, in addition to him being extra shy right now and easily spooked. so pictures may just have to wait just a tad longer than expected.

connie, i think i remember hearing about this as well, way back when. but my first concern was losing the fish to the carpet. apparently they do like to jump, as with all jawfish. but thanks for the heads up, ill go back over some of those threads.

krux, any little tidbits of advice you have or interesting observations you have from owning one of these fish?

Krux · 06-19-2005, 01:52 PM

yeah, i burried 5 or 6 pieces of 3/4" pvc in the sand in locations where i could see the opening having read that some times the jawfish will take up residence in one. i was using crushed coral, so burrow making was a little more difficult, and it worked for me, he chose one of the pre-fab residences. my concern was that he would dig a burrow, but that it would face the back glass and that i would never see him.

not sure if that helps now that he has been introduced, but you may want to give it a try if you see that he has not settled in yet.

oh, i also had a powerhead that i poistioned to gently flow past his burrow, and i was able to use a baster to introducfe food into the flow upstream of him, which would in turn flow firht past his opening... made it easy for him to get food. might try that if he seems too shy to come out to eat.

liquidfunk · 06-19-2005, 03:05 PM

are they blue spot any more bold than the yellow head? All the yellow heads (about 3) I have tried have been bullied by even the mildest of fish. I dont think I can come up with a more meak fish than the yellow head. Are blue spots any different?

ron popeil · 06-20-2005, 12:32 AM

so just as the left halide turned off for the night, the jawfish popped up into view. normally he resides underneath a coral closer to the center of the tank, but ive been able to find two other entrances to his burrow, one of which is upfront and much more clearly visible. this is where he showed up right as the light over him turned off.

here are two pictures i was able to get, one with flash and sharp but with...not so good color. and one with good color but out of focus due to the slow shutter speed of the crappy digital camera.

enjoy!

Illusion · 06-20-2005, 12:37 AM

see now thats a sweet fish... I dont think my Yellow watchman and him would get along to great though lol...

James

sMEGhEAD · 06-20-2005, 01:14 AM

i would be really tempted to get one, but i think my tang would beat on him with his tail.
he's really teritorial and is only in the 46 for the time being.
maybe travis will save one for me for a couple months.
Travis? what do ya think?

ron popeil · 06-20-2005, 01:44 AM

unless you have a tang that is determined to get a fish out of his burrow, i doubt youll have a problem. i dont know any tang that actively hunts other fish, especially those that reside underground. youll be fine.