the yellowhead jawfish ( opistognathus aurifrons ) is a species of jawfish native to coral reefs in the caribbean sea .

it is found at depths of from 3 to 40 metres ( 9.8 to 131.2 ft ) .

the head and upper body are a light , but brilliant , yellow color slowly fading to a pearlescent blue hue .

it can reach a length of 10 centimetres ( 3.9 in ) tl .

it remains near its relatively small territory , and is typically seen with only the head and upper section of its body protruding from its burrow , although it sometimes can be found hovering nearby .

it is able to arrange material using its mouth , carrying sand , shells , or small rocks from one location to another .

it is a mouthbrooder , with the male carrying the eggs in its mouth until they hatch .

yellowhead jawfish

stratton , richard f . 1993 . the yellowhead jawfish . tfh 3 / 93 .
the species opistognathus aurifrons is known under several different names in english , including yellowhead jawfish , yellow - head jawfish , yellow - headed jawfish , pearly jawfish , and yellow headed pearly jawfish .
the largest scientifically measured yellowhead jawfish was 10 . 0 cm / 3 . 9 in .
several other species of jawfish changes colour during the period period , but this is not the case for the yellowhead jawfish .
the depth range for the yellowhead jawfish is 3 - 40 meters / 10 - 131 feet .
lobel , phil s . 1982 . the yellowhead jawfish ; opistognathus aurifrons . fama 4 / 82 .
noyes , john c . 1974 . yellowhead jawfish . marine aquarist 5 ( 2 ) : 74 .
the yellowhead jawfish can be bred in captivity , with the yellowhead jawfish being the easiest jawfish to breed . however the survival rate of their fry in the home aquarium is fairly low . first off you will need to get a pair .
a yellowhead jawfish peeks out of its burrow in a home aquarium . ( image credit : robert harman )
young , forrest a . 1982 . the yellowhead jawfish ; breeding the marine mouthbrooder in captivity . fama 4 / 82 .
the yellowhead jawfish is easy to feed , as they will accept prepared foods without hesitation . there is however a different issue to face when feeding
young , forrest a . 1982 . the yellowhead jawfish : breeding in captivity . freshwater and marine aquarium magazine , 5 : 4 , april 1982 .
the yellowhead jawfish is generally a peaceful species that can be kept with other peaceful species of similar size in the community aquarium . aggressive species should be avoided and it is also safest to avoid other burrowing fishes that may bully the docile jawfish . as mentioned above , you can find large colonies of yellowhead jawfish in the wild and you can keep a colony if your aquarium is big enough . an entire colony of yellowhead jawfish hovering above their burrows is a fascinating sight . sticking to one species of jawfish is safer than trying to combine several species .
yellowhead jawfish are found in the shallow seas of florida , the caribbean and elsewhere in the western central atlantic ocean , and are often seen in the aquarium trade .
since i first set eyes on a wild specimen while scuba diving in the florida keys , i’ve been enamored with the yellowhead , a . k . a . pearly , jawfish (
if you’re going to maintain large saltwater aquarium tank then yellowhead jawfish is one good choice . it is one beautiful fish that burrows in the aquarium sand . you’ll find this fish a good tank - mate with other non - aggressive saltwater fishes . yellowhead jawfish is usually found in sandy and rubble - strewn reef environments . they make a perfect pet for saltwater aquarium .
the yellowhead jawfish may nip at and even eat small crustaceans in the aquarium . the recommended water temperature when keeping yellowhead jawfish is 75 - 82° f / 25 - 28° c . the ph - value should be in the 8 . 1 - 8 . 4 range , the carbonate hardness at 8 - 12° dkh , and the specific gravity at 1 . 020 - 1 . 023 .
being a relatively small , burrowing species , the yellowhead jawfish does not require an especially large aquarium . a 30 - gallon tank will more than suffice provided enough open bottom real estate is available .
the yellowhead jawfish is not typically aggressive towards its own species , however territorial disputes can occur if the tank is too small . i would recommend at least 30 gallons per jawfish , with 3 - 4 jawfish being the limit on how many you should have . keeping additional jawfish is typically an attempt to form a mated pair , so more than a few should not be necessary .
colin , pl . 1971 . interspecific relationships of the yellowhead jawfish , opistognathus aurifrons ( pisces , opistognathidae ) . copeia 1971 ( 3 ) : 469 - 473 . doi : 10 . 2307 / 1442443
any fishes that share your yellowhead jawfish’s tank must be relatively small , peaceful , and sedate . large or highly energetic species constantly swooping overhead will keep your jawfish perpetually concealed in its burrow , so all you’ll ever see is a pair of bulging eyes glancing nervously about .
the yellowhead jawfish is a small carnivore who creates a small cavern underneath the sand bed . they fortify their new burrow with larger pieces of rock , sand and miscellaneous debris , creating a solid tunnel for their home .
colin , patrick l . 1972 . daily activity patterns and effects of environmental conditions on the behavior of the yellowhead jawfish opistognathus aurifrons , with notes on its ecology . zoologica 57 ( 4 ) : 37 - 169 .
the yellowhead jawfish is a pushover when it comes to other fish . they are not suited to tanks with any aggressive tank mates and are easy targets as they create a burrow from which they cannot escape . be wary of any opportunistic feeders , such as emerald crabs who can easily corner the jawfish .
being a bottom dweller and more of burrower and peaceful fish they’re preferred for non - aggressive saltwater tank . so if you’re keeping non - aggressive fishes in your saltwater tank consider getting atleast 2 - 3 yellowhead jawfish for your tank .
the deep sandbed required is the main topic here . the yellowhead jawfish requires no less than 5″ of sand . this can create plenty of toxic air traps , meaning your filtration , flow and sand sifting become twice as essential as the normal tank .
size & color : yellowhead jawfish can grow upto size of 10cm and has lifespan of about 5 years or more . yellowhead jawfish has bright yellow head and light blue or white body . on the chin you can see the pair of black dots . ph & temperature : you need to maintain ph range of about 8 . 1 – 8 . 4 . yellowheads jawfish requires temperature in the range 25°c – 28°c that means they require normal room temperature . hardness in the range of 8 – 12dkh should be maintained . you need atleast 30 gallons of tank and it should be at least 90cm in length .
food : yellowhead jawfish can accept itamin enriched flake foods , frozen and live foods . being a carnivore , it requires meaty food in the aquarium . you can occasionally give them brine shrimp , mysis shrimp , bloodworms and small pieces of clam flesh . food rich with vitamins is suggested for them so you can give them flake food or fresh food regularly other than live food . many times yellowhead jawfish don’t leave it’s home and that’s why it is necessary to drop food that can sink to the bottom and they can catch it .
jawfish are named for their humorously large mouths , which serve several important functions .
the yellowhead jawfish is an egg - laying species where the male fish broods the offspring inside his mouth . this is called paternal mouth - brooding . the eggs will hatch inside his mouth and the offspring will not be released until they are large enough to be free swimming .
the yellow - headed jaw is hard to distinguish as male / female , but other species ( blue - spotted , the atlantic yellowhead opistognathus gilberti ) males show marked color changes at breeding times .
the yellowhead jawfish is a carnivore that in the wild feeds on detrius and plankton . in the home aquarium , it feeds on meaty foods including brine shrimp , mysis , and even flake an pellet once it realizes that those are food items . if your jawfish refuses to come out to eat , food can be placed near it ' s burrow using a pipette .
if you wish to keep yellowhead jawfish , you need an aquarium of at least 30 gallons / 115 litres . the aquariums should ideally be at least 3 feet / 90 cm in length . a secure lid is strongly recommended since this fish is an agile jumper , especially if frightened .
the yellowhead jawfish is a wonderful looking fish with a bright yellow head and a white or light blue body . the yellowhead jawfish likes to burrow in the substrate and prefer a deeper sand bed with crushed coral and various grades of sand , at least 3 to 5 inches . they have the incredible ability to quickly dart back into their burrow tail first when spooked . you usually won ' t see them swimming around alot . they like to hang vertically above the burrow or in the burrow with only their yellow heads poking out . it ' s really neat to see a colony of them in a tank hanging vertically above their holes watching you .
the shy yellowhead jawfish doesn’t like to venture far from its burrow , especially not when newly introduced to a new aquarium , and it is therefore advisable to place the food near the opening of the burrow . when it feels safer in the aquarium it will dare to swim further and further away from its home to find food .
the yellowhead jawfish should do well with other peaceful marine fish and you should be able to keep multiple yellow jawheads in the same tank , provided that there is enough territory for each . however , the different jawfish species may not co - exist peacefully in the same tank . they have been known to jump out of tanks when first introduced , so you ' ll need a good tight fitting hood with no possible escape points .
opistognathus sp . u2 gold specs jawfish . mabul malaysia . a male with a mouthful of eggs .
noyes , john c . 1987 . the dusky jawfish , opistognathus whitehurstii . fama 4 / 87 .
the yellowhead jawfish’s natural diet consists primarily of zooplankton that drifts close to its burrow . in captivity , it will accept a wide range of fare . items such as mysis shrimp , plankton , chopped clams or shrimp , and other small , meaty foods will be accepted with gusto . your specimen may even learn to accept dry pellets and flakes .
the yellowhead jawfish is primarily a carnivore and need meaty foods in their diet . at first , you may need to deposit the food near the burrow opening to entice them to eat . after they become acclimated they may become less shy and may come out of the burrow to eat . be warned , they may nip at and eat small crustaceans .
but jawfish are also mouthbrooders , meaning a parent fish will use their mouth to hold eggs until they hatch . yellowhead jawfish are known to be monogamous , with pairs digging adjacent burrows and sometimes sharing or switching burrows ( hess 1993 ) . males are the responsible brooder , and will hold a clutch of eggs in their mouth for 5 to 7 days ( hess 1993 ) — all the while looking like a chump with a mouth full of sticky marbles .
with their bug - like eyes and bucket - like mouths , jawfish win their way into most hobbyists ' hearts . their personality and hardiness are commendable . all too often , however , jawfish take the rap for destructive tendencies . in most cases the destructive habits are the fault of the hobbyist ignoring the needs of the jawfish .
jawfish have slender bodies that let them slink in and out of their burrows . ( image credit : unknown )
there are other species collected for the hobby from the atlantic like the mottled jawfish ( opistognathus maxillosus ) that are generally offered as
miscellaneous
jawfish . i have yet to find any that did not do well in captivity .
the yellowhead jawfish will gladly accept frozen foods and can be trained to eat pellets with relative ease . simply introduce pellets along with the frozen foods . they will pick on the food , as they understand you are feeding them . after this they will either ignore the food for now or eat it . continue doing this , scooping out any excess food to prevent an algae bloom .
straughan , robert p . l . 1965 . the pearly jawfish , a sea nymph . tfh 1 / 65 .
published on aug 27 , 2012 a most cooperative , friendly , entertaining and beautiful yellowhead jawfish at the blue heron bridge on august 25 , 2012 . the
autofocus
on a digital rebel isn ' t yet ready for prime time , so using a macro lens for something like this leaves a bit to be desired . sorry about that . : - ) a new one from jan 2013 : urltoken
when the fish is not hiding , you can see it hover vertically in close vicinity to its burrow , often straight above it . if anything frightens it , it will instantly dart back to its protective burrow tail first . this fish will not swim around much , because it wants to stay close to its burrow at all times . in the wild , you can find large colonies of yellowhead jawfish .
mating , spawning , and the rearing of jawfish fry has been successful in home aquariums . a 4 ' tank is recommended for the pair in so much as natural territories of jawfish range from 1 - 3 ' . in spawning season ( spring through fall ) , sexual dichromatism is present in some species . the yellow head jawfish gains black spots on the ventral side of the head , while the blue spot jawfish ' s posterior becomes white . outside of spawning season there is no sexual dichromatism .
when the jawfish is not comfortable with their environment , they will be unlikely to leave the burrow , sitting inside with their head poking out like an eel . comfortable jawfish will dart out of their burrow for feeding time , have their fill and then return to business as usual . uncomfortable jawfish , on the other hand , will need the food to be delivered to their home .
kerstitch , alex . 1979 . the first record of the courtship behavior of the blue spot jawfish . fama 9 / 79 .
jawfish will only spawn in the middle of their life span . those too young or too old will not attempt to spawn , with the age of two being the average time where spawning no longer occurs . this is frighteningly early for those looking to keep a bloodline of jawfish running in their tank . likewise those with well established jawfish may have missed their chance to breed the fish .
the blue spot jawfish . one look and you can understand why some hobbyist don ' t balk at the $ 200 price tag .
the yellowhead jawfish inhabits the western central atlantic . its native range stretches from florida , usa down to the northern parts of south america . this is a reef associated species that live inside burrows made of crushed coral and sand . it is typically found in sandy and rubble - strewn reef environments . these fishes enter the burrow tail first and you can often see their head stick up from the whole while the rest of the body remains hidden .
the jawfish should be some of the first fishes introduced , especially if you are crowding them population wise ; and introduced all at once .
if you’ve heard that the yellowhead jawfish is a good jumper , you’ve not been misinformed ! this species is a true acrobat ! once while giving a specimen a freshwater dip , i watched in disbelief as it “tail walked” like a dolphin across the water surface and flipped right out of the container . fortunately , i was right there on hand to pick it up and return it . needless to say , a good tank cover is a must if you plan to keep this species .
this is helpful when large predators try to flush them out of their burrows . nassau groupers ( ephinephelus striatus ) have been observed to fan their tails to cover jawfish burrows with sand , in hopes of forcing the jawfish to burrow back out and show their heads… and get eaten . but the jawfish seem to be able to play the waiting game , and can wait up to 10 hours before attempting to reopen their burrows ( colin 1971 ) .
the family opistognathidae , otherwise commonly known as jawfish , is comprised of three genera and nearly 40 described species with possibly another 30 un - described .
the bottom of the aquarium should be covered in a deep ( at least 3 in / 7 . 5 cm ) layer of sand since the yellowhead jawfish needs to dig out a burrow . ideally use various grades of sand ( not only soft sand ) and include crushed corals . also use large amounts of rock for the set up to mimic the natural environment of this species . various size rocks among the soft substrate can be necessary to help reinforce the burrows and rockpiles will be highly appreciated .
yellowhead jawfish stkg . 12 / 27 / 07 dear crew , thank you for all the help you have i given me in the past . you don ' t know how much you have helped me . unfortunately a new problem arises . i have been interested in opistognathus aurifrons for some time now and have been planning to convert my 55 gallon freshwater tank into a saltwater tank for the soul purpose of keeping these jawfish . my question is if i kept nothing but jawfish and some liverock in this tank could i fit four ? < mmm , possibly . . . but all would be happier / better with just two or three . . . > the reason i would like four is because i would like to obtain a pair for breeding purposes . any suggestions ? thanks , tuscan thompson < take a bit of time reading accounts of jawfish spawning , aquaculture . . . maybe start at the breeders registry ( . com ) . bob fenner >
to : henry c . schultz iii hi henry , my name is loong fat ho and i am an undergraduate marine biology student at roger williams university . i work as a project leader in rwuã¢â¬â¢s marine ornamentals research laboratory . i am in the process of starting a new project involving the captive breeding yellowhead jawfish . there is very little information out there on jawfish and one of the articles published by fresh and marine aquarium magazine is very important for my project . this is the article : young , forrest a . 1982 . the yellowhead jawfish : breeding in captivity . freshwater and marine aquarium magazine , 5 : 4 , april 1982 . i ' ve read your article
lets jaw about jawfish
and ive seen that you ' ve cited this article . i have gone through our university ' s inter - library loan system and they could nopt deliver . i can ' t get a hold of fma magazine . is there any posibility that you might still acces to this specific article ? they referencing is extemly important to my research proposal , without it i can hardly substantiate any of my experiments . how can i get a hold of this article and how much will it cost ? i need it as soon as possible as it is crucial to my experiment . thank you , loong fat ho
the two most commonly kept jawfish are o . rosenblatti and o . aurifrons . i will concentrate my discussion on these two fish . from here on in the discussion , when i refer to
jawfish ,
i will mean these two species . i will touch on a few additional species at the end .
jawfish are very difficult to sex , with the most reliable method being the shape of their head . those with more pointy heads and smaller bodies are typically female while the larger , flat large headed jawfish are much more likely to be male . additionally females will frequently have a more rounded abdomen than their male counterparts .
opistognathus whitehursti ( longley 1927 ) , the dusky jawfish . to 14 cm . western atlantic : southern florida , usa and bahamas to northern south america . urltoken
dusky jawfish , opistognathus whitehurstii are camouflaged beauties that deserve more attention . their brown mottled bodies are accentuated with glowing red to aqua eyes . to 3 . 2 inches .
the substrate must be at least four inches deep to accommodate this species’ burrowing behavior , and it should include material of varying grain sizes as well as larger rubble pieces that your jawfish can use to stabilize its home . burrows constructed in substrate consisting entirely of fine - grain sand are likely to collapse ( on top of your jawfish ! ) .
definitely , these are the species you want to keep it you ' re into studying overt intra - species behavior ; and it should be just one jawfish species per system .
several jawfish are commonly referred to as
dusky jawfish .
these would include opistognathus macrognathus , opistognathus maxillosus , opistognathus scops , and opistognathus whitehursti . unlike the jawfishes discussed above , these are not planktonic feeders . they will consume small fish or shrimp if they fit into their mouths . also , unlike their cousins , they lack attractive patterns or colors .
choosing the appropriate tank mates for your jawfish is a task not to be taken lightly . with the wrong mix , you ' ll either kill the fish or never see it .
another jawfish commonly referred to as the
dusky
is o . whitehursti . it is the smallest opistognathus at 3
and thus requires a quieter tank than the others . like all other jawfish sold under the
dusky
name , it is not a planktonic feeder . shrimp should probably not be added to their aquarium unless they are intended as a meal .
keep a close eye when the jawfish is first building their home , as their digging can easily cause rock slides . once their burrow is complete this should no longer be an issue .
while this may seem silly on its own , there is a lot of reasoning behind it . first off the jawfish loves to eat small crustaceans such as copepods and amphipods . these however are hard to keep in stock in the tank . to replicate them you can simply freeze a table shrimp , without its shell , and grind it with a grater . this will produce small shrimp pieces which are close enough to copepods for the jawfish to attack . using this method you will easily be able to get any picky jawfish back on track to a healthy diet .
lately , it seems there has been a lot of confusion about jawfish in reef aquariums . with the advent of live sand substrates and today ' s popularity of oolitic or
southdown
sand , many hobbyists are left with a feeling that jawfish are no longer a great reef community fish . i completely disagree with this notion , and will explain why as this article progresses .
dusky jawfish like this one rarely hover above their burrow . instead , they sit with just their head exposed , watching the world go by , and waiting for a meal to pass overhead .
when appropriate conditions prevail , a den in the open substrate will be formed . this is obviously a good sign that your jawfish is acclimating well and that you have supplied a suitable habitat .
breeding : yellowfish is known to be one of the mouth brooder , it means that they keep eggs in their mouth till they hatch . once fry is ready to swim it is released from the mouth . variety of jawfish are known to change the color during the period of spawning . many aquarist report that jawfish can breed in captivity so you can breed them in your home aquarium .
the yellowhead jawfish feeds chiefly on zooplankton and detritus in the wild . since it is primarily a carnivore , it needs to be provided with meaty foods in the aquarium . you can for instance give it brine shrimp , mysis shrimp , bloodworms and small pieces of clam flesh . it can be trained to accept fresh , frozen and dried food in addition to live food . to make sure it gets everything they need , it is recommended to feed it high - quality flake food ( with vitamins ) as well . most specimens will start eating dry food eventually but it can take some time for the fish to realise that it is actually food .
first the jawfish must be given adequate room . this means a large tank with a fair amount of room around their burrows . this is more easily obtained using a breeder than a standard fish tank .
opistognathus rhomaleus jordan & gilbert 1882 , the giant jawfish . eastern central pacific ; baja to the islas revillagigedos . to eighteen inches in length . here at the birch aquarium , san diego , california .
this is the most common caribbean jawfish in the aquarium trade , however , it is not in great demand and only small numbers are collected ( w . smith - vaniz pers . comm . 2012 ) .
behavior : they go quite well with other peaceful saltwater aquarium fish . they don’t usually fight with their own kind as well so you can keep multiple jawfish in the same tank as well if you’ve lot of space in the tank . yellowhead jawfish is also known for jumping out of the tank so you need to keep the tank sealed just to ensure that they don’t jump out . they enter the burrow tail first and you’ll find their head while rest of the body remained in the sand . they’re bottom dwellers so you can find them dwelling near sand or stone , marbles etc if they’re not hiding . if they get frightened they immediately get to the burrow and often don’t come out unless they need food . you can add various grades of sand and coral for them to burrow easily . also rocks , marbles and small stones can be placed inside the tank in order to let them have natural environment .
as noted above , a jawfish prefers to have a 360° view of its surroundings . given the confines of our small tanks , this is rarely possible . as a result , one of two types of dens is constructed :
baensch , h . a . , 1994 . jawfish . pp . 1158 - 1167 . baensch marine atlas , volume 1 . microcosm . shelburne . 1215 pp . burgess , w . e . , et al , 1991 . jawfish . pp . 507 - 509 . dr . burgess ' s mini - atlas of marine aquarium fishes mini - edition . t . f . h . publications . neptune city . 1023 pp . lieske , e . and myers , r . , 1996 . jawfish . pp . 113 & 167 . coral reef fishes . princeton university press . princeton . 400 pp . michael , s . w . , 1999 . jawfish . pp . 131 - 134 . marine fishes : 500 + essential - to - know aquarium species . microcosm . shelburne . 447 pp . michael , s . w . , 2000 . the whimsical jawfishes . aquarium fish monthly , 12 : 8 , august 2000
second you will need to keep the jawfish well fed and stress free . when the male is stressed he will not call out to the female for mating . likewise a stressed female will ignore any mating rituals started by the male .
also called a spotfin , o . scops is imported from the east pacific , baja california , and the galapagos . overall , it is brown , with white spots throughout the body and a black spot encircled with white on the dorsal fin . these jawfish can get larger , up to 6
. if you ' re looking for a jawfish to house with moderately more aggressive fish than that of the yellow head or blue spot , then this one is for you .
assuming we are planning ahead , the ideal sandbed for a jawfish will be at least 10 - 12
deep . emphasis on
ideal .
sometimes
ideal
is not always realistic . in such cases when 12
of sandbed is not realistic , i would consider 6
as being the absolute minimum . this is a personal observation only . others have recommended a 3
sandbed as a minimum ( fenner , wet web media ) . when you take into consideration that the minimum depth for a jawfish ' s den in the wild is 4
, a 3
sandbed seems extremely inadequate . you can use fine grain , or
southdown
sand , but be prepared for the jawfish to clear away a large area on his first night . when i say ,
be prepared ,
i mean with appropriately sized rubble for the jawfish to use in building its den . this includes most any rubble larger than 10mm in width . don ' t forget to include plenty of broken coral branches , pieces of coral limestone , bivalve and snail shells . as time goes by the jawfish will construct a den for itself , slowly using the rubble you supply to build its new home . as the rubble gets used , keep replacing it with more . soon enough , you ' ll have your sandbed back in order , and the jawfish will have it ' s home constructed . a nice finishing touch on the den is usually a snail shell or its equivalent being used as a
roof
of sorts . the jawfish will pull this
roof
over the den entrance when it retires for the evening , and remove it when it wakes in the morning !
fast or active swimming fish should also be avoided . all surgeonfish , angelfish , and butterflies fit into this category . additionally , certain wrasses will fall into this category . any larger fish that darts or becomes hyperactive during feeding may potentially cause problems . if you want to keep your jawfish with any fish that fit into this category , it is highly recommended that you never remove your cover from the aquarium . otherwise , in time , you will find your jawfish on the floor .
one common myth regarding jawfish care in our tanks , is that strong lighting should be avoided . since jawfishes are found throughout reef flat depths , most any aquarium lighting will be sufficient . it is improbable that strong lighting has any negative effects .
opistognathus aurifrons ( jordan & thompson 1905 ) , the pearly or yellow head jawfish is one of the most popular aquarium fishes collected in the tropical west atlantic . it deserves it ' s status as the most collected and used jawfish species ; being a light blue anteriorly , grading to creamy white and yellow toward the rear half , and spending more time outside of it ' s tunnels than other jaws once established . to four inches in length . note gravel at wholesalers in this image .
after i settled down on the seafloor and stopped moving , the jawfish would slink out of its burrow and resuming its vertical pose , hovering just above its “doorstep” , revealing the rest of its petite body , just shy of 4 inches ( 10 cm ) .
[ … ] here is a little link i found a little while back when doing my tank stocking research . urltoken … - overview - 608 / 90 gallon tank fish : skunk clowns , starry blenny , 6 firefish , bullseye jawfish , blue gudgeon [ … ]
jawfish exhibit oblong body shapes , long continuous dorsal and anal fins and way - too big mouths (
opisto
= behind ,
gnath
= mouth , is in reference to their receding jaws ) and enormous , all - seeing eyes make them unmistakable .
since the jawfish consumes a great deal of zooplankton , feeding is easy . enriched brine , mysis , plankton , and formula i should be readily accepted . if newcomers are finicky eaters , it may take live brine or live blackworms to entice a feeding response . in passive tanks the jawfish will become an aggressive eater , actively roaming around the tank in search of its next tasty morsel . however , in a tank with active fish , especially those that are hyperactive at feeding time , spot feeding with a turkey baster is most likely going to be required .
picky eaters : we have all been here . our fish should be eating . the tank is stress free , there are no predators and the fish is happy in their home . yet for some reason the fish completely avoids our foods . for jawfish there is an easy fix .
nearly an identical twin to o . rosenblatti is opistognathus panamensis , or the panamanian jawfish . it differs from o . rosenblatti only by the blue spots and locale . in most cases , these spots are actually stripes , and , as the name suggests , it originates from panama .
small gobies might be best kept in a different tank unless they establish a homestead and don ' t wander far from it . a jawfish does like to keep a perimeter around its den , and will usually defend this perimeter against small gobies . in my own observations , this occurred with my white - rayed shrimp goby , ( stonogobiops , sp . ) . occasionally , my shrimp goby would venture nearby the den of my jawfish . each time , the jawfish would delicately grab the goby in its mouth and remove it from his territory . usually , this was roughly 12
away from the opening of the den . the first time i saw this , i was astounded , fearing the un - timely death of my rare goby ! when the goby swam away , i began to breath easier . this wasn ' t any easier to watch the second , third , or fourth time , either . eventually , it grew on me , and i found it comical . although not as often , yet often enough to note , the jawfish would grab mouthfuls of sand and spit them at the
attacking
goby . again , no harm was done .
opistognathus macrognathus poey 1863 , the banded jawfish . tropical west atlantic . to eight inches in length . here doing what the family does most all the time . lie in wait for a food item or territorial challenger to come / happen by . photo taken in st . lucia , caribbean .
so what fish make good tank mates for jawfish ? cardinalfish , anthias , assessors , blennies , pipefish , and dragonettes will do well . most gobies and some wrasses will also do well . the general criteria would be a passive , slow moving fish that is nearly equal in size or smaller .
breeding jawfish dear mr . fenner , < john > recently , i noticed one of my jawfish carrying eggs in its mouth . i have read the faq ' s page discussing jawfish breeding but still have many questions . my questions are geared toward the raising of the yellowheaded jawfish ( opistognathus aurifrons ) from eggs to larva to adults . currently the pair is being housed in a 90 gallon display tank , with wet / dry filtration , powerheads , and a skimmer . i don ' t think the larva will survive the display tank but i ' ve been thinking of setting up a twenty gallon species tank , for the purpose of breeding . i would appreciate any thoughts and recommendations on equipment for this set - up . < a twenty might do . . . you should ( quickly ) read through frank hoff ' s works on food culture , start your gear going for same . . . see florida aquafarm ' s site re > also , i have no idea what the requirements for caring for and feeding the larva and on to the fry ( hoping they make it that far ) should be . i would appreciate any advice you can give me , and any references to web sites or books where this may be discussed . also , i was wondering if many people have had success raising jawfish to adulthood . thank you for your time , john < there are a few protocols . take a look on the
breeder ' s registry
. . . bob fenner >
when the jawfish is happy and free of predators and other stressors you can expect them to swim around the tank a little bit and spend the rest of their time peeking out of their burrow and watching other fish . their faces are highly expressive and they will often interact with any passing tank mates .
a major concern for the newly acquired jawfish is their tendency to jump from open top aquariums . it is absolutely imperative that the home of a newly acquired jawfish is covered ! some will use glass tops , but this is usually frowned upon in the hobby for various reasons . so some others , myself included , will use egg crate fitted over the top of the tank . egg crate can be found in the lighting department of most any home improvement store . since the holes in the egg crate are large enough for a jawfish to slip through , it is necessary for you to use some sort of screening or netting laid over the egg crate . i use window screening , though most any type of screen or net could work . if your tank has appropriately selected tankmates , this is only temporary . if you have a full canopy that covers the tank , then additional measures are not required . just make sure there are not even the smallest of holes available for it to slip out of . most enclosed canopies still have an open back . make sure this is covered . once the jawfish ' s burrow is constructed , the likelihood of jumping dramatically decreases , and with the appropriate tankmates , it is virtually non - existent .
it’s important to ensure that any foods you offer actually drift within reach of your jawfish , however , as this species prefers to dine fairly close to home . target feeding ( e . g . , with a turkey baster ) just “upstream” from a specimen may be necessary to ensure it’s getting enough to eat .
opistognathus sp . u1 . one of many as - yet undescribed jawfish species . dr . randall ( pers . corr . ) told me once that he had backlogged at least a dozen or so in this family . . . let ' s hope he gets around to them soon . n . sulawesi pix .
natural predators should be avoided at all costs . this includes groupers , lionfish , adult tilefish , and any large piscivore . immature tilefish , halichoeres gamoti , and h . bivittatus will all pester and steal from the jawfish ( michael , coral realm ) . all predatory starfish should be avoided , including the genus ophiarachna .
so what does all this mean ? plan ahead . jawfish should be the first fish added to the home aquarium . it is harder to get them acclimated once other fish are established . this does not mean if your aquarium already has inhabitants that you cannot keep these fish , but it does make it tougher to acclimate them .
if you do not keep a cover on your tank , just take the jawfish and throw it on the floor because thats where it will be tomorrow . i have had many of them and besides being easy to keep alive ( as long as they stay submerged ) they have all bought a ticket and flew out of the tank .
sexing jawfishes 2 / 6 / 04 hi ( love you ' re site ! ) i was wondering if you new how to tell how to tell the difference of the yellowheaded jawfish . < the one that won ' t stop to ask for directions is the male . . . > i couldn ' t find it on your fish articles all it says is that it ' s hard to tell the with the yellowheaded jawfish . < true . its not reliable , and best done with a group to compare to . males have larger skulls , thicker lips and larger buccal cavities ( chin - pouch so - to - speak ) . rather like sexing fw cichlids . anthony >
lately , jawfish have been getting a bad rap when it comes to the current trend of a deep , live sand bed . many hobbyists complain of these fish constantly moving sand , always building new borrows , digging to the bottom of the tank , clearing the sand away from ½ of a tank , or even eating the life of the sandbed . the latter is a completely unfounded belief , and simply not true . when added to a sandbed comprised of sand < 5mm in diameter , a jawfish will do exactly as hobbyists otherwise complain . the hobbyist is left in buyer ' s remorse because the fish wreaks havoc on the sandbed , largely due to the hobbyist not supplying the fish with adequate den building materials .
thank - you , i was getting a bit concerned , you have put my mind at ease . < ah good > i am looking at rearing the young when i have mastered culturing rotifers and brine shrimp ! < i see > have you any advise on raising the young ? your help is appreciated . < just what is posted on wwm . cheers , bobf > re : yellow headed jawfish
the blue - spotted jawfish , opistognathus rosenblatti allen & robertson 1991 , of mexico ' s sea of cortez ( gulf of california in older , less pc texts ) is a real striker , with brilliant blue dots over it ' s overall dark brownish body . the males become bright white in the front half of their bodies during spawning and courtship . to six inches total length . this one in captivity .
to properly house these fish you must have a large , clear space in the tank , preferably in the center , where the jawfish can create a cave . additionally they will need a sandbed substrate , along with small rocks , rubble or crushed coral . these will be the building bricks of the jawfishes new home . i highly recommend crushed coral , as it is the easiest to obtain without spending a whole lot .
second to o . aurifrons in popularity only because of price , is the blue spot jawfish , opistognathus rosenblatti . in general , expect a $ 100 price tag or more for these beauties . the blue spot is found in the gulf of california , usually at the base of cliffs . they reach 4
in length . the mating ritual of these jawfish begins when the posterior half of the fish becomes white . the male makes repeated dashes into its den . to the on - looking diver , only bright white flashes are seen . when not in spawning season , the background color of the fish is generally brown , and in some cases , a dirty yellow . blue spots adorn the entire length of the fish . these species are slightly more aggressive towards each other , and a larger aquarium is recommended if you ' re trying to keep a pair . in the wild , the pair can be up to 10 ' apart from each other .
your deep sandbed is ready , rockwork is stable and supported , and you have plenty of excess rubble on hand . once you have the fish , follow typical acclimation procedures . if you introduce the fish during the daylight photoperiod , you can expect the fish to dart for rockwork . it will usually remain hidden in the rocks for the first day , though on occasion the daring jawfish will begin its burrow construction . this is more common when it is the first fish into the tank .
the other type of den , what i like to call a
security den ,
occurs when the jawfish digs under some rocks and usually remains tucked into his hole with only his head or half of its body showing . this results from any number of factors ranging from : inadequate sand and rubble composition , not enough open sandbed , or even inappropriate tank mates . when this type of den occurs it is best to re - evaluate the habitat you ' re supplying and make sure you are not overlooking something .
a source for brachionus rotundiformis for feeding pearly jawfish larvae . - 10 / 06 / 2009 hi , i have been searching for a source for brachionus rotundiformis , the s - type rotifer strain . all of the online vendors seem to only sell the l - type strain ( brachionus plicatilis ) . do you happen to know a place i could order the s / ss strain from ? < mmm , yes : urltoken > i am using them to feed opistognathus aurifrons ( pearly / yellowheaded jawfish ) larvae . also , would you suggest any particular enrichment to feed the rotifers ? < do ask the folks at seahorsesource re . . . i would do a bit more looking about in the scientific literature if this is an important project > i lost my first batch of larvae either to fact that l type rotifers are to big for them to eat , lack of nutritional value , or rotifer culture contamination / crash . thanks , landon < do keep good records . . . consider making your results , investigations more widely known . bob fenner >
roughly 23 described species bear the opistognathus name . opisto comes from the greek word opisthen , meaning ' behind , ' and gnathus meaning jaw . these species are the ones that are most often of interest to the hobbyist due to size , availability , and coloration . opistognathids can be found in the western and central atlantic , indian , and both coasts of the pacific oceans . they sport a long , continuous dorsal fin of 9 - 12 spines , and a spine made of three weak - branched inner rays and two stout , un - branched rays on either end . all jawfish are mouth brooders , and all live in a den that they dig with their mouths .
as noted earlier , opistognathus aurifrons , or the yellow head jawfish , is the most popular among hobbyists . they are , after all , attractive , hardy , and inexpensive . the attractiveness comes from the baby blue coloration throughout their body and their beautiful yellow head . reaching a maximum size of 4
, they originate from the tip of florida and are found throughout the caribbean . in most cases they will not bother invertebrates , although smaller ornamental shrimp may be eaten . when spawning , the male will hover in the open water and spread his fins wide and arch his body . perhaps to show his readiness to the female , he opens his large mouth , and his head enlarges .
captive care should mirror their natural environment as much as possible . this is not possible in most home aquariums due to size restraints , but with good planning , a close replica can be achieved . jawfish are always located on reef flats at depths ranging from 10 feet to 150 feet . they prefer to hover up to 5 ' above their den , always having a 360° view of their surroundings . without an extensive view in all directions , they will hang lower than usual or may only extend their head outside their den . this reclusive behavior also occurs when actively swimming fish are present . their dens range from 4 - 9
deep , extend nearly 9
wide , are 2 . 5
tall , and are comprised of mostly broken coral branches , pieces of coral limestone , bivalve and snail shells , and assorted pieces of hard material ( michael , coral realm ) . they feed entirely from the water column with roughly 85 % of their diet being zooplankton ( randall , ' 67 ) .
the mating ritual is different in each species . however , the process usually begins in the dawn or dusk of a full or new moon , with the male gaining the attention of the female ( michael , coral realm ) . if accepted , the female will follow her male counterpart into his cave , or in some cases a third , neutral cave built for the mating ritual . the egg clutch is first laid by the female , then fertilized by the male . much like banggai cardinals ( pterapogon kauderni ) , male jawfish are mouth brooders . the eggs are easily seen bulging from the male ' s mouth . when opistognathus aurifrons was studied , the eggs were roughly . 8mm in size , with an estimated 300 - 500 eggs in the male ' s mouth . he incubates these eggs in his mouth for 7 - 9 days , after which time he releases the 4mm long fry . shortly after the male releases the fry , the ritual can be repeated . at 15 days from release and 1 . 5cm long , the fry take to the sand and begin digging their den . within one year they are full grown ( baensch , ' 94 ) .


the northern zigzag salamander ( plethodon dorsalis ) is a species of salamander in the family plethodontidae .

it is endemic to the united states .

it is one of 55 species in the genus plethodon .

its natural habitats are temperate forests , rocky areas , and caves .

it is threatened by habitat loss .

northern zigzag salamander

eastern red - backed salamander has a straight - edged dorsal stripe . southern zigzag salamander distinguished from identical northern zigzag salamander by range and genetic analysis .
occurs in the eastern two - thirds of tn below 2500 ft . zigzag salamander fairly recently split into northern and southern zigzag ( p . ventralis ) salamander , which appear identical .
this species was once considered a subspecies of the northern zigzag salamander ( p . dorsalis ) . but the ozark zigzag salamander is both geographically isolated and genetically divergent from that species , so scientists elevated it to full species status .
a little different from my other videos , this is just some plain footage of northern zigzag salamanders .
n . feeding behavior . spiders and beetles comprised most of the diet of a fall and winter sample of northern zigzag salamander adults ( holman , 1955 ) .
k . interspecific associations / exclusions . in areas of syntopy , there is habitat separation between northern zigzag salamanders and eastern red - backed salamanders ( reinbold , 1979 ) . minton ( 2001 ) notes segregation between these species in indiana , with northern zigzag salamanders exhibiting a preference for moist rocky habitats . bausmann and whitaker ( 1987 ) note more earthworms ( annelida ) and fewer beetles ( insecta : coleoptera ) in the stomachs of northern zigzag salamanders when compared to eastern red - backed salamanders .
4 . conservation . northern zigzag salamanders are listed as a species of special concern in north carolina , at the eastern edge of their distribution ( levell , 1997 ) . as with other members of the plethodon dorsalis complex , comprehensive life history and natural history studies of northern zigzag salamanders are necessary to obtain the knowledge required to make informed and effective management decisions .
northern zigzag salamanders breed terrestrially during the fall and spring . females lay 3 - 9 eggs in underground cavities or in cave entrances during the spring and summer . females remain with the eggs until hatching in the fall .
i . seasonal migrations . unknown . however , in arkansas , closely related ozark zigzag salamander adults migrate to sandstone cedar glades from the forest during the courting season . immature individuals are not found on the glade ( meshaka and trauth , 1995 ) .
similar species : the dorsal stripe of the southern red - backed salamander ( p . serratus ) is uniform in width , wider , and has serrated ( toothed ) edges . its range overlaps but mostly occurs north and east of the ozark zigzag’s range .
l . age / size at reproductive maturity . mature female northern zigzag salamanders in indiana measure at least 35 . 6 mm svl ( sever , 1978b ; minton , 2001 ) . both sexes of closely related ozark zigzag salamanders are mature at 35 mm svl and reproduce for the first time in the winter of their third year of life ( meshaka and trauth , 1995 ) .
a small , dark - colored salamander ( 2 . 5 to 3 . 5 inches in length ) with a red or orangish wavy pattern , or “zigzag” , extending from the neck down the back to the base of the tail where it straightens out . this species also occurs
2 . historical versus current abundance . northern zigzag salamanders are seasonally abundant under moist leaf litter and flat rocks , often on wooded hillsides and ravines , along shale banks , and associated with sinkholes ( minton , 2001 ) . they have also been found in caves ( miller et al . , 1998 ) .
in a brownish - gray color morph without the zigzag . small white flecks occur on back and sides giving a metallic appearance . belly is gray or black with orange or reddish speckles .
like other amphibians in our state , this salamander depends on humans to restrain from destroying , degrading , and fragmenting their native habitat . salamanders are both literally and figuratively voiceless . people who care about their survival must speak up for them when it comes to public policy .
usually occurs in or near caves in the ozark highlands . it hides in or under rotten logs , under rocks , and under leaf litter in seepages near small streams and on steep hillsides . it seems to prefer cooler and damper habitats than the closely related southern red - backed salamander .
courtship and breeding may occur in autumn , winter , and early spring . from may through august , females deposit eggs deep underground , in places where accumulated small rocks create many small cavities or in other cool , damp niches . there are 2–5 eggs per clutch . females remain with the eggs until they hatch . like all other species of their genus , ozark zigzag salamanders go through complete development in the egg and hatch as tiny replicas of the adults , less than 1 inch long .
a small , dark , slender , woodland salamander with a narrow , somewhat lobed mid - dorsal stripe . the dorsal stripe is thin , usually has irregular or wavy edges , and may be yellow , yellow orange , orange , or red . dark brown or black pigment may invade the dorsal stripe , making it look lobed , or it may cover a large part of the stripe . the dorsal stripe is usually less than 1 / 3 the width of the body ; it is widest near the hind limbs . sometimes there is no dorsal stripe . the belly has white and black mottling . the sides are dark or brownish gray with some orange or red , and small white flecks . there are 17–19 costal grooves ( vertical grooves on the sides of the body ) .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
frost , d . r . 2014 . amphibian species of the world : an online reference . version 6 ( 27 january 2014 ) . new york , usa . available at : urltoken . ( accessed : 27 january 2014 ) .
plethodon ventralis and p . angusticlavius were formerly included in p . dorsalis ( see highton 1997 ) .
justification : listed as least concern in view of its wide distribution and presumed large population .
this species can be found in the central united states from illinois and indiana southward through western and central kentucky to central tennessee ( conant and collins 1991 , highton 1997 ) .
it can be found in the vicinity of moist rocky crevices in ravines , canyons , rubble , seepages , caves , and wooded slopes . under rocks , logs , or leaves during day . it is a terrestrial breeder with direct development .
there are no known threats to the global population . some subpopulations are locally impacted by deforestation .
it occurs in many protected areas . habitat protection of locally impacted subpopulations may be required .
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gland , switzerland , 5 july 2018 ( iucn ) – australia’s unique reptiles – including lizards and snakes – face severe threats from invasive species and climate change , with 7 % of th . . .
the value of medicinal and aromatic plant trade has increased three - fold in the past 20 years , but traditional harvesting practices are being replaced by less sustainable alternatives . . . .
a recently released iucn technical brief recommends increasing investments in sustainable land management practices , as well as better cooperation between agriculturalists and conservationists to conse . . .
the following account is modified from amphibian declines : the conservation status of united states species , edited by michael lannoo ( ©2005 by the regents of the university of california ) , used with permission of university of california press . the book is available from uc press .
ii . breeding habitat . same as adult habitat . in indiana , spermatozoa are present in vasa deferentia in october and april ( sever , 1978a ) , and sperm are present in females in november and march ( minton , 2001 ) and in april ( sever , 1978b ) . egg laying in indiana occurs in the spring , collections indicate from april–june ( sever , 1978b ) .
i . egg deposition sites . clutches are deposited within rock crevices , subterranean cavities , and in caves ( mohr , 1952 ; smith , 1961 ; mount , 1975 ; miller et al . , 1998 ) . logs appear to be avoided as nesting sites . eggs rest on the substrate and are attended by the female ( mohr , 1952 ; miller et al . , 1998 ) .
ii . clutch size . clutches of closely related ozark salamanders in arkansas average 5 . 3 eggs ( range = 3–9 ) and are produced annually ( meshaka and trauth , 1995 ) .
ii . parental care . females attend the nest during the summer , at which time they are absent from foraging sites ( wilkinson et al . , 1993 ; meshaka and trauth , 1995 ) . hatchlings appear in the fall ( wilkinson et al . , 1993 ; meshaka and trauth , 1995 ) .
h . aestivation / avoiding dessication . aestivation is unknown , however under dessicating conditions animals likely move under cover objects or into burrows .
o . predators . centipedes in the genus scolopendra sp . are likely predators of the closely related ozark salamanders ( personal observations ) .
> university of california , berkeley , ca , usa . accessed 9 jul 2018 .
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moist habitat of rocky hillsides , forested slopes , leaf litter , and entrances to caves .
during the warmer months of the summer , these salamanders retreat to the mouths of caves and to underground burrows where it is cooler and moist .
conant , r . and collins , j . 1998 . peterson field guides : reptiles and amphibians ( eastern / central north america ) . houghton mifflin company , new york . 616pp .
dodd , jr . , c . k . 2004 . the amphibians of great smoky mountains national park . university of tennessee press , knoxville tn .
jensen , j . b . , camp c . d . , gibbons , w . , and elliot , m . j . 2008 . amphibians and reptiles of georgia , university of georgia press , athens , ga . 575pp .
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home to 138 species of salamanders , frogs , turtles , lizards , and snakes .
all information found on this site falls under the inhs ' s internet license agreement .
reddish or yellowish back stripe broadly zig - zagged , or narrow and straight edged ; orange marks around bases of front legs .
angusticlavius , grobman , 1944 ( ann . new york acad . sci . , 45 : 302 ) , which was later elevated to full species .
moist , rocky forests . seasonally abundant in woodlands around rocky springs and cave entrances .
natural history : in late autumn and spring , during rainy periods , it may be abundant under rocks on forested hillsides . during mid - summer , individuals move deeper into soil , sometimes encountering moist cave passages where they accumulate in large numbers . females have been observed brooding eggs in rock crevices in a southern illinois cave june through september .
distribution notes : only two specimens are known from vermilion co . , il , both in the collection of the university of illinois museum of natural history , and both collected by alvin cahn in 1926 from
strip mines near danville
. repeated attempts to find more specimens in this area have failed . however , the species is known from parke co . , indiana , two counties due east .
cope , e . d . 1889 . batrachia of north america . bulletin of the united states national museum 34 : 5 - 525 ( p . 138 ) .
type specimen : syntypes are usnm 3776a - d ; usnm 3776a was designated the lectotype by highton ( 1962 . bull . florida state mus . , biol . sci . , 6 : 277 )
* nomen nudum is latin for
naked name
. this means that the name was published without an acceptable description .
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very small arthropods , including insects , spiders , and other joint - legged invertebrates .
occurs in the south and southwestern portion of the missouri ozarks , mainly southwestern counties along the arkansas border .
these and other lungless salamanders are integral parts of the caves and forested streams , springs , and seeps they occupy . as predators , they help control the numbers of the insects and other creatures they eat . as prey , the adults , eggs , and young help feed larger predators .
missouri’s herptiles comprise 43 amphibians and 75 reptiles . amphibians , including salamanders , toads , and frogs , are vertebrate animals that spend at least part of their life cycle in water . they usually have moist skin , lack scales or claws , and are ectothermal ( cold - blooded ) , so they do not produce their own body heat the way birds and mammals do . reptiles , including turtles , lizards , and snakes , are also vertebrates , and most are ectothermal , but unlike amphibians , reptiles have dry skin with scales , the ones with legs have claws , and they do not have to live part of their lives in water .
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