All fish / Opistognathidae

Dusky Jawfish

Opistognathus whitehursti

Also known as dusky jawfish, brown jawfish, whitehurst's jawfish, dusky jawfish caribbean, opistognathus whitehurstii, ダスキージョーフィッシュ, 暗色后颌鱼

A stocky, big-mouthed jawfish with mottled brown and tan colouring and a long dorsal fin, which spends most of its time peering out from a burrow it digs itself. Keepers enjoy its constant digging and comical behaviour, and it is hardier than the more colourful yellowhead jawfish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, enriched brine shrimp, chopped seafood and quality frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Atlantic: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean to Brazil

Breeding

Males brood the egg mass in their mouths for about a week until hatching. Spawning happens fairly readily in pairs, but rearing the tiny larvae needs rotifers and is difficult.

Good to know

Needs a deep, mixed sand and rubble bed of at least 10 cm and a tight-fitting lid, as jawfish often jump. It will eat very small fish and shrimp and can quarrel with other bottom dwellers.