Blue Spotted Jawfish

Jawfish in general are very hardy and adapt fairly well. Ideally a more coarse reef type substrate is used.While they will try to tunnel in sand it usually results in the experience Marshall had.Adding some small pieces of rubble and shells will help them build a more stable burrow and keep them from becoming bulldozers.
Your Melanurus should not be a problem .

 

Good point Vinny. I have left him several building pieces as well, including frag plugs, shells, and rock rubble. He did tunnel through some pieces of arched live rock, as well as my arched frag rack.

 

Thanks for the helpful information everyone. I do think 6 fish might be a little much for my 46gal but since the 5 are all open water I may still add a jawfish. I have some time before that though as I need to build up my sandbed more and dont want to add too much at one time. Another 9 lbs to be added tomorrow which will make 16lbs added over the past week and a half.

I do have all my rock on the glass and not on the sandbed so no rockslides for me. I do however have a couple corals on the sandbed that may be in danger lol. Hopefully if enough sand and rubble are available he wont become a construction crew with bulldozing and excavating daily. I do have an issue with temp though and the summer months regularly cause my tank to go to 80-81. Rest of the year its ay 78.

Marshal O, you mention they do disturb the fuana in a sandbed. This is not a deep sand bed so being undisturbed isnt an issue, but he wont eat all the life out of a sandbed like a goby or star correct? Also what size tank do you have yours in?

 

Correct, Jawfish don't go searching for food in the sand like sandsifting gobies. They are just constant movers of the sandbed. Mine is in a 28 nano. A 46 gallon would be a perfect size tank for a jawfish given its larger sandbed area.

 

Ooooh caught with your hand in the cookie jar. ;D