can't get the jawfish, what else then?

I've been trying to get a jawfish for several weeks now but haven't had any luck. Even places that have them in stock can't seem to actually bag them.

So now I'm thinking I'll get a different fish.

What would you suggest? I like that the jawfish lives in the sand. I have never had but would like to try a sifter. So let's stick to that area of fish type. I was thinking a diamond headed gobie but those get a wee bit big for my taste. I prefer small fish as they make the tank look bigger

I currently have a bicolor blenny, 1 b/w damsel and 1 OClownfish. It's for a 55 gallon tank.

I don't mind feeding them, but I only feed my fish 2x a week, so nothing that would need more frequent feedings.

My tank is 3+ years old, but my sand bed is only about 3 months old (I moved and changed out the substrate) so I doubt there's a ton of food in there for it. I am getting cyano problem now, but that's not the reason for the fish.

The personality I've heard jawfish have was also a big draw to me, so that's something to consider too.

Any suggestions that kind of fit what I'm wanting?
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Why can your suppliers not bag the fish? I've had no issues ever trying to catch and bag Jawfish. They are a very fun species. I owned the Blue Spot.

 

Maybe a tailspot blenny? they look somewhat similar to jawfish if thats the look your looking for. Plus their kinda cool and if you throw in some barnacles i bet it'll look adorable living in them.

 

Not sure if this would fit the bill, but I love my yellow watchman goby and pistol shrimp combo. IMO the YWG has a very similar personality to a jawfish.

Mine sticks his head out of the burrow, meanders around and always has the classic YWG look of "disgust" on his face. (pic- not mine, pulled from the internet)

If you get one, I definitely recommend a combo. Mine was extremely shy without the pistol shrimp, but now swims around all the time.

 

I like the Twin Spot Goby, they stay small (around 2-3") and look cool. While I don't think they have the personality of a jawfish they are still fun to watch. Just don't make the assumption that they get all of their nutritional needs from the sand bed, rookie mistake that I learned the hard way, and make sure they are eating regularly as they are carnivores, target feed if you need to.

 

Its too bad about the jaw fish. I used to have 3 pearly jaw fish that were cute as can be. I was hoping to get some again soon.

 

I have a pair of yasha gobies with a snapper shrimp....they are cool. They are a bit shy though, so they don't really have much of an outgoing personality like a jawfish. But they are pretty!

If you really want a jawfish I would just be patient and wait until the people can catch him. Go with what you really want - no regrets!

 

It's vividaquarium i'm giving it a few days (i ordered originally 1/28 .) but I am all out of vitamin soak and that's also in the order. No body local carries it. And don't feel like paying multiple shipping charges.

It's not the look, it's how they act; including how they disturb the sand bed. and their smallish size

no problem feeding them, just want them messing w/the sand bed too. I like watching fish do that.

 

Thats odd, I live about 20 minutes away from Vivid. Hmmmm they can't catch the fish?

 

When you say "eating regularly" how often is that?

I feed fish 2x a week and let them search the rock or snag food when I feed the corals... I would be kidding myself if I thought I'd ever feed more often than that - so I try to pick fish accordingly

So, really, I'm asking if 2x a week is fine for one of these. My sandbed is only a couple months old, so not a huge buffet there.