Yellow Headed Jaw fish question

Hi, we're 5 months new to the Saltwater Hobby and have a 20 gallon reef tank with polyps, and LPS corals. All are doing well. We set the sand bed up with 2.5 inches of soft sand, but recently added coral rubble for the future jawfish we would like to get. Our question is this: We are looking for a peaceful, non- overloaded tank and we already have a Neon Gobie. If our eventual goal is a yellow headed jawfish, a Royal Gramma, the Gobie and MAYBE another small fish, since the Jawfish is so sensitive to being picked on, do you think it would be best to get him next? Oh, and do you think 2.5 inches is enough sand/ rubble along with the live rock, or do you think we should deepen the bed with the clearest/ largest open area for him?
Thanks,
Laura

 

Jawfish tend to like mostly sand with some rubble. With a neon goby and a royal gramma as tankmates, I wouldn't worry about bullying. Those are docile enough tank mates. The neon won't bother anyone and the gramma will just defend it's cave fiercely, but the jawfish won't go near his cave as they live in different levels of the water column. Also, while they can be victims of bullying, they do dig a burrow to hide in if someone is chasing them. Just avoid a damsel, clownfish or wrasse as the last tank mate. It wouldn't hurt to add him next though.

 

Just be careful, as these fish are jumpers. I bought one home about 6months ago and it jumped into my filter the first night in my tank. I thought he was hiding so i didn't notice and he is now swimming in that big ocean in the sky.
Really cool fish. Just wanted you to be aware.

 

2.5" is OK but I would add more in some spots if you can as they do prefer to be in apx. 4" of sand. As far as tankmates go, you should be fine with the neon and the Royal. Once the jaw is acclimated and has an established burrow, you should be fine adding another fish if you like just wouldnt get any kind of aggressive blenny or a fish similar in appearance. A firefish would be nice or a flasher wrasse too!

 

I'd give you mine if you lived close by. He drives me nuts dumping sand on my bottom corals. He does keep the sand bed well aerated though... and fun to watch.