Dusky Jawfish

Dusky Jawfish (Opistognathus spp.)

The Dusky Jawfish has a body that is thickly mottled with shades of dark brown and flecked with blackish spots. The caudal fin and posterior part of the dorsal fin are yellow with rows of small blackish dots.

It requires a 30 gallon or larger aquarium with rock, small pieces of shell, and loose coral rubble as part of the aquascape, and a sand bottom for burrowing. The tank should be equipped with a tight-fitting lid, since it is a jumper. It should be kept with docile tank mates. Multiple Dusky Jawfish can be housed together in a large tank where they can establish their own territories.

The diet of the Dusky Jawfish should consist of a variety of marine fish, crustacean flesh, and mysid shrimp.

This earth tone colored jawfish has black on the edge of dorsal fin, there are bluish black spots between the dorsal spines and some yellow on the tail. The body is mottled. This unusual fish makes and interesting display animal. Turn off the aquarium lights gradually to prevent jumping. Also less likely to jump after it has constructed its burrow. Keep with docile tankmates. Provide with a thick sand bottom, mixed with pieces of shell and rubble to facilitate burrow construction. Not aggressive towards other fish species, except those that try to enter its burrow. Can keep more than one in the same tank if aquarium is large. It may eat ornamental crustaceans. Male orally incubates its eggs, when they hatch the larvae enter the plankton. This species has spawned in captivity.