The Bluespot Club

[h20crazy]

Yea, thanks. He was named Harry by my girlfriend 2 days after the first day we saw him. So, far my ability to google up information is what keeps my tanks alive, well, that and my dedication to learning everything I can about the specimens I keep. I will post pictures of him in the tank Thursday. I will most likely pick him up tomorrow afternoon so he can settle into the tank with the lights out. Therefore, I won't be able to post pictures besides the ones of him acclimating. I will keep you guys posted on how he does.

[Dentoid]

Originally Posted by h20crazy

I found some information on wetwebmedia.com regarding jawfish disease vulnerability

I think highly of Bob Fenner and his being one of the foremost experts in the field of marine biology I would dare say that the BS should be alright.

It is not uncommon to see this blanket statement about the Opitognathus genus, in general, in almost all of the literature. Fenner, Michaels and others have all made this statement. However, the BSJF is notorious for poor survivability in the aquarium. You can see post after post in forum after forum about the mortality of the rosenblatti species. In this thread alone a dozen of these fish have been lost in less than a year. There has been no research on this particular species. Don't be pacified by the above statement.

[h20crazy]

Yes I have seen the posts of the many BSFJs that have died after only a week or less. I have however been keeping an eye on this BS and have not yet seen him act weird he seems quite happy and very active. I am not buying one from an online store (where you don't know what you are getting and fish go through stress that add to causes of death), he has been there 2 weeks and I have asked where he was bought from and was told he was brought here from a supplier in Miami(unsure of supplier). I have not met anyone who can say this LFS sells bad fish. Not much else I can say. I have read plenty and due to the mortality rate (as you state), what difference does it make. If most all are doomed to die, you are either one of the few lucky or not. I am going with my trust in that I have a tank I have setup just for him and will do my best to keep him alive and happy. If he is meant to die of some disease then it will happen, but I can honestly say that there should not be anything dangerous in this tank. From what I have gathered the most know causes of death have been stress from transportation, poor water quality, and parasites already present in their body either as a cause shipping or poor collection methods. Very rare do you hear of a jawfish die from diseases once he has made his humble abode in tank to their liking.

[bluespotjawfish]

Very rare do you hear of a jawfish die from diseases once he has made his humble abode in tank to their liking.

Hum, I think I had several this year do just that. Most of mine were locally purchased and very healthy and happy when they came home. Most of them had been at the lfs a few weeks, had made burrows there, were very colorful, eating well...

I am not buying one from an online store (where you don't know what you are getting and fish go through stress that add to causes of death), he has been there 2 weeks and I have asked where he was bought from and was told he was brought here from a supplier in Miami(unsure of supplier).

All fish were shipped at some point so that stress factor is there even for your little Harry. It is good that he has been there a few weeks to help recover from this stress before you technically ship it again to your home.

I have read plenty and due to the mortality rate (as you state), what difference does it make. If most all are doomed to die, you are either one of the few lucky or not. I am going with my trust in that I have a tank I have setup just for him and will do my best to keep him alive and happy.

I understand that you are going to get little Harry, and you are making this decision as an educated person. I respect that and really do wish you well. I hope you don't go into this though thinking the little guy is doomed to die. I certainly don't. You have the tools for provide him a long happy life!

LONG LIVE HARRY

[h20crazy]

Thanks. I do not want mine to die or dooming him. I was just simply stating based on statistics most don't make it. Only time will tell. I will acclimate for an hour and will him into the tank once lights out and monitor him until I fall asleep. then all day Thursday. I picked today to do this since I have all day tomorrow to keep an eye on him. All I have left to do is hope for his well being and do what I can to asure that.

[Nervoustime]

In my case, my first three guys were at the lfs for at least 3 weeks before I picked them up. They had great color and were eating extremely well. After one month, all of them started to show signs (such as white patches on their sides and eventually not eating).
On a brighter note, although my new guy still has the white patches on his side, he is still eating well and being very fiesty. I am really hoping that he will continue to improve.

[olivert00]

Where are these white patches located on your BS?

Lord Forster will now eat from the baster that I use to feed the tank, when I approach his den he will slowly creep up to the baster, and I squeeze a few mysis out and he is a happy camper.

I have Sharkys looking out for a mated pair or a female for mine (hoping mine is a male).

Debbie

[Nervoustime]

Along both sides of his body. It is something that can be easily seen. I feed both of my Jawfish with the baster. It is much easier to get the food near their area.

[Craig Manoukian]

What is the mean water temp in their home territory, and what are the tank temps of people here? Just curious if a difference could be the cause of stress.

[olivert00]

Thanks Nervoustime, I will watch out for that. Basters are a wonderful thing for Reef Tanks.

Debbie

[olivert00]

80 Degrees here.

Debbie

[Nervoustime]

My chiller is set at 80 degrees. I know that they would probably prefer a little cooler water, but at least, I don't have much temperature fluctuations in my tank.

[h20crazy]

74.1 degrees, at the moment, but I am missing lights. Right now it is just 4-24W 24" T5 HOs and will be getting 4-59W 48" T5 HO bulbs. I am aiming for a max 78 degrees with the other lights though. not sure of their natural habitat temperature I have seen 68 - 69.8 and then on websites that sell them I have found 76 to 84. So, does anyone know what it is supposed to be?

[Dentoid]

Craig it has been thoerorized that temperature may play a role in this species demise in the aquarium. However, there is no research to back it up, mainly just anecdotal posts from on-line boards. I did a search and found that the waters in the Sea of Cortez ranges from about 61 in the South where it meets the Pacific and 85 in the Northern. The literature says that BS's are found from depths of 30-150 feet, but I could not find any data on the average temperature or what part of the Sea they come from.

I keep my tank at 77 degrees.

[bluespotjawfish]

I have had them die in a 75-76 degree tank.
I have had them die in a 78 degree tank.
I have had them die in a 78-80 degree tank.

I have had them live long happy lives in a tank that ranged anywhere from 78-82 degrees (depending on weather) three different times.

Boo Blue sets her thermostat at 78-80 degrees.