Jawfish Compatability

[Drimo]

I am planning on getting at least one Yellowhead Jawfish, possibly two. I have a 4-5" sand bed, so I have taken the necessary steps for planning ahead.

I am also considering a Yellowheaded Sleeper Goby or a Randall's Goby. What is the general opinion of mixing jawfish and gobies? Obviously with the gobies I am interested in being sand sifters, there is a possibility of demolishing a jawfish burrow, but would they otherwise get along?

Also, I need to figure out what I am going to do cover the tank since jawfish have a reputation for jumping. I have a glass top but do not use it because the water temperature gets too high. I also have some egg crate that is not used at the moment because it reduces the light from my T5s. Are there other solutions? Would a canopy help, or would I be dealing with the heat issue again?

Thanks!

[lReef lKeeper]

well, with any option that i know of ... you are either going to lose light from covering the top with egg crate, or if you use the glass top ... you will hold in the heat from the lights, or using a canopy ... if the back remains open, you will still have a place for them to jump from.

all i can think of is this ...

build a completely enclosed canopy for the tank. cut out a couple of fan holes in the sides or back, and mount a couple of fans in there. one should pull in cool air and the other should push out the warmer air from the other side of the canopy. HTH

[Drimo]

Thanks, Bobby. I think the canopy is going to have to be my option here. Do you have any advice on the question I had about mixing jawfish and sand sifting gobies? I am thinking it is going to be a bad idea but would like some confirmation.

[lReef lKeeper]

i would just try to find a pair of gobies, like the yallow watchmans, they are awesome sand sifters. if you want you COULD even throw in a Pistol Shrimp with them. i have a Pistol Shrimp / watchman goby combo in my tank ... and i think they rock !!

[Amphibious]

Originally Posted by Drimo

Do you have any advice on the question I had about mixing jawfish and sand sifting gobies? I am thinking it is going to be a bad idea but would like some confirmation.

Your thinking is correct. Jawfish, if they settle in and eat, are very territorial and will challenge any fish that approachs their borrow. Then you have the Gobies who are territorial about their chosen borrow. It's always possible to pull this off in a large aquarium, say a 135 or larger. But, you always run the risk of it not working. My advice is to chose one or the other and be satisfied if you succeed with that one.

Dick