Blue Spotted Jawfish

The Blue Spotted Jawfish (Opistognathus rosenblatti) is a peaceful species that is reef-safe with caution, admired for its vibrant blue spots scattered across a golden-brown body, curious personality, and unique burrowing behavior. Known for their habit of creating intricate burrows in sandy substrates, they spend much of their time peeking out while watching their surroundings.

Males typically grow slightly larger, with more intense coloration, and may exhibit courtship displays by expanding their jaws and fanning fins, while females and juveniles remain smaller and show less vivid spotting.

They reach about 3.5–4 inches in length and should be housed in aquariums of at least 30 gallons, with larger tanks preferred for stability and territory. Provide a deep sandbed (4+ inches) for burrow construction, live rock for structure and security, and open areas for observation. A tightly fitted, secure lid is absolutely essential, as this species is highly prone to jumping.

Maintain stable water parameters: salinity around 1.020–1.025, temperature between 72–79°F (note: some aquarists recommend slightly cooler water around 74–76°F to prolong health), and pH between 8.1–8.4.

Their diet should consist of mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped meaty seafoods, and high-quality carnivore pellets. Offering frequent small feedings ensures proper nutrition, as they often prefer smaller bites.

With proper care, the Blue Spotted Jawfish makes a standout addition to reef aquariums, bringing both striking beauty and captivating burrow-building behavior that fascinates observers.

International Aquatics Quarantine & Guarantee: All fish are checked by marine vets, given a formalin bath, and held for 14 days in copper-treated systems. We feed Selcon-soaked food with Kanaplex and Metroplex during quarantine. Unless marked, all livestock comes with our 15-Day Guarantee. You will receive a video of your fish eating before shipment. On request, we also send photos/videos after arrival at IA. Some species are import-to-order (3-10 business days). Many common species are already cleared or near the end of QT.

Several species will be import-to-order and may take anywhere from 3-10 business days to secure. Once your fish is secured, you will be notified, and the quarantine process will then begin.