Dusky Jawfish

The Dusky Jawfish (Opistognathus whitehurstii) is a peaceful species that is reef-safe, admired for its elongated body, dusky brown-to-gray coloration, expressive eyes, and fascinating burrow-dwelling behavior. Known for its habit of constantly rearranging sand and rubble to reinforce its burrow, this fish adds both character and activity to an aquarium.

Males typically grow slightly larger, may develop more intense coloration, and display courtship or territorial behaviors by expanding their jaws and fanning their fins, while females and juveniles remain smaller with more subdued coloring and less pronounced behaviors.

They reach about 4 inches in length and should be housed in aquariums of at least 30 gallons. Provide a deep sandbed (at least 4 inches) with mixed rubble or small shells for burrow construction, stable live rock for cover, and some open space above their burrow for observation. A secure lid is essential, as jawfish are strong jumpers.

Maintain stable water parameters: salinity around 1.020–1.025, temperature between 72–79°F, and pH between 8.1–8.4.

Their diet should consist of mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, finely chopped meaty foods, and high-quality sinking pellets. Multiple small feedings daily are recommended, as jawfish are active feeders and thrive on a varied diet.

With proper care, the Dusky Jawfish makes a standout addition to reef aquariums, offering unique behavior, a quirky personality, and hours of fascination as it engineers and guards its burrow.

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.