Help with Blue Spotted Jawfish

Ugh, I hate using this area of 3Reef :-/
As some of you know, early yesterday afternoon I got a Blue spotted Jawfish. Well, its been more than 24 hours, and he is still hunkered down in the corner, highly stressed. No burrow activity, not swimming around, colors are off, and if I even glance at him he flares like no ones business (same if another fish goes near him). Breathing is hard, not really hard or rapid, but harder than what I would think is normal.
Now that it has been 24 hours and there is no improvement, I am beginning to worry. Probably over worrying because it just had to be the most valuable fish in the tank. No bullying or anything going on.
So, for anyone that has kept one, is this normal? Is there anything I can do to ease him along a little bit? I have thought about placing some PVC to see if that would help, but at the same time worry that me working in there like that will cause only more stress.

 

Jason,

I've gotten them in at the shop and was convinced for 3 or 4 days that they jumped (they are known jumpers). Then all of the sudden, they seem to settle in and are fine.

 

Thanks Curt. I know about the jumping, and have done my best to secure the top. I had also heard about them hiding for a while. It just struck me as odd, as the fish has not even attempting to hide in the rocks, not even once. It just stays in the back corners freaking out over everything. I did feed the tank last night, and the jawfish had a few mysis, which makes me feel a little better. Hopefully it will come around here soon.

 

I used to import them in droves and we'd always start them on PVC fittings.

 

I was going to say the same thing as Curt. I have never seen a jawfish settle down in the first day. It isn't until late the second or the third that they actually get down to business and dig a burrow. Sometimes if I am really concerned I will move a smaller rock and scoop some sand out from underneath it then place the rock back but leaving a crevice for the fish to get into, not a burrow perhaps but still a cave to protect it.

Good luck

 

Mine went into the rocks when I first got it. I letteraly thought it died as i did not see it for two weeks. I have so much rock and its all tied together so I couldnet try to move the 4 30lb pieces to find a body. Two weeks later watching tv saw it roaming around the tank and its been fine since actually has grown pretty fast and is a good size now. Still have no top on the tank and still no jumper either had if for about a year now.

 

Give it some time just as others have said and make sure there is no other fish bullying. If it ate then I'm sure it will be fine. Also leaving the lights off for a day or two can help it get a little more acclimated.

 

Yeah, Mine hid for a while but, I can't remember how long. Seems like It took mine a while before he started burrowing and the first burrow was in the back of the tank. Slowly he would build other burrows around his half of the tank. The engineer goby dominated the other half of the thank. Make sure the overflow is protected for jumping. Mine got in the overflow and ended up I found him dead stuck to a sponge in the sump. My yellowhead sleeper goby would bully him occasionally. I miss him he had a lot of personality.

 

Jawfish

I've had a couple over the years. The guys at the LFS always recommended "habitat" and yes, there was always PVC in their tanks. My first one was a "thug", very territorial. After he settled in, he was the nicest fish in the tank (110g Tall). Unfortuately, he got fried when a glass heater popped inside the tank.
Second one was very sensitive? Like a hermit. He or she'd build and dig away or in back from view.....kinda strange fish. I guess It overstressed when I moved because he only lasted about 2days in the new tank.
The LFS guys here sorta discourage you from the purchase(if you can believe that), but they are just the nicest looking & most entertaining. I may get another when I get the big tank going.......GOOD LUCK!!8)

 

There were 10 folks in the local reef club that just did a group buy on blue spots. Out of the 10, I think 3-4 survived, and all are accomplished reefers. Most jumped. Some got stressed and died. I love these fish, but when 2 people said they jumped through their eggcrate and one even slipped out the seam of a mesh covering, I decided one was not for me.

Good luck man, they are truly awesome fish.