Pearly Jawfish

The Pearly Jawfish, Opistognathus aurifrons, is a charming and active burrowing fish native to the sandy bottoms of the Western Atlantic. Known for its large mouth and expressive eyes, this species is a delightful addition to a marine aquarium with a suitable substrate.

A minimum tank size of 30 gallons is recommended for a single Pearly Jawfish, with larger tanks providing more space for burrowing and natural behavior. A deep sand bed (at least 3-4 inches) is essential for this species to create and maintain its burrow, which serves as its home and refuge. They are generally peaceful but can be territorial around their burrow, especially towards conspecifics or other burrowing fish.

In the aquarium, the Pearly Jawfish will readily accept a varied diet of small, meaty foods such as frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood. They are ambush predators, often hovering just outside their burrow to dart out and capture passing food. Offering food near their burrow will encourage natural feeding behavior. They typically reach a maximum size of around 4 inches in captivity. The Pearly Jawfish is considered to have an intermediate care level, primarily due to the requirement for a deep sand bed and careful tankmate selection.