Blue Spot Jawfish sick?

[DREUTZ]

A couple of days ago I woke up and my BSJ's hole was completely covered over win rocks/shells/sand in the neat BSJ fashion. I gave it a tap and it fell into the hole and my BSJ was in there. I saw him later in the day building this "cover" for his hole again. Then the next day the cover was partially in tact and he was just way down in his hole and not coming out. Although he is usually a pig and will try to eat all the food I put into the tank, tonight I tried to feed him and he wouldn't eat anything. I'm guessing he is sick and I am wondering if there is anything I can do besides soak food in garlic to entice him to eat and rip the whole tank apart to get him out and into a qt.

 

[PhoenixOne]

A week ago, mind burrowed deep under a rock and wouldn't come out. I could only see his eyes looking at me. When I fed, he would barely come out, eat a flake and go back in. He was like this for 5 days. At first I got worried but he is a tough little sucker. Yesterday, he was back to himself and back at his old burrow and comes waaaaaaay out to get that one big juicy flake before darting like a bullet back by his home. I would spot feed him to make sure he is getting food and make sure to try to retrieve any food that is left uneaten and monitor him. If you can,try to see if there are any marks on his body/eyes are normal. As long as he is eating, give him a few days and hopefully he will be back to himself.

 

[DREUTZ]

BSJ seemed to be coming out a little more last night, but this morning he had covered his hole again. I will try to feed him again tonight and see what happens

 

[Domboski]

Check your tank temps. They tend to do better in 75 degrees max. They are prone to fungal and bacteria infections at higher temps :wink1:

 

[DREUTZ]

Tank temp averages ~79.5d

 

[PhoenixOne]

My tank temp is between 77-79. My BSJ is ok with it...but of course, others may not. As long as you can get him to eat, even if it is a little, he should be ok and hopefully bounce back.

 

[DREUTZ]

BSJ ate a little bit last night, but isn't back to his usual self. I guess that is better than nothing.

 

[jerl77]

mabey he is under the weather with all this damm snow ?
i just want to crawl in a hole somewhere :tongue1:

 

[DREUTZ]

It might be that I was using snow from the street for top off water?

 

[PhoenixOne]

it might be that i was using snow from the street for top off water?

d'oh!!!

 

[PhoenixOne]

Btw, did you change your flow by any chance? I recently got an MP40 and had it on wave mode and that is when I noticed he started hiding. I don't think he liked all that water movement but I can't say for sure if that was the cause of his retreat. I did lower the wave motion a little cause I thought it may have been too strong and a few days after, he came out.

 

[DREUTZ]

I have had an MP10 the whole time I've had the BSJ. I recently changed the module out to make it an MP10WES and with that came that nutrient export mode which I have been running. It was on that mode for 2-3 weeks before he started acting weird so I don't know if it is a factor, but you never know.

 

[DREUTZ]

BSJ seems to be back to normal, eating like a pig and not hiding in his hole. Hopefully he just he stays that way.

 

[PhoenixOne]

BSJ seems to be back to normal, eating like a pig and not hiding in his hole. Hopefully he just he stays that way.

Glad to hear. But, unfortunately, it won't be the last. Mine goes thorough this roughly every 3 to 4 months. I think they go through periods of depression from time to time. I've searched for prozac flakes but no one makes them....yet. Lol. But don't worry. As long as they eat during this "depression" period, they will do fine. Like I said, they are a tough but funny species with wonderful personalities. Jared (lfsmarineguy) sold me mine i think 3 years ago and is one of my prize possessions.