What would eat Jawfish fins?

[hazmat319]

My Pearly Head Jawfish has his burrow under a rock right in the front of my tank. About a month or so ago I noticed his tail fin was all ragged like he got in a fight with another fish. Which is what I assumed happened although he stays put in his burrow. It's been healing up and becoming more full then I noticed this morning he has another big chunk taken out of it and one of his long front paired fin is half gone.

He stays in his burrow and the other fish don't bother him at all. At night he covers the entrance of his burrow up with rocks. I noticed this first thing this morning right after he opened his front door.

Is there anything that could be inside the burrow that chews on his tail at night? A large amphipod or brittle star or something along those lines? I don't see where any of my other fish would have access to him. The only thing I have in my tank as far as a CUC is hermits and snails. I can get a picture if that helps.

[mtc1966]

i wonder if you have a crab in the tank.

[charleneatkins]

He is soooo sweet. doing housekeeping just like you. But really a hidden crab.
He is kind of hidden on all sides except the front and the crab would do his nasty at nite.

[hazmat319]

Could be. I've never seen any hint of a crab. But I don't disturb his area at all to make sure he's comfortable. And he's also acting very weird today. It almost looks like he is having seizures. His head is quivering every so often. At first I thought it was the shimmer from the LED's. But it's his head. And he's swimming out of his cave really far. He almost acts as if he sees something.
Maybe he sees the "light". Should I tell him to swim towards the light?;) I wonder if something is wrong with him.

[charleneatkins]

I hate to be the one with bad news but remember when I told you I lost my B&W clown due to a genetic disease?, you maybe experiencing the same thing. I goggled PJF and it seems to be quite common. There are also videos. Please see if these compare to what you are seeing. Hope this will help.

[charleneatkins]

pressed enter too fast

if it a crab and it would be a shame to re-aqua scape but that might and choice. give the fish a new home without a boarder

[hazmat319]

What is the disease Charlene? I googled PJF and all it brought up was Primal Junk Foodie. I don't think that is it?:D

[charleneatkins]

google pearly jawfish. The videos might help you decide. Before my clown passed, it would do pinwheels, chase his tail and twich. I bought both my clowns at the same time so I got a 50/50split. My new guy seems great. bought him at PC. My lady did make sure he knew his place and after a couple of hours all seemed well, at least up to today. best of luck

[JD06351]

One thing to watch out for with a Jawfish is malnutrition also. I learned this the hard way with my Blue spotted. Do a search for Jawfish & blind. Hopefully its not this, but better to catch it early and fix it than watch him slowly lose vision like mine did. :-(

[charleneatkins]

I would doubt it but its good to know. Hazmat's coral and other fish look magnificient. wouldn't mind having them in my tanks.

[hazmat319]

One thing to watch out for with a Jawfish is malnutrition also. I learned this the hard way with my Blue spotted. Do a search for Jawfish & blind. Hopefully its not this, but better to catch it early and fix it than watch him slowly lose vision like mine did. :-(

OMG mine did the same thing. I bought a Blue Spot and the poor fish NEVER ate a single thing from the moment I bought him. He lasted a month! It was so sad to see it just whither away and become all pale. I had to have my husband get him and put him out of his misery because I couldn't stand to see him like that anymore. I was really mad at the store that sold him to me because he told me he was eating frozen. I honestly didn't realize a fish could last that long not eating.

He seems better today. Staying close to his burrow like normal. Yesterday he was swimming all around the tank and puffing up his cheeks at everything like he was going to attack. Very weird!! Maybe something spooked him?

[JD06351]

Mine was fine from the start, but he slowly started to go downhill until I figured out his vision was going. He wanted to eat so bad but couldn't find the food. :-( I even soaked the food in vita-chem I believe it was, but it didn't seem to bring him back to health. Slowly but surely his vision got worse & worse until he couldn't see at all.

[charleneatkins]

I am not saying this to mean but I am glad wierd does not happen just to me.
It is heart breaking to see a fish expire and not know why.

[JD06351]

It sucked because he was eating fine, mysis & brine like a pig. I have a feeling it may have had something to do with the method of catching them. I hear they sometimes squirt a chemicle into their burrow that makes them come out, and it probably does some damage to their digestive system. :-(