Tiger Jawfish (Opistognathus Randalli)

Also Known As: Black Cap Jawfish, Randall's Jawfish

Compatibility and Behavior
Watching a Tiger Jawfish (Opistognathus randalli) run its burrow is truly one of the most captivating sights in the aquarium trade. This is a fish that builds a home in the sand and hovers just above the entrance, popping in and out to snatch food or keep an eye on the neighborhood, and it packs a surprising amount of personality into a small body. The looks back it up: a pale yellow to creamy white body topped with a distinctive black cap over the head and nape, and depending on the lighting you'll catch blue-to-purple tones and yellow or orange striping along the flanks, all set off by big expressive eyes. Temperament generally peaceful but can occassionally be semi-aggressive, so it does best in a calm community with non-aggressive tankmates that won't outcompete it at feeding time. It's reef safe with corals and most inverts, spending nearly all its time near the burrow rather than roaming. The one caveat is its own kind: it can be territorial toward other jawfish, so keeping more than one should only be attempted in a larger, well-established tank with careful monitoring as territories get sorted out.

Aquarium Requirements
Everything with this fish starts at the sand bed. A jawfish needs a deep, mixed substrate of at least 3 to 4 inches, ideally with small rubble or shell fragments mixed in to help it shore up and reinforce its burrow, and a shallow or fine-only bed simply won't support that behavior. The other absolute is a tight-fitting lid or mesh top, since jawfish are notorious jumpers, especially when startled or first settling in. Beyond those two, give it a mature tank of at least 30 gallons for a single specimen, plenty of rockwork for a sense of security, and moderate flow that lets it hover and feed near home. Early on, expect to target-feed near the burrow entrance, since a new jawfish is reluctant to stray far. Keep it well fed with mysis, enriched brine, and finely chopped seafood.

Specifications
Approximate Size: 2–3.5"
Diet: Carnivore; mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Moderate
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons for a single specimen, with more space needed for multiple jawfish
Special Considerations: Requires a deep, mixed sand bed of at least 3–4 inches with rubble or shell fragments for burrowing; a notorious jumper that must have a tight-fitting lid; may need target-feeding near its burrow at first; can be territorial toward other jawfish