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    Jawfish

    Yellowhead jawfish

    Opistognathus aurifrons

    Also sold as Pearly jawfish

    Care level
    Intermediate
    Adult size
    10.2 cm in aquariums
    Minimum tank
    114 litres
    Temperament
    Peaceful
    With corals
    Reef safe
    Captive-bred
    Occasionally captive-bred
    IUCN status
    Least Concern
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    How do you care for the yellowhead jawfish?

    Peaceful; shy.

    Feeding

    Carnivore.

    Feeds from the water column near its burrow.

    Tank and special needs

    Plan for at least 114 litres of water (the care sheet says 30 US gallons).

    13 to 18 cm of mixed fine sand and rubble; tight lid, jumps when startled.

    Why this care level

    LiveAquaria: moderate.

    Corals and invertebrates

    None.

    Which tankmates suit the yellowhead jawfish?

    Bullied by other burrowers; docile tankmates only.

    Suggested order in a mixed tank: add early, with the first peaceful fish.

    More than one yellowhead jawfish

    Keep one yellowhead jawfish: two of the same species usually fight.

    Other fish

    Checked against the other 59 fish in this guide, assuming a tank big enough for both. Individual fish differ, so treat this as a starting point.

    Take care (7)

    • Maroon clownfishMaroon clownfish is aggressive and may bully the yellowhead jawfish, especially if the bully is added first.
    • Yellow watchman gobyBoth dig or guard burrows in the sand; give each enough sand and rock to claim its own.
    • Orange spotted gobyBoth dig or guard burrows in the sand; give each enough sand and rock to claim its own.
    • Hi-fin red banded gobyBoth dig or guard burrows in the sand; give each enough sand and rock to claim its own.
    • Gold head sleeper gobyBoth dig or guard burrows in the sand; give each enough sand and rock to claim its own.
    • Humbug damselHumbug damsel is aggressive and may bully the yellowhead jawfish, especially if the bully is added first.
    • Powder blue tangPowder blue tang is aggressive and may bully the yellowhead jawfish, especially if the bully is added first.
    Usually fine together (52)

    Invertebrates

    Only the invertebrates with a known risk are listed.

    Take care (2)

    • Tiger tail sea cucumberA stressed or dead tiger tail sea cucumber can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.
    • Sea appleA stressed or dead sea apple can release toxins that harm fish; cover pump intakes.

    Corals and anemones

    Only the corals and anemones with a known risk are listed.

    Take care (1)

    These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

    Quarantine and health

    Give a sand-filled container in quarantine.

    New fish are the most common way disease gets into a reef tank. Quarantine every fish in a separate tank before it joins the display, and choose a method that suits its tolerance of copper.

    Captive-bred or wild?

    Some captive-bred; mostly wild Caribbean.

    What does it cost in the UK?

    about £31. This is one UK retailer’s listing on 21 October 2026, not a market average, and every item was sold out on that day.

    Sources

    1. LiveAquaria (US retailer) care sheetRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: stats, sand depth.
    2. FishBase species summaryRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: max length.
    3. Kraken Corals (UK retailer) catalogueRead 21 October 2026, read in full. Used for: UK price.

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