Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Yellowhead Jawfish
Opistognathus aurifrons (Jordan & Thompson, 1905)
Also called Yellow-headed jawfish
From Western central Atlantic: southern Florida and the Bahamas through the Caribbean to Barbados and northern South America.12
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Scaled, elongated burrowing fish with a large mouth
A slim, elongated jawfish with large eyes and a roomy mouth used for digging. The head and front of the body glow yellow, fading into a pale, pearly blue-grey body sprinkled with small light blue dots. A pair of dark spots is often visible on the chin.12
Personality what they are like
Gentle and peaceful. It hovers upright above its burrow and drops tail-first inside at any hint of danger. It rarely bothers other fish and is one of the most tolerant jawfish toward its own kind.213
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderate. It spends the day hovering near its burrow and busily rearranging sand, shell and small stones with its mouth.21
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
A deep, mixed-grain sand bed with small rubble is essential for burrowing, and a tight lid is a must because jawfish can jump when startled. Place food near the burrow, as it can be a shy feeder. Typical reef water: about 22 to 26 °C (72 to 78 °F), pH 8.1 to 8.4, dKH 8 to 12, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025.32
Home where they are happiest
An aquarium of at least about 30 US gallons (about 115 L) with a sand bed roughly 13 to 18 cm (5 to 7 in) deep and scattered rubble to reinforce burrows. Wild fish live over sand and rubble near reefs at about 3 to 40 m.312
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Carnivorous plankton picker. Offer small meaty foods such as mysis, brine shrimp and chopped seafood, plus quality pellets.23
Company who they like around
Can be kept singly or in a small group if there is enough floor space, roughly one fish per 10 US gallons. Wild fish form loose colonies and pair up to breed.21
The story where it all began
David Starr Jordan and Joseph Cheesman Thompson described the yellowhead jawfish in 1905. It has since become a favourite with divers and aquarists for its engineering skills and upright 'hovering' pose above its burrow.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The male carries the fertilised eggs, glued together in a ball, inside his mouth until they hatch.1
- 2
It builds and repairs its burrow by carrying sand, shells and small stones in its mouth.2
- 3
When a threat appears it may seal the burrow with a stone or spit sand at the intruder.2
- 4
A courting male swims in an arched posture with his fins spread toward the female.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern1
- Taxonomy
- Family Opistognathidae; described by Jordan and Thompson in 19051
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Yellowhead Jawfish. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Salinity checkevery week
- Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
- Water testevery week
- Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
- Glass cleanevery week
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Yellowhead Jawfish?
Feed your Yellowhead Jawfish small amounts once or twice a day. Furry Diary's starting plan suggests daily feeding, which matches their natural grazing style. Offer just enough that they can eat in a minute or two.23 Furry Diary plan
What does a Yellowhead Jawfish eat, and what should it never eat?
They are carnivorous plankton pickers, so offer small meaty foods like mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, and quality pellets. What to never feed varies by individual; always ask your vet or a good breeder for a safe list.23
How much space does a Yellowhead Jawfish need?
A single Yellowhead Jawfish needs at least a 30 US gallon aquarium with a sand bed about 5 to 7 inches deep for burrowing. If keeping a group, allow roughly one fish per 10 gallons of floor space.312
What temperature, light or water does a Yellowhead Jawfish need?
Keep water temperature between 22 and 26 °C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, dKH 8 to 12, and specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025. Specific light needs aren't given, but typical reef lighting works; ask your vet or breeder for details.32
How often should I clean a Yellowhead Jawfish's home?
Furry Diary's plan suggests cleaning the glass weekly and changing about 10 to 20% of the water every two weeks. Test water weekly and top up evaporation daily with fresh RO water. Furry Diary plan
Can a Yellowhead Jawfish live with others?
Yes, they are gentle and peaceful, and can live singly or in a small group if there is enough floor space. They are one of the most tolerant jawfish toward their own kind, so a small colony can thrive.21
How long does a Yellowhead Jawfish live?
Lifespan varies and isn't specified in the sources. For a reliable estimate, ask your vet or a good breeder who knows this species well.
Can I handle a Yellowhead Jawfish?
Handling is not recommended because they are shy and will dart into their burrow when startled. It's best to avoid handling; if you need to move one, ask your vet or breeder for safe methods.
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Opistognathus aurifrons fishbase.seused for origin, size, habitat, colouration, reproduction, IUCN status
- Wikipedia: Yellowhead jawfish en.wikipedia.orgused for burrowing, behaviour, social needs, aquarium notes
- LiveAquaria: Yellowhead Jawfish liveaquaria.comused for care level, tank size, sand depth, water parameters, feeding
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.