Mottled Jawfish

The Mottled Jawfish is a hardy and attractive species from the Western Atlantic that features a beautifully mottled coloration pattern of browns, tans, and creams across its compact body. This intricate mottled patterning provides excellent camouflage against the sandy and rubble-strewn bottoms it inhabits, and the overall effect is surprisingly ornate when viewed up close. Growing to about 5 inches, it is a medium-sized jawfish with large, expressive eyes and the characteristically oversized mouth that gives the family its common name.

In the wild, Opistognathus maxillosus is found throughout the Western Atlantic, from the coastal waters of Florida and the Bahamas through the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico. It occupies sandy flats and rubble areas adjacent to reef structures, constructing elaborate vertical burrows that it defends with surprising vigor for such a small fish. Like all jawfish, it spends the majority of its time hovering above or just inside its burrow entrance, retreating tail-first at the slightest perceived threat. The species is known for rearranging substrate and carefully selecting rubble pieces for burrow construction.

The Mottled Jawfish is considered one of the hardier jawfish species in the aquarium trade, adapting relatively well to captive conditions. It requires a deep sand bed of at least 4 inches with mixed rubble and shell fragments for burrow building. A tight-fitting lid is essential to prevent escape, as jumping is a common cause of loss with all jawfish. This species readily accepts a variety of frozen and prepared foods when offered near its burrow entrance, making feeding straightforward. Its engaging personality, interactive behavior, and relatively forgiving care requirements make it an excellent jawfish for aquarists new to the genus.