info on a Moorish Idol

[darklcd]

good day all

I have been looking for one of these for a lone time and I didn't know what they were called. Now that I found the name I am wondering if anyone has any idea how they are and if thay are ok in a reef set up.

if any one knows anything about them please let me know. I really like them and I wanted to get a few when I get my new tank I just can't seem to find anything on them or where I can get them in canada.

If anyone has any ideas on them please let me know

thanks

 

[Juanfer]

The Moorish Idol tends to be very peaceful. Due to its size, schooling nature, and need for swimming space, it requires a large aquarium of at least 125 gallons. As its beauty is most evident while swimming, giving it adequate room is well rewarded. It is compatible with most fish and larger invertebrates, but should not be kept with any polyps or corals, which it will eat. Small invertebrates may be threatened as well.

The Moorish Idol is a very difficult fish to feed. Live rock with large amounts of algae and sponges on which it can feed will help it acclimate. Then offer a varied diet of finely chopped meaty items, mysid shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, Spirulina, and algae. It should be fed several times a day.

Perhaps the most graceful of all marine fish, for many hobbyists, it is also one of the most difficult fish to keep because it is so difficult to feed. For all but the most expert hobbyist, it is better admired in the ocean or in a public aquarium rather than in a home tank.

 

[DonW]

PM paulB hes one of few people that have been able to keep a moorish idol.

Don

 

[BCT182]

I have two and as it turns out they are quite territorial so I would say one per tank would be a much better idea. WetWebMedia.com is the website you should look at before purchasing this fish, as not only are they difficult to feed, but once they are eating they often still starve in a matter of days/weeks due to the fact that they are not getting the proper diet. Spectrum by new life is one of they few foods with a rep for feeding a MI and keeping happy. The Hawaiian specimen are really the only fish anyone should attempt to keep, and despite what people say, in most cases, just because they like to eat sponge doesn't mean it contains all the essentials for a healthy fish. One more note, the capture, handling and manner of shipping along with acclimation all play a key in reducing the stress on the MI so it will even start eating in the first place.

 

[darklcd]

I was reading that if I can get a mated pair that thay to better I am just wondering how hard thta is to find. any ideas?

 

[Ed Hahn]

I recently purchased a Morish Idol. Out of all my fish that I thought would harrass the Morish Idol, I had a Blue Girdled Angel that would not leave it alone. The angel had establish territory and felt threatened by the presence of Morish Idol.
My Morish Idol was eating very good. I saw it being picked on but assumed it would be ok on the other side of tank. The MI because of stress took a turn for worst. No sleep often turns to death. A friend of mine came over for frags. I wanted to give the fish to person. The person talked about how their other half wanted a Morish Idol. My Wife persisted thats my fish.
The fish died the following day.
Here is a study on the fish with my favorite food.
http://www.nlpublish.com/fishfood/promotions/tfh.cfm

article #1 and #2 have study on Morish Idol

 

[steve-s]

If anyone has any ideas on them please let me know

Go with a Heniochus acuminatus instead. Much safer, stabler long lived species in a captive environment.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/heniochu.htm

http://www.nlpublish.com/fishfood/promotions/tfh.cfm

article #1 and #2 have study on Morish Idol

Didn't show up for me?
http://www.nlpublish.com/fishfood/

 

[Ed Hahn]

Steve,
Thanks for taking care of me (smile).
If you follow the link Steve Sent then go to TFH inc articles.
You will see Morish Idol study by Pablo T.

 

[Paul B]

I have had quite a few Moorish Idols over many years including the one I have now which I have about 4 years. They are about my favirite fish and since there is very little accurate information I went on a dive trip to Tahiti to study them. I found out that they are not very rare and they just about always live in mated pairs in shallow water. I saw them eat nothing but a lime green sponge. The male finds the sponge and starts eating then the female who was following many yards behind catches up and starts to feed while the male goes off to do some more searching. They eat all day on there 100 yard romps around the reef. They are not particularly fast swimmers and they have no defense mechanisms and very weak jaws.
To keep them in an aquarium for their life span which I estimate to be about 12 years (just because of their size) is at this time impossable.
It is not just feeding which many people believe. Of all the Idols I had, they all ate. I am trying new things with this one and so far he seems healthy, which also does not mean much with these fish, they just drop dead with no outward signs of disease.
They need to be fed at least three times a day, four is better. I accomplish this by using a submerged dish. I glued a plastic tube to a dish which goes to the surface to a funnel. An automatic feeded deposits food into the funnel twice a day. The other feeding is a combination of either sponge (that I collect locally in NY and freeze it), plankton, clam, mussels, oyster, banana, avacado, mysis, flakes soaked in cod liver oil and Angel formula.
A 125 gallon tank is OK but a little small, I have a 100 gallon 6' long tank and he is cramped. Mine never touched any corals or clams and neither did any that I had.
They are not an easy fish and I know of no one who has kept one for five years. There probably are people doing this but I never heard of them.
Good luck.
Paul
Here he is at his feeding dish, and also the dish when it was new before it was incrusted with coraline algae. That disquesting stuff is the NY sponge I collect

 

[darklcd]

thats good info to know

I didn't know that they wre that hard to take care of but I think that I can handel it. that feeding dish you had set up paul how did you train it to go there and where in your tank is it placed?

 

[aquarookie]

WOW Paul,
Is that the same fish in both pics? He has sure grown! Beautiful fish indeed

 

[Paul B]

That is the same fish about three years apart. I diden't have to train him, I just put some pellets in a dish and did the same thing every day. In a few days he knew where to go to eat and now he checks out the dish on every loop around the tank.
Paul