Fatten up a feeding Moorish idol

Artik

New member
My Moorish Idol eats everything i put in the tank (flake, kelp flake, nori, mysid, pellets, marine mixes, etc..), but he continues to loose body weight. Even though i feed him 4 - 5 times a day. I understand there needs for sponges, bryozoans etc, but i've heard about feeding moorsih idols living in tanks for years. What can i feed him that will fatten him up?
 
When I got my flagfin angel he was very thin and a picky feeder. Someone suggested trying mussels in the half shell and it really helped get some weight on him -- I brought them home live from the market, and when I was ready to feed I cut a mussel open, took half the shell off and rinsed it. Then I dropped it into the tank and watched the feeding frenzy ensue :).
 
Artik, my Idol is about three and very fat. I have had quite a few of them. It looks like your are feeding too much algae based foods and not enough protein. I have dove with them and about all they eat is sponge. I collect sponge here in NY but where you are you could probably collect the sponge that they are used to. I dove in Sydney but it was a long time ago and I don't remember seeing any sponge. I feed mine sponge every day along with live black worms. I also feed fresh clam and fish. The pellets which he gets from a feeder twice a day are soaked in Selcon.
Good luck.
Paul
 
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