FYI: New Shipment
- Thread starter beapeams
- Start date
While most definitely a beautiful fish, Moorish Idols are just better left in the sea. We can get them to eat in captivity and they may eat fine and look fine for a short period of time. Usually one day they just die for no particular reason. The success stories with MI's is absolutely dismal. It is almost impossible to meet their nutritional needs in captivity.
Their diet in the ocean consists mainly of sponge and algae, both of which are hard to provide in an aquarium. They are grazing species that do not do well in confined spaces, a huge tank of several hundred gallons would be a good start if you "could" meet their nutritional needs.
Just some food for thought before you purchase one or more.
Dave
Their diet in the ocean consists mainly of sponge and algae, both of which are hard to provide in an aquarium. They are grazing species that do not do well in confined spaces, a huge tank of several hundred gallons would be a good start if you "could" meet their nutritional needs.
Just some food for thought before you purchase one or more.
Dave
beapeams
New member
Don't forget they also need coraline algae. My first one I kept feed sheet algae daily, kept sponge and have plenty of coraline on my rocks. Also, he was eating Angel formula gel, spectrum pellets (Which many have been using to keep there idols alive for longer) silversides. They require a lot of extra care and belive me this will be my last try. The first time I was very successful, If I loose another I will not try again.
I would not say that a few months to even a couple years is close to being successful. This is a fish that should easily live to be 10-12 years in the ocean...a couple years in our tanks can not be equated with success
If you could provide the proper nutrition, which is doubtful, the small size of your tank will eventually lead to it's demise. I wish you and the fish the very best of luck, really, but I do not think this is a fish that should be kept by all but a very few experienced aquarists able to provide large tanks and a very natural diet.
I think it is important that the hobbyists here on these boards know that this fish is one that is not recommended to keep, even though some LFS insist on bringing them in
FWIW,
Dave
Arsenal11
New member
Dave, the lfs's provide what the consumer demands, i spoke with Marty on this one, as i also belive this is a very hard fish 2 keep alive, he said he has 5-6 people a week in the store requesting them, if you say sorry i won't stock that fish because of its inability to survive in captivity, the consumer then goes to the internet sites & ends up with one anyway & the lfs's are losing out on the $$$.
I hear ya, Kurt! And I know the deal with the LFS too...their job is to make money....bottom line. However, since we are hobbyists that are hopefully educating each other in responsible husbandry, we have an obligation to not make excuses for LFS that are not concerned about the life in the ocean.
There is a pretty good substitute for the Moorish Idol in the Bannerfish, if anyone is wanting to get something that looks like an MI, but has a good chance of survival in captivity.
I'm not going to buy something from a LFS that doesn't have a chance to survive, because that will only encourage them to buy more. The other 5-6 people per week could be told to pound salt if the LFS wants my business.
Dave
There is a pretty good substitute for the Moorish Idol in the Bannerfish, if anyone is wanting to get something that looks like an MI, but has a good chance of survival in captivity.
I'm not going to buy something from a LFS that doesn't have a chance to survive, because that will only encourage them to buy more. The other 5-6 people per week could be told to pound salt if the LFS wants my business.
Dave
Game, set and match on the empty tank slam:lol:
Yeah, they all do have hard to keep fish and I guess I just have a thing for the MI's. In general, I personally, (when I had saltwater), tried to keep fish that were hardy and had a pretty decent track record of surviving in captivity...that is the way I was taught here on RC back in the good ole days
Yeah, they all do have hard to keep fish and I guess I just have a thing for the MI's. In general, I personally, (when I had saltwater), tried to keep fish that were hardy and had a pretty decent track record of surviving in captivity...that is the way I was taught here on RC back in the good ole days
beapeams
New member
Thank you sir. With the additon of the idols I hope that I don't have to add another fish unil I Move and buy a bigger tank for the new house in about 3 years. If they are still here in three years then I can consider myself successful. If not I will not buy another Idol again. They are a joy to have in the tank, their personality, swimming style and look can not be duplicated or substituted.
I seem to remember there being a another similar species "a false Moorish Idol" or something like that. My understanding is that these were considerably more hardy and had been kept in captivity with more success. Can anyone else weigh in on this, or did I simply dream this up?? Thanks.
JustFin
New member
that would be the Bannerfish that Nanook mentioned, in the butterfly fish family
highly recommended by Fenner in his book The Conscientious Marine Aquarist as a substitute for moorish idols
heres a link to a listing on liveaquaria
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=242
saltyunderground
In Memoriam
What's all of this talk about American Idol? I thought Taylor won months ago.
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