Moorish idol in reef

[Dragon moray ki]

I have heard that moorish idols can be kept in reefs and the primer here on reef central doesn't have a striaght answer so can the or can they not please vote and give advice on keeping thes wonderful animals

 

[Allmost]

they can be kept in reef, is much different than if they are safe.

I have had one for over a year now. in my SPS reef tank, it eats LPS, and SPS, but not clams [my guy ... other ones might be different]

my corals grow faster than they get eaten, and they can handle the constant nipping, so for me, its in my reef ...

many dont want the new growth to be eaten away by it, so for them its not safe .

its up to you but if you want to know if they eat corals or not, answer is YES, they eat corals, and then smile at u !

so in conclusion :

+

yea they change color too
=

 

[jt_milstead]

When i had one in a 150 it nipped at a clam, but no nothing else. I think it had a lot to do with the amount i fed. I work from home 3 days a week so its much easier to feed frequently...

 

[Allmost]

When i had one in a 150 it nipped at a clam, but no nothing else. I think it had a lot to do with the amount i fed. I work from home 3 days a week so its much easier to feed frequently...

+1

after I installed a auto feeder, he eats my corals alot less.... but it still does nipp ...

such a beautiful fish though ...

 

[Dragon moray ki]

Okay thanks I am hopping to get one that is pre trained on frozen and then keep him in the reef I want and it will be sps dominated

 

[jt_milstead]

Your taking a chance, but sounds like youve accepted that....

 

[Dragon moray ki]

I know I am I'm going to add him after all the coral is grown out a good bit and I'm going too feed him many times a day

 

[jnc914]

I sold mine last year to RC member tanglovers because it did significant damage to some expensive SPS frags. It never touched my LPS, but would actually break off the tips of the SPS. I would only keep another if I decide to go back to FOWLR. BTW, I got mine direct from HI and it ate like a monster right out of the bag, and pretty much ate anything I put in the tank. Great looking fish overall.

 

[Dragon moray ki]

That's what I'm worried about I might just beg my old man to buy a big fowlr and put in tangs and angels and an idol

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I am no expert on idols, but I think they need more than a 90 gallon tank. That is at least what I have read on Live Aquaria, but I will let the experts have the final day on that. I just saw the 90 gallon build in your sig that is why I am commenting on that.

 

[Outerbank]

I have over 7 years experience with MIs. They nip a lot less when well fed. They tend to like LPS corals (especially red and greens), nip colorful clams, some soft corals, and even my blue ridge heliopora coral more than sps. That being said, mine killed a beautiful pink pocillopora I owned. Some corals just may receive an occasional nip, others may be eaten. Plan to have to move some corals if you want a MI in a reef.

 

[clown_fish]

beautiful fish!

 

[Outerbank]

I forgot to mention they tend to leave most corals alone, so you can definitely keep them in a reef. You just may need to move or sacrifice a few corals.

 

[SkullV]

That's what I'm worried about I might just beg my old man to buy a big fowlr and put in tangs and angels and an idol

What happened to his 300g angel and shark tank? Moorish Idols are not suitable for your 90g aquarium.

 

[pinnatus]

Mine loved my zoas, and wiped them out. It is in a FO tank now. My favorite fish by far. I have had mine now for 3 years.