Moorish Idol

[klesher]

How difficult is the Moorish Idol to care for? I have a 6 week old 150gallon aquarium with 120lbs of live Irian Jaya rock. The wife wants this fish badly.

 

[Aadler]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=993712 at least read that and wait another 6-12 months.

 

[lhm nole]

They are difficult to get to start eating and most arrive in bad shape, imo they do not ship well and if you get a specimen that arrives in good condition you have a chance and they are very aggressive towards their own even though you see them in pairs in the wild in captivity they are downright nasty in my experience they are also ich prone and need ample space and rocks to pick on they do not do well with butterfly species.

Get a hene for starters they are alot hardier

 

[jnc914]

I kept one several years ago and it came direct from HI. It ate out of the bag, and would eat everything you threw in the tank. However it still wasted away after about 9 months. It is believed that there is some vitamin or nutrient the Idol gets from its natural environment that we can not provide in captivity. They also dine on sponge in the wild, and would benefit from mature live rock to peck on. I actually have another coming diver direct this wednesday. My goal is to keep this fish long term, but the odds are definitely not on our side.

 

[E.intheC]

I agree with the above. A heniochus butterfly is a much better choice, (still not appropriate for a 6 week young tank) and they look very similar to Moorish Idols.

 

[RealReef7]

Ive had moorish idols in the past. The latest one that past away lived for a year then one day just died. These fish are better left out in the ocean.