Moorish idol

[clownmaroon]

what are they common ways these fish die.
what are the- diets, temperature for water, do they need places to hide, do they need a high waterflow, are they best kept in pairs

 

[skibum9884]

Check these threads out....set some time aside to read them through well:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=993712

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=607477

 

[jt_milstead]

First off start off thinking about tank size, also remember they can and do eat coral.The one I had tried to eat my Crocea Clam...

 

[clownmaroon]

tank size anywhere from 75-125 ...... i may keep the tank cycling for 2 months and leave the lights off besides when i check on it and move a piece of my live rock in my current tank with the purple algae on it into this one so it will spread well..... i am going to put 3 in the tank and have a timed feeder with new life spectrum pellets and those may be the only fish in the tank besides possibly down the road a wrasse or friendly fish

1 question for you guys- should i put some zoanthias in the tank and they spread to different areas for the fish to pick at if they get hungry?

 

[ccampbell57]

Is this going in with your lightening maroons

 

[clownmaroon]

nope and i have yet to get one and am still on the search... those maroons are amazing

 

[pinnatus]

I would probably not try three. My (limited) experience is they will kill each other til one is left. I was thinking of adding a second one recently, but changed my mind after reading a little and taking into account my own experiences.

I do not think you need to provide zoas for them to eat. Or coralline algae for that matter. Mine seems to do fine on a pretty much steady diet of new Life Spectrum pellets and daily sheets of Nori. (Although it does eat zoas if they are there) They need to eat frequently, though. I feed my tank twice a day, but especially when I first got the Idol, it seemed to want to eat more often.

Why would you leave the lights off?

I have mine in a community tank. With it I have an Asfur Angel, a Majestic Angel, a Purple tang, an Achilles tang, a Blue Devil, a Scooter Blennie, an Indian Trigger and a Mandarin.

I have a 240 gallon tank. I recommend a big tank, the Idol likes to swim.

 

[clownmaroon]

lights off during cycling with a piece of live rock that has a thick purple algae on it that in someway helps prevent green algae.... this algae spreads with no lights.....
so how about 2 in a tank if i got them very small like around 3-4 inches, then they might grow to be a pair...

is there a season for these to be caught and sold and if so what months

 

[pinnatus]

Like I said, my limited experience consists of getting 3 idols, who fought and killed one, then the other 2 fought until one was remaining. This occurred over a 1-2 month period. And based on the few other snippets I have read, it seems like a difficult thing to find 2 that won't kill each other.

My Idol was the 2nd or third fish introduced into my "new" 240 gallon tank. I moved the contents of my 110 gallon over, including rock and water, but still had a cycle. Didn't introduce the Idol til I was sure the cycle was over. I have always kept the lights on, though, since I have coral too.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Is this going in with your lightening maroons

Dang Chris, you took the words out of my mouth.

 

[pinnatus]

By the way, I had byropsis bad when I first set up the 240 gallon. I think the Idol actually liked snacking on the byropsis, and it contributed to keeping it healthy. Now I have to feed Nori to keep him healthy, where before it was eating the byropsis. So don't get too concerned about algae in the tank.

 

[clownmaroon]

so your saying one idol and if i want 2 buy the second put it in one of those trap like things and if the other idol picks or nips at it trade it back to my LFS
and do zoanthias spread fast or at a good rate

 

[pinnatus]

Well, what I am really saying is get one. If you get one that is healthy and happy, that is quite the accomplishment, I'd say. I love mine, it is my absolute favorite fish, and I wouldn't want to mess it up by introducing another that may or may not get along with it.

My zoas used to spread pretty good, til the Idol got there, then they were decimated to extinction. And the Idol didn't take notice of them til about 3-4 months in. Then it wiped them out in a matter of weeks.

 

[clownmaroon]

so i may buy a few of the cheapest zoas i can find and if my water is correct and all that good stuff they will spread rapidly and im doin this because ive read these fish eat or pick at things constantly and i hate when fish die so i want to keep this one extremely healthy

 

[clownmaroon]

1 question the moorish idols pick at coral so would they pic at this ricordea mushroom pack?
- http://www.saltwaterfish.com/10-Multi-Pack-Ricordea-Sale_p_2414.html

 

[pinnatus]

Mine does not pick at Ricordea. Or any other softies that I have seen.

It does seem to pick at sps.

 

[sTefaniA]

I tried 2 but it didnt work. Got one first and a day later a second one, put the second one in an acclimating plexi box, they ignored each other. When I released the second one they swam together for a day. Next day number one attacked number two and I took number two back to the lfs.
I would not advise you to get two, they fight! I have once seen a mated pair in the lfs but they were huge. Don't try and put juvy's together because they will grow and kill each other.

This was the one I kept for a few months but it destroyed my sps. I sold it and it went to a fowl were it is still happy and healthy.

These were the two of them

 

[olemiss reb]

I have never attempted one but from everything I have read a large mature tank is needed with ample sponge growth. It seems that people have no problems getting them to eat but they tend to die at the one year mark with the thought that something is missing from their diet, presumably sponge. This is not intended to be rude but from reading some of your other post, you are not experienced enough to keep an idol. Let us know when you find a pair of lighting clowns.

 

[ltljoker]

Has anyone ever tried introducing a female and a male at the same time. I have ordered 1 of each and will try introducing them together and see if i have any luck. I have read on a couple of the threads that they do much better as a couple.:beer: wish me luck

 

[pinnatus]

how can you tell male/female?