My first (and only) attempt at a moorish idol

adeebm said:
I had an MI from divers den. He was very healthy, and eat everything. Then one day, three months later, he was belly up. No sign of disease. I was using sponge supplements, but either they don't work, or there's still some secret to MI care that's not well known. So good luck with your MI and I hope you have better success than I did
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Thanks for sharing your experience. In much the same manner as healthy copperband bufferflies dying without known cause, I suspect it's as likely with MI.

I'm hoping to have measurable success but know that even a year isn't enough to quantify success. We will see. I'm being very vigilant in what I'm watching thus far
 
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Maybe try some live blackworms? I have not tried them but have heard that no fish can resist them.
 
Just got a moorish idol which is my second one. The last one was well over 10 years ago. This one is somewhat healthy looking (not fat) but very aggressive towards all the other idols in the tank. hopefully that mind set will help him survive in my tank.
I have all kinds of coral in my tank...sps, zoas, tons of feather dusters, spnoges and a soft coral. He is free to dine at any of them (but hopefully not the sps).
 
Nanighan said:
Just got a moorish idol which is my second one. The last one was well over 10 years ago. This one is somewhat healthy looking (not fat) but very aggressive towards all the other idols in the tank. hopefully that mind set will help him survive in my tank.
I have all kinds of coral in my tank...sps, zoas, tons of feather dusters, spnoges and a soft coral. He is free to dine at any of them (but hopefully not the sps).
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I also noticed my MI snacking on some cheap, lower end acans. Oh well. Whatever it needs to survive. however I will keep trying to feed it variable and a wide palette.
 
Mine was fine with corals for 3 months, then one day decided he liked zoas. He ate them all!. Now he is in a fish only.
 
Another update. The moorish idol still eats up pellets (nls Thera plus and new era marine pellets). My auto feeder is set to deliver pellets 3x a day. no interest in frozen. Also stopped picking at acans.

However I had to remove my yellow belly tang due to aggression it was exhibiting towards the MI. The MI didn't retreat or hide even when the aggression was apparent. But I don't want to chance it any further.
 
Glad to see yours doing well, mine sadly didn't make it. wouldn't eat a single thing. Died on the third day.
 
Day 5 (or is it 6? I forget) update

MI has taken a liking to acans and some sps. Oh well. But it's still alive and eating pellets with gusto. Also saw it sample some frozen before spitting it out hahaView attachment 289311View attachment 289312 uploadfromtaptalk1409363710331.jpg
 
Wanted to update my thread. While it's unfortunate that the MI has taken a liking yo acans, the MI is still doing well and eating pellets. I'm looking into picking up an apex auto feeder so I can feed pellets 5x a day. Each time I drop pellets in, the MI leaves the acans and goes for those. In addition, it is becoming more adventurous and eating pellets off the surface, instead of waiting for them to sink. Also I think the color has improved and it's also put on a bit of weight. View attachment 289909View attachment 289910
 
OK, well another update: MI continues to eat pellets and New Era algae grazer discs. Showing *SOME* interest in frozen, but isn't eating any. However I'm satisfied with it eating pellets and grazing off the discs. Haven't noticed any new corals disappearing since I've upped the auto feeder to 4x/day. Remains fat, streamer looks good without visible damage. I will continue to hope for the best. Watching it swim through the tank is awesome; its such a graceful fish.
 
he's a beautiful fish, so glad he's doing well for you!

how long do you leave the grazing ring in your tank? i use them but after the initial feeding frenzy, my fish pretty much ignore it. i took the first one out and put it back in the next day but it fell apart and i had to net it out. put chunks on a skewer and gave it to my big brittle star, who loved it, and also fed a tiny piece to my plate coral but i'm disappointed that they seem to fall apart quickly.
 
glad to report the MI is still doing well; eating Nori, New Era Grazer discs and pellets with gusto. Also hasn't been picking at any new corals since I added the grazer discs/nori and increased the pellet feedings.
 
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