The Moorish Idol Thread

I think you are absolutely correct, Idols are better off in pairs. But I am guessing they need more room than most home aquariums afford. If you do try, please let us know how it works out. We are all learning here!
 
trying

trying

So I've had one without success. Here is my plan:
5-6 Morish with 2-3 Hawaiian Cleaners in a 120g for starters . The tank has been overgrown with macro and sponge but I want to buy more sponges to help out. Anything helpful to add?

20141229_165400_zpstnhxeczy.jpg
 
mrcyrus said:
So I've had one without success. Here is my plan:

5-6 Morish with 2-3 Hawaiian Cleaners in a 120g for starters . The tank has been overgrown with macro and sponge but I want to buy more sponges to help out. Anything helpful to add?



20141229_165400_zpstnhxeczy.jpg
Click to expand...


One 5"-6" MI and one 2"-3" cleaner will do just fine in the 120g. Why not consider an angel since they love sponges?
 
I think that MI's need a larger tank. And I have not heard of people having success with multiples.

Also, while people have said that sponge is important, my MI has not had any sponge in the past nearly 6 years.
 
I agree with Ken. IME they need a large tank... and sponge isn't necessary. I personally think it's a convenient excuse for people to claim why their idol didn't live.
 
Seriously? Not wanting an angel for all this effort. I have taken on many challenges over the years and Morish are my white whale, well that I can access at the moment. Remember the mandrins that couldn't survive in home aquariums back in the 90's? That was one of my first challenges. Half live brine half frozen for 2 weeks switching slowly to frozen. Angels don't mix? I dropped 16 in a 240g all together and lost 2. My reading and my diver suggests sponge is the best way to stabilize them as apposed to the mystery deaths we all read about. I'm getting babies to stabilize them from a young age. Schools or pairs are better than singles for sure, open water they are seen swimming in pairs most often. The 120g will be upgraded to 360-500g later. So now that we understand I have the fish locked in and I'm just waiting for my diver to collect. Does anyone have some solid advice?
 
SDguy said:
I agree with Ken. IME they need a large tank... and sponge isn't necessary. I personally think it's a convenient excuse for people to claim why their idol didn't live.
Click to expand...

If sponge is an excuse what do you recommend to sustain them? They have been observed in open water munching on sponge which is what brought them into my plan.
 
Hi... so have every large Angelfish. ... yet people keep them for years.


I recommend lots of food... a large tank.... and little competition.
 
So far I'm doing just them and non aggressives but later on the larger tank there will be angels and more. These will be the primaries however. What is your recommended food?
 
Last edited:
pinnatus said:
I think that MI's need a larger tank. And I have not heard of people having success with multiples.

Also, while people have said that sponge is important, my MI has not had any sponge in the past nearly 6 years.
Click to expand...

How many do you know who have attempted multiples? I am very interested I the diet you have had that has sustained them for 6yrs also?
 
Lazylivin said:
I have an idol and was thinking about getting a clam. Are folks finding clams are okay most if the time?
Click to expand...

Both my MIs nipped at all clams except one. They left a black and white maxima clam alone for some reason. All the other clams I had to move as they were constantly closed due to the MI nipping at them.
 
For my experience thus far, I feed my moorish idol heavy-4 times a day with pellets, algae discs, nori and frozen (lrs, rods food). I was lucky in that my moorish idol was eating pellets at the lfs.

Also, I've accepted that I can't keep acans, birdsnest or favoas as it goes for those as well. However my lfs has cheap frags, so I add about $50 worth of acans every month for it to pick on.
 
mrcyrus said:
So far I'm doing just them and non aggressives but later on the larger tank there will be angels and more. These will be the primaries however. What is your recommended food?
Click to expand...

I pellet food with high spirulina content, supplement with lots of nori and any meaty foods it will eat.
 
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