The Moorish Idol Thread

[kmbyrnes]

I have a pair in QT now. 2 weeks and they are eating, but not much. One seems to want to eat more, but the other chases it away.
Hope they survive to see their new home.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

I have two in QT together. I would not say they are paired. The first 2 weeks they got along good. Now they started fighting and I had to separate them. They are eating everything though. The fighting seamed to start when I feed them. Not much at first, but now they fight a lot now if together.

 

[Aquattro]

Mine always squabbled a bit, but for the most part got along for 7 months. Then just done, no getting worse, it just was suddenly bad. Luckily it was the week after I was out of town or I would have lost the small guy.

 

[big mamma]

new mi owner

new mi owner

hello everyone. i have read this thread from start to finish over the last few weeks. i got a mi about 4 weeks ago from live aquaria. i have been keeping saltwater fish for 16 years now and thought i give it a try. so far so good. my tank is a 125 gallon fish only . i have a harlequin tusk, a blue damsel (tusk ate the other two), false lemon peel angel, and a 14 year old gold stripe maroon clown. i feed sea veggies twice a day, ocean nutrition angel formula twice a day and lrs fish frenzy once per day. really enjoy this thread and all the helpful info.

 

[pinnatus]

Best of luck! They are a wonderful fish, IMHO.

 

[big mamma]

4 weeks today and so far so good

4 weeks today and so far so good

picture after 4 weeks and eating some ocean nutrition angel formula before bed time. keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[jjoos99]

I had one come in yesterday on a wholesale order from california. Water was kindof cloudy in the bag. The fish didnt make it through the night. Didnt even get the chance to enjoy it. I fault the wholesaler for not putting enough water into the bag. You have to wonder how many of the fish deaths we experience are from poor handling of the fish before it ever gets to our tanks.
Jeff
Jeff

 

[murdock84]

I saw a huge beautiful looking one yesterday at CTE Aquatics in Maryland. It was the biggest and best looking one I ever seen. I just don't have a tank big enough for it.

 

[big mamma]

i just hit 6 weeks today with mine. had to remove my maroon clown at week 5. it started chasing my idol. i just ordered a austrailian lineatus fairy wrasse tonight. should be here saturday. hope they all play nice !

 

[kmbyrnes]

One of the pair never ate in my tank, but after a month, the other is getting nice and thick.
He won't eat floating food, but once it hits the bottom of the QT, it belongs to him.
I am beginning to believe he is going to make it.

 

[Keimaxbode]

One of the pair never ate in my tank, but after a month, the other is getting nice and thick.
He won't eat floating food, but once it hits the bottom of the QT, it belongs to him.
I am beginning to believe he is going to make it.

Do you have any pics of them together? I'm working on a theory of mine on id'ing male/female.

 

[Sounds Fishy]

i just hit 6 weeks today with mine. had to remove my maroon clown at week 5. it started chasing my idol. i just ordered a austrailian lineatus fairy wrasse tonight. should be here saturday. hope they all play nice ![/QUOT
I have had my MI for 5 weeks.Bought it after watching it eat at the LFS.Has a nice one inch banner(it was longer but some of it broke off.).Eats mysis shrimp,brine shrimp and flake food.VeryStrong eater.I feed every couple hours or so.Just a few minutes ago it attacked a cube of blood worms.Never did that before,now.One thing for sure the food has to be the right size or it isn't interested,in eating it,or just spits it out.I think it is picking as well on the coralline and green sponge in the rocks,between meals.Swims all day with 2 yellow tangs in a 220,and likes swimming against the current provided by my powerheads.The MI seems to benefit from the interaction with the tangs,for sure they keep him,stimulated. I also had to remove a 10 year old mean Tomato clown from the D/T. not for attacking the MI,but for tearing up the male clown,mate.Every year about this time this would happen but I couldn't risk the aggression and potential for disease from ripped flesh,or have attack the MI...So the clown was removed and the beaten up clown remains and is healing.

 

[big mamma]

i just hit 6 weeks today with mine. had to remove my maroon clown at week 5. it started chasing my idol. i just ordered a austrailian lineatus fairy wrasse tonight. should be here saturday. hope they all play nice ![/QUOT
I have had my MI for 5 weeks.Bought it after watching it eat at the LFS.Has a nice one inch banner(it was longer but some of it broke off.).Eats mysis shrimp,brine shrimp and flake food.VeryStrong eater.I feed every couple hours or so.Just a few minutes ago it attacked a cube of blood worms.Never did that before,now.One thing for sure the food has to be the right size or it isn't interested,in eating it,or just spits it out.I think it is picking as well on the coralline and green sponge in the rocks,between meals.Swims all day with 2 yellow tangs in a 220,and likes swimming against the current provided by my powerheads.The MI seems to benefit from the interaction with the tangs,for sure they keep him,stimulated. I also had to remove a 10 year old mean Tomato clown from the D/T. not for attacking the MI,but for tearing up the male clown,mate.Every year about this time this would happen but I couldn't risk the aggression and potential for disease from ripped flesh,or have attack the MI...So the clown was removed and the beaten up clown remains and is healing.

big clowns usually mean big trouble. good thing you got it out. mine was fine for 5 weeks and then started chasing my idol. my idol is on day 47 and so far so good. looks like our idols all share the same behavior.

 

[kmbyrnes]

Keimaxbode - Unfortunately not. But I bet I will get another, once the first one is done with QT. I think a pair would be worth the effort.

 

[big mamma]

Keimaxbode - Unfortunately not. But I bet I will get another, once the first one is done with QT. I think a pair would be worth the effort.

i would not try an force two to pair up. the one usually kills the other one. others have tried with no success.

 

[Keimaxbode]

Quick question: what is the longest it has taken anyone's MI to start eating prepared food, not counting nori and post pics if survived and the food they started eating.

 

[big mamma]

Quick question: what is the longest it has taken anyone's MI to start eating prepared food, not counting nori and post pics if survived and the food they started eating.

mine has ate like a pig from day one. eats everything I put in the tank and I have had it for 54 days. has gained weight also.

 

[jjoos99]

my first attempt at a MI it didnt eat much at all for about 2-3 weeks and then started eating everything that I feed. A week later it was dead. I suspect ammonia poisoning from my qt tank but not real sure why. i have another coming tomorrow and hope to have better luck with it.
Jeff

 

[big mamma]

my first attempt at a MI it didnt eat much at all for about 2-3 weeks and then started eating everything that I feed. A week later it was dead. I suspect ammonia poisoning from my qt tank but not real sure why. i have another coming tomorrow and hope to have better luck with it.
Jeff

what size tank do you have jeff ? tank mates ? these fish need to eat 4 or 5 times a day with a lot of swimming room and high oxygen levels. make sure you get it some sponge on a daily basis.

 

[pinnatus]

mine has ate like a pig from day one. eats everything I put in the tank and I have had it for 54 days. has gained weight also.

Mine has always eaten well with the exception of a few short-lived hunger strikes when I first got him. I have had it for ~2530 days plus or minus.

I agree with big mamma, they need to eat often, especially when young.