The Moorish Idol Thread

[zfunk007]

Looking good benf!!

Paul, rescure that Moorish Idol!!

Shawn, glad your Idol is eating Angel Formula. That is good stuff. Mine loves it too!

Update on my Idol. I got him a couple new kinds of foods. I got him some frozen formula one, which he loves and some spirulina formula which he also seems to like. Just continuing to diversify his diet as much as I can.

His streamer is also the longest streamer I have ever seen in a captive Moorish Idol (just from what I have seen, I'm sure there are longer ones out there). The Idols I kept at my other LFS for a year or so didn't even get close to this. I'll post some new pictures this comming week when I can snap some good ones.

 

[Paul B]

Ben, thats a beautiful Idol.
Do you guys mean that you never cured pop eye with a needle? It takes two seconds and I never lost a fish. I do it at lfs's all the time. The Idol with the popeye is at New Hyde Park pets on Jericho Tpke. If I get time I will go there with a needle.
I still don't think fish feel pain the way you think they do. Don't forget, fish are almost always eaten by another fish, they rarely ever die of old age. (unless they are in my tank). Also 99% of them are eaten as babies. It would make no sence for an animal that is going to get eaten to feel pain. Many times I have caught flounders on a hook, then released them with their mouth torn off and re caught them twenty minutes later.
Bye.
Paul

 

[cthetoy]

I just purchased 3 moorish idols for $25 each (4") which I think was a good deal. I've kept one a few years ago and it survived about a year. I neglected it at the end (my fault) and it turned skinny and died. Now I have some more time and Im attempting to keep them again. They are truly the most beautiful fish so thats why they are worth my time and effort. I had in mind to get just one. Last time I got 2 and the larger one kept fighting with the smaller one until it died. This time the fish store had 3 moorish idols and they were swimming together. They were not hiding and even came up to the glass to look at me like Oscars I had a while back. They all ate some mysis shrimp as well. These mi were from Hawaii which I heard are easier to keep.

When I put them in the tank the 3 swam together. The only fish I was worried would be the power blue tang but so far he's been good to them. The only fish that would chase the idols now would be my clown fish when the idols get too close to his territory.

The first night they would eat some brine shrimp and sample so Formula 2 flakes and spit them back out. The idols I had in the past did the same thing. Took them about a week before they will eat flakes and almost anything you put in the tank. At least the 3 are always swimming together and knock on wood, neither of the idols are chasing each other.

 

[benf]

Thank you!! Hope he is with me for years to come

 

[WILDTHING]

wow, you must have some skimmer! Thats a heavy bio load for a 150g. Do you also have a sump?

I'd love to see a pic of them schooling, that must be very cool.

colleen

 

[cthetoy]

wow, you must have some skimmer! Thats a heavy bio load for a 150g. Do you also have a sump?

I'd love to see a pic of them schooling, that must be very cool.

colleen

I have a 60 gal sump which is plumbed through the wall to my garage. I also have a 10 gal refugium as well with Chaeto growing, I have an ETSS1000 skimmer so hopefully with all these feeding that my skimmer will hangle it and wont add any additional nitrates or phosphates.

 

[zfunk007]

Post some pictures cthetoy! And make sure you don't neglect them again. Although I know it is probably very easy to do so considering they need to be fed so much.

I have been feeding mine about 5 times a day now on average. I think this is very good for them and should be done as much as you can.

 

[Shawnts106]

Yes,... the MI is doing WONDERFULLY!... well... besides the few ich spots... which hes getting another FW dip now!... he has fattened up since yesterday... 3 feedings a day we are up to now!.... he is not skinny anymore.. and you cant see the "backbone" anymore!... they really have a high metabolizm to gain that much weight THAT QUICK! GAH!


Ill update you guys tomorow afternoon to let you know whats going on with the ICH again!... I just cant stand to see it! errrr.... and the FW dips seem to take care of it.. last time there was 1 remaining... which now has turned into about 4 or 5... IM NOT LOOSING HIM TO ICH... OR THE REST OF MY FISH!

 

[chisel]

Shawn, did you ever consider getting a uv sterilizer? I have a micron filter that works great for that stuff too, but haven't used it since I heard the silica increases the phosphates, or may help algae to grow. The uv will get rid of any ich in the water if its there. cuz even though you keep dipping the MI, he goes right back in the same water. Does any other fish have ich. I'm no expert, maybe someone else could chime in on this. I would think dipping fish a few times a month would cause unneccessary stress on the animal.

 

[Shawnts106]

The uv will get rid of any ich in the water if its there.

Yes... but UV kills everything... good and BAD!...Im near completely opposed to UV treatments!

Does any other fish have ich.

No.... just the MI... which is why I dipped him... to eliminate any threat to the other fish!

I would think dipping fish a few times a month would cause unneccessary stress on the animal.

COMPLETELY AGREED!... however.. I dissagree with use copper... yes it kills inverts... *ich*, but... I think if you dose to much it can kill fish.. too little and it does nothing... so its VERY hard to use!



anyway... If the MI gets a few more spots... then I will NO longer FW dip him... I will just monitor it very well... if it gets too bad.. then Im going to use some ICH ATTACH... its all natural and reef safe.. so I can treat the whole tank and not worry about any bad side effects!



Anyway.. today he looks much better... and still himself.. picky as ussual.. but hes eatting GOOD on the Angel Formula with sponges... just as I want him to!.. also, I ordered a softball sized Yellow Ball sponge for him.... acctually I wanted some Blue Haliclona... but.. they were out!.. so anyway... Knowing that YBS isnt a reef sponge, and doesnt like alot of light.. although CAN be kept in light.. anyway.... I didnt think he would eat it... WHICH he isnt so far... mainly My theory is that they eat sponges which they are accustom to, like high light sponges on shallow reefs... Mainly Blues and Bright Pinks and Purples.... which use Light as a food source, since these species of sponges are most abundant in the parts of the reefs the MI habitate at... tada.... instant food source!

anyway... Ive got some Blue Haliclona on backorder... possibly a few more species... so I will keep you guys updated on that!

 

[zfunk007]

Hey Shawn, I wouldn't keep fresh water dipping him. A couple of ich spots is no big deal. My Moorish Idol had a few ich spots also for about 2 months and they ended up going away on their own.

Now I know this is going to sound weird, but I think a little ich is good for the fish. It helps them build up an immunity to it so that later cases won't be as bad and will eventually go away all together. I have fish like this that are seemingly "immune" to ich. Just food for thought.

Also, if you wanted you could use the UV for a couple days at a time. Not ALL the time. Just another thought.

Hope your MI is doing well.

 

[Paul B]

Actually, all of my fish are immune to ich. I don't know why exactly but it could be that they built up an immunity. I have not had a case of ich in over 20 years and I do not quarintine, fresh water dip or anything else.
Paul

 

[Shawnts106]

Hey Shawn, I wouldn't keep fresh water dipping him.

Ive ONLY done it twice... NO MORE! this was the last... he seems fine now.. no visible spots anymore.. maybe 1... but thats it... he is STILL eatting well!... however.. Ive noticed.. in the morning I feed him 1 full cube on Angel formula... he GOOBLES IT UP!.. but in the afternoon, he doesnt want it... just assumes to just look, but acts as though hes full and wants no more...

whats wierd is he ISNT eatting the whole cube in the morning.. at the most maybe half... is this normal??? he has a full tummy, and he is looking more healthy!... I did get the Orange Ball sponge in the tank.. which he doesnt even seem to look at!... picked at it ONCE... now doesnt even acknowledge its there!.. and HES STREAMER is growing back from where it had fell off... or a damn*sel may have nipped it off! ERRRRRRRRRR


anyway... hes looking better as the days go by now... I think the "hard" part is just begining.. but the first "hard" part is over!... which is a relief.. now its just getting him to eat more diverse foods and of course.. supplying him with sponge growth to feed off of!

 

[benf]

What is considered a large streamer length? I noticed on my Idol last night that there was another ~2-3" of streamer (thinner though) attached to his other streamer making one huge streamer.

 

[chisel]

there are some pics posted of MI in the wild, I think that would be a good guage to go by

 

[Shawnts106]

No update today... I didnt even feed anything in the tank today.. I have been gone all day at work, the Local Elementry School, LPS etc... My project today was to rebuild a bird cage Ive had for months... I have 4 budgies...1 new one... today I can home to find... or should I say NOT TO FIND my new baby budgie in him cage!!!... WORST OFF... the cage is located outside!... I spent an hour trying to find him.. he had gotten out from a slit in the side... then jumped into a bush! So needless to say, the Birds are NOW INSIDE which is where they shall remain for the rest of their natual lives! haha!.. So I basically took the cage back apart, cut it up and redesigned it alltogether... adding a second story to it!... , they seem to love it!


anyway... the MI streamer has gotten longer again... I wonder if it will ever stop growing! LOL!

 

[benf]

Here is a pic of the idol with the tank lights still out...see how long the streamer is? That is what i was talking about...it seemed to increase alot in length over the past week. Sorry the pic itself isnt to good...should have cleaned the glass first

 

[zfunk007]

Wow, benf thats fantastic! Looks just like mine. Cept I think mines is a little thicker because I've had him longer. Thats great that his streamer is that big. Lets hope it stays long and doesn't get bitten off.

Post some more pics if you can!

 

[fishfanv]

beautiful, beautiful!

 

[Shawnts106]

BEEEE UUUU TIIII FULL!

My Idol cant grow his over a certain length... if he does then the fish start nipping at it!

makes me so mad!

Probably the Coral Beauty... He is always trailing the MI constantly!!!! Never leaving him alone... its like they are Palls... but the MI gets really sick of him all the time and then trys to shoo him off... of course to no avail!
Good news is the MI is still eatting like a HOG! more and more every day... Hes almost up to a whole cube at one time!... really is loving the stuff!... he has found a new target coral to pic on... a TINY cluster of immature Plate/Brain or Bubble corals... ... No wait.. make that a TINY cluster of hidden cup corals... about 3 small ones.. he is just going nutzo over them!!!! its really funny to watch!!! ... and good news is he is leaving the Lobo brain alone.. as well as all the other corals... just an occational nip by to the Lobo Brain.. but not even enough to make it close up!!

Whats wierd is he still COMPLETLY avoids the Cleaner shrimp!... the Dwarf Angels are contantly pestering him to clean them up... but the MI is just completly avoiding him!!.. he is the one that needs it the most!

also, has anyone ever had this happen to their MI... mine will pic at something.. we will say food.. the formula for now... then swim off and there will be some CHUNK of it stuck to his mouth... and he acts like its not even there... like hes saving it for later.. but hes not holding it in!

Mine does this quite a bit!!!... why is this?