The Moorish Idol Thread

[Paul B]

Zfunk, as part of my Idol experiment I noticed that for the last two monthes I have been working too many hours on my job (which is almost over now) and I couldn't spend any time on my tank. Because of this my moorish Idol, although very healthy looking lost most of his dorsal fin. The foxface which I gave away used to bite it off as it grew but now it is growing very slowly. I don't consider this a tragedy but a learning experience. I have not fed Selcon in about a month but I am starting it again. I want to see if it makes any difference in the dorsal growth rate.
He is still fat but the foxface made his life harder. Now he is the only large fish and can eat all he wants.
Watch out for that hurricane.
Take care.
Paul

 

[fppf]

Hello folks, read most of the thread here (whew, long winded sometimes) lots of GREAT info.

My name is Tim and I live up in Buffalo NY. I have had my 125 setup for 2 years now. Made all my own hardware for the tank. Currently there is a Blue Regal Tang, Powder Blue Tang, and 3 chromas in there.

Last Thursday night when doing my strole in the LFS I spoted not 1 but 2 Moorish Idols. Both looked in good health and where picking and eating. This was the first time I actually saw one in a LFS in over a year. Knowing there reputaion I was a bit shy to try one, but I figered they where already there and I would be as good of home as any so I took the plung. I bought the smaller of the 2 and took him home. Everything went good and he is "sampling" and really eating but always stayed in the corner and looked sad. So after reading in many places about them living in pairs in the wild I though maybe it would be a good idea to buy the second one.

Well buying the second one required the buying of a larger QT tank because he was bigger than a 20 would hold. So after some good money spent both are at home in a 30 long QT.

After getting them together I really think it was a good thing. There like 2 peas in a pod. Not only does the little guy follow the big guy but the big guy follows the little guy too. I also think it helped the little one eat better. The larger Idol was eating and still is eating like a pig but the little one was not doing as good as I thought he should. Well now when the big guy eats the little one follows suit.

So far the big guy will eat just about everything and the little one a little more picky. I have been feeding frozen brine, mysis, spong, veggie flake, Sea veggies, and a hunk of LR for picking.

I could not find any "Spectrum" at ANY LFS so I ordered some from Marine Depot and over nighted it (yeah $10 for food, $22 for shipping). Oh well, I'm going to do everything in my power to help these fish make it. I don't think I would ever try and order one but like I said they where there already.

I don't know how long I will keep them in QT, normally I go 10 weeks but I think I will only do 4 with them. We will see how they do, I don't want to put anything in my main tank too soon. I learned that leason the way to hard way and lost a lot of prize fish (there all prize in my mind).

I sent Paul B an Email just asking questions. I'm really happy you guys take the time to post up this info. Lots of good ideas here. Please keep it coming and I will keep you updated on there status. I'm really hoping for succes, I don't want to think about these wonderful fish dieing. Here is a pic of "Gill" and "Jill" (my wife names the fish).

 

[Paul B]

fppf, thats the way they live in the sea so hopefully yours will remain happy which may be a factor in their longivity,
Paul

 

[keefsama2003]

thats what im looking for it seems they may be a pair. keep us informed you may just figure out the deciding factor behind them.

 

[zfunk007]

Welcome to Reef Central fppf!! Glad to see your first post was on this thread . Your Idols look beautiful!! I think the quarantine might be a good idea to start because you might be able to get them eating good.

The bigger one looks almost exactly like mine did when I got him. He was very skinny like yours and his stomach was somewhat indented. You need to get him eating right away. Get some garlic extract and some selcon. Those seem to stimulate their appetite well.

Your smaller one looks a bit better as far as weight is concerned. Feed them as much as you can, I'd suggest at least 3-4 times a day. My Idol gets fed on average 4-5 times a day in smaller incriments and even more if I have the day off and am at home.

I wish you luck and keep us updated!

Paul, interesting observations about your Idol. Lets hope your experiment continues to be successful. Now that that Foxface is out of the picture your Idol should do better.

And don't worry, when the hurricane hit us it was only a category 1. I feel sorry for the people in Louisiana and Mississippi. My sister is in Baton Rouge so we were all very concerned for her. But she made it through ok. Lets hope hurricane season is almost over!!

 

[fppf]

Oh, eating is NOT a problem with the larger one. He is eating EVERYTHING in the tank! Each time I put food in there it takes about an hour but it GONE. The little one is starting to eat better also.

I noticed so team work between them today. The food settled between that PVC pipe and back glass. The little one spoted it but could not reach it. So the big guy came in and pushed the pipe to the front and they both pigged out, AGAIN!

 

[Shawnts106]

WOW! those IDOLS ARE BEAAUUUTTIIIIFUL!!!!!... Looks like youve got a pair their... possibly a male and female pair!


well... I have an update of my own!!!

GUESS WHAT EVERYBODY!... MY IDOL TODAY IS EATTING EVERYTHING I PUT IN THE TANK.. INCLUDING FROZEN!!!!!!!!


First today I just put some new Omega One pellets in the tank to see if the fish would like them... and the IDOL TOOK OFF AFTER THEM EATTING EVERY ONE HE COULD GET HIS LITTLE NABERS ON!! haha

then I was just in SHOCK!... he came to the back where I feed and was just begging for more.. well.. It was just a sample pack so I didnt have anymore.. but can get some more tomorow... so I decided... well... lets just stick some frozen in there.. So I took some Sallys Marine Multi Pack that has Squid, Brine, Mysis, and Plankton in it... I punched out 1 cube of each.. stired it up in a cup of warm water and put it in the tank and to MY SURPRIZE he acted like he hadnt eatten in his entire LIFE!.... and now even now... hes STILL begging for more.. so Im going to chop up some Nori and feed him... brb, lets see if hes interested!!!

...

Not too interested in the Seaweed... but he is eatting flakes and is picking at the seaweed, but not to much avail!


still... Im just every excited that hes eatting well now!!!


But I do have another problem!

He also LOVES brain corals!... I have had to put my two brains (lobo, and welso) in the refugium!.... he is just relentlessly eatting on them!... I have talked to a friend of mine that has a 300 gallon tank FREE of brain corals!... it is a reef tank.. mainly SPS and such.... but I am thinking of giving him to him!.... 300 gallons VS. 75 is NO MATCH !!!.... He would have a better swimming area.... yes.... but I am still kinda worried abou tit.... I dont really want to give him away!... but My brain corals are suffering.... so Im kinda in a predicament!

also, this friend is travels alot... and I do not know if he would have time to feed him properly!... so Im kinda in a bend about that too!...

Let me know what you guys think!... One of my favorite fish is the Moorish Idol, and one of my favorite corals in the Brains... in really stuck between a rock and a really really hard place!

I am going to put on of my brains BACK in the main tank to see if he is going to pick at it... if he still does I will have to decide... brains, or fish?

Help me decide.. or at least give me your opinion!

 

[zfunk007]

List of LPS's my Moorish Idol has eaten or attempted to eat:

-Blastomosa
-Various open brains (probably 3 or 4 of them)
-Blue Trumpet Coral

and I think thats it... There could be more though. All of those have either died from him eating them or I have taken them out before he could completely destroy them.

Of course as you know I chose my Moorish Idol. I would take him over any coral. But thats just me. My fish come first in my tank, then my corals. I am a fish lover before anything else so thats why the corals are secondary to me.

Shawn, just weigh your situation, which do you want more? A couple of brains, or a Moorish Idol. The choice is yours. Although if your thinking of getting rid of your Idol I'll gladly take him . He can go in my 110 F/O which is going to be upgraded to a bigger tank soon anyway.

 

[fppf]

Well Gill scared the living you know what out of me tonight.
Not a good way to end your second day.
I was cleaning the uneaten food from todays feast and he started to freak out. I don't think it was the tank cleaning that bugged him, he was still eating everything that floated by. But what I do think is he may have nipped at a small aptisa. His mouth turn red and he started spitting and twitching. After about a half hour he claimed down and he is doing ok I think. He is not breathing as hard and the twiching has stopped.

Hope this goes away and he is ok. Kind of a feeling of helplessness. I did not and still don't know what to do?

Yes, I WILL be removing that aptisa.

 

[Shawnts106]

Although if your thinking of getting rid of your Idol I'll gladly take him . He can go in my 110 F/O which is going to be upgraded to a bigger tank soon anyway.

lol, thanks for the advise!

oh, Yeah, and thanks for the offer... however still 110 fowlr or 300 gallon reef?.... you pick the place to live if you were him looking for property? hahah! ... Its either a nice Hillside Mannor or a Beachside Mansion!... YOU CHOOSE, they are both free!!! HAHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

lol!


as far as fish or corals go thats hard for me to decide.... I love both.... Moorish Idols are the ONE fish Ive wanted all my reefkeeping life!... so its hard to decide... and Brains are some of my favorite corals!

He did start nipping at the Brain again! btw! so I pulled it out and put it BACK in the fuge !



Im going to have to do some serious searching around!...
I was wanting to give him to the friend, but concidering that he is gone most of the time and that worrys me knowing the MI's need alot of food, but the 300 gallon tank would still be nice!

I just may bring him to the LFS and keep him in one of our tanks!.... although I dont really want to!

Ill just really have to do some serious HOME searching so to speak!


Other than just bothering Brains like the Welsos and Lobos hes fine... not bothing anything else, accept the occational nip at the Cup coral and the constant nipping of sponges... other than that hes a good mannered fishy!

Im just reallllllly glad that he doesnt bother my Flowerpots!... the green goni and the Alveos couldnt tank the abuse!
My flame angel has suddenly taken a likeing to the Xenias.... but hes not doing any irrepairable damage to them at all!... which is good!


What im worried about is soon I will be MOVING my 75 gallon tank... just a few feet, but after 8 years of having it where it is and hateing every second of it.... IM READY FOR THE MOVE!

I just am worried about the MI being ok for the 2 day move and worried where Im going to keep him and keep him feeding good!!!


Ill be sure to keep you guys updated on everything!

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Got a quick ?? does anyone keep clams in their tanks with their MI's? Just wondering as I'd like to put some clams in my tank but want to make sure that when I get a MI, he will not nip or eat them.

 

[ReefGeekster]

Got a quick ?? does anyone keep clams in their tanks with their MI's? Just wondering as I'd like to put some clams in my tank but want to make sure that when I get a MI, he will not nip or eat them.

I feed my my Idol Live steamer clams and he eats them like there's no tomorrow, so I'd be really careful.

 

[zfunk007]

Well distaster struck again today!! This morning we had a sucession of power outages (like we seem to always do). Good old Florida Power and Light (or as I like to call them "Frequent Power Loss") screwed me again.

After the power fluttered on and off for about 10 mins it turned off for about 2 hours. When it came back on my main system pump was shot. Its a Mag-Drive 2400 and I think the motor is shot. I took it apart but there was nothing I could do.

So I went all around town looking for a replacement and most stores don't carry pumps that big in stock but luckily I found one and am trying to get it re-attached. Its a bigger pump (Mag 3600) so I may have flow issues now but o well.

I'm just worried about my Idol. He looks ok but wasn't eating when I tried feeding him. I'm waiting for my girlfriend to get here so she can help me do this. What a mess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If my Idol dies... FPL is getting a visit at their corporate office from me!!!!!!!

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Good luck with him. Yea that 3600 will flow a lot as long as you don't have any head pressure. I had one on my 190 for a while but got rid of it as it couldn't handle any head presure when I set up my return system. A lot of flow though.

 

[fppf]

Any serious reef or fish keeper should think about backup plains for power. Our creatures are so depent on the aging electrical grid its not funny. For now, my backup plain is a power inverter I run off my car which can run my pumps and heaters. This is enough to insure the safety of my current setup.

When my plains of a VERY large tank and fullfilled there will be a 5 minute battery backup system followed by and onsite diesel generator with automatic startup.

Right now, an email gets sent to my phone on a power failer. With that I can then make it home or have my wife go home to setup the invertor within 30 minutes. My tank will coast just fine for 30 minutes.

Good news with the Idols, they are both ok. Gill is eating like a pig and Jill is picking and eating a lot of flake. They are both growing back there dorsal fins that fell off during shipping.

 

[Paul B]

Zfunk, if you want a long drive I will lend you my generator. I hope all returns to normal soon, It could be worse, you could be a couple of hundred miles west.
Chevy, I have a clam and I have never seen the Idol pay any attention to it.
Paul

 

[zfunk007]

Good news. All came out ok. Idol was breathing hard this morning but once I got the pump going he was fine. Whew...

Actually we do have a huge generator but for a power outage that only lasts an hour or 2 is almost isn't worth it to get it all out and running. Its a hassle. We got this generator primarily for extended outtages during hurricane season.

The problem with where I live isn't necissarily extended power outages all the time, but small "surges" that knock out and fry my equipment. They happen quite often sometimes several times a day and my equipment can only take so much. I already lost a ballast 2 weeks ago and several other pumps before this one. As well as many many computer issues (yeah I know I should get a battery backup). At any rate at least all is well for the moment.

Your right Paul, I should feel fortunate. My heart goes out to everyone in the Gulf Coast area. Its a tragedy of epic prortions.

 

[Shawnts106]

The problem with where I live isn't necissarily extended power outages all the time, but small "surges" that knock out and fry my equipment.

I know what you mean... if it so much as even LOOKS like its going to rain here in Oxford Alabama then our power goes out!

so far I have never had to replace any equipment due to this proplem! so thats a good thing!


We are all the way up here in North East Alabama and we felt the effects of Katrina.. power flickering off for 1 minute on for 1 minute... it was like this for id say about 5 or 6 hours!!!!!.... not always on for 1 and off for 1 minute though.. of course!


the winds here were BAD... lots of downed trees and such... but Im not complaining at all!!!..... look at NO!.... my gah.. I couldnt imagine ... much less want to imagine something like that!!!


we are very fortunate to only have had a few leaves in the pool and a bit of a power flicker here and there!!! and a tree in the middle of the road blocking everyone for getting in and out of here! HAHA!

geeze! My thoughts and prayers go out for those people!



well... today the Moorish Idol is still eatting some frozen, although not as well as he was yesterday.... I did get some Pink Frilly sponge at my LFS because we are in the process of redesigning all of our coral tanks ( 8 coral tanks btw )... and in the process finding alot of sponges!!!! NATURAL GROWING!

quite exciting.... also, here is a serious thought... we are also finding .. ready for this one...

we are finding baby or small FLAME SCALOPS!!!! 2 so far and we have redone 2 tanks!!!!!!

about the size of a quarter....

amazing!


well.... Ill keep everyone updated, as if you expected anything less!!! HAHA!!


Im still deciding on the Moorish Idol/brain eatting issue!

I am starting so side more with the brains after today and seeing the most beautiful lobo Ive ever seen... BRIGHT CANDY RED with a georgous GRASS GREEN CENTER!!!!

about as big as a football!!!

 

[WILDTHING]

Shawn,
set up a smallish tank for the brains! I don't think you would have to do anything fancy, PC lights or a small MH and if your skimmer can handle it share the sump.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

zfunk007
Glad everything is OK. Have you thought about putting surge protectors on your equipment to help prevent the problems that you are having? Might be something worth while looking into and could be cheapier in the long run if you keep having so many "brown outs".