The Moorish Idol Thread

[just dave]

Agent SPS

It sounds like your fish have lymphocystis (the white nodular growths) which is viral and seems to be fairly common on certain fish out of Hawaii.

They frayed fins may also be caused from a monogenean trematode (Neobenedenia sp.)
These are also very common on certain fish from Hawaii.

The trematode is clear and very difficult to see on the fish.
A FW dip will cause any to fall off the fish around the ten minute mark and turn the trematode a frosted white which makes them easier to see. They can also cause a blotchy skin coloring on the fish as well as cloudy eyes and red lesions along with the frayed fins.
Praziquntel will kill them (but not the eggs) and Hikari sells a product called Prazipro which is very effective against them.

 

[Mike de Leon]

Paul, I just wanted to tell you that you actually inspired me to try an MI. Awhile back you actually sent me an email with pictures of your MI.
Thanks! I have one of my own now and is doing well so far. I just started planning for a 120 gallon to house him in. I bought the stand today.
Regards!

 

[AgentSPS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6224295#post6224295 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by just dave
Agent SPS

It sounds like your fish have lymphocystis (the white nodular growths) which is viral and seems to be fairly common on certain fish out of Hawaii.

They frayed fins may also be caused from a monogenean trematode (Neobenedenia sp.)
These are also very common on certain fish from Hawaii.

The trematode is clear and very difficult to see on the fish.
A FW dip will cause any to fall off the fish around the ten minute mark and turn the trematode a frosted white which makes them easier to see. They can also cause a blotchy skin coloring on the fish as well as cloudy eyes and red lesions along with the frayed fins.
Praziquntel will kill them (but not the eggs) and Hikari sells a product called Prazipro which is very effective against them.

Hi Just Dave-

Thank you for the useful/detailed information.

Too early to say for sure by the growths on their fins seem to be receding. Just added the final dose this evening so we will see. Anyhow if it is a virus there is nothing anyone can do for that but keep feeding and crossing fingers.

The tremetode might be a possibility! I did notice a clear circle 1/4inch around the base of one of their fins. Also close to that area the fish has some white discoloration on the body about 1/8th inch circle. If I do a FW dip will the fish be okay for 10 mins?? Worried that it might stress them out and make them more susceptable to secondary infection??

 

[Paul B]

Mike, thanks, Usually I just inspire people to jump off the roof.
Paul
:eek1:

 

[AgentSPS]

Kihi Kihi

Kihi Kihi

Just pulled the idols from quarantine this weekend. They are eating krill, Angel Formula, and mysis. I was a bit worried that their large size would make the tank look smaller. That might be the case but they really are majestic! Kihi Kihi!

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/121692354.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/121692353.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/121692352.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/121692350.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/121692349.jpg>

 

[ReefGeekster]

They look great! How's the purple tang treating them?

 

[AgentSPS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6274208#post6274208 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefGeekster
They look great! How's the purple tang treating them?

They are way too big for the purple tang. He just stears clear when they come barreling down the tank. In fact when I fed krill last night the idols would swim up to the purple tang and literally rip the krill from its mouth. No questions asked.

 

[MATTT]

AgentSPS,

Is the pair a male and female ?

mattt.

 

[MATTT]

Well, I got my MI about two months ago. It would not touch anything I put in the tank. It does swim around and try to eat some thing on the rock. I pretty much try all kind of food exist out ther still it won't eat. The mi is now just skin and bone.

One day I forgot and left a prepared food in room temperature for about a day. When I came home from work, instead of throwing it away. I put it in the tank so that the other fish can eat it.

The moorish idol certainly ate a piece of mysis floating by and another and another. I couldn't believe it, it finally ate after more than a month with out eating. I think it is because of the rotten smell of the mysis that caught the attention of the mi. Due to not eating for so long, it is very weak but still trying to get some food into the mouth. I am so excited.

In the prepared food, I have a mix of mysis, brime shrimp, garlic, selcon, zoecon.

A week later, the mi is pretty much eating all kind of fresh food with vitamins including flakes. Last night, It ate out of my hand. I am going to try to get it to eat nori or sea weeds.

Thought, I just like to share the info with everyone.

mattt.

 

[AgentSPS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6277522#post6277522 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MATTT
AgentSPS,

Is the pair a male and female ?

mattt.

I dunno? Am I supposed to look for something dangling ?

 

[AgentSPS]

Mattt isn't that just a huge relief? You are now past the first hurdle. Now you just need to get past the 6 month mark. In the meantime it might be a good idea to not introduce any new fish for a few months. If so make sure they go through a thurough quarantine. You don't want to expose the idol to any parasites during this critical period.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6277643#post6277643 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MATTT
Well, I got my MI about two months ago. It would not touch anything I put in the tank. It does swim around and try to eat some thing on the rock. I pretty much try all kind of food exist out ther still it won't eat. The mi is now just skin and bone.

One day I forgot and left a prepared food in room temperature for about a day. When I came home from work, instead of throwing it away. I put it in the tank so that the other fish can eat it.

The moorish idol certainly ate a piece of mysis floating by and another and another. I couldn't believe it, it finally ate after more than a month with out eating. I think it is because of the rotten smell of the mysis that caught the attention of the mi. Due to not eating for so long, it is very weak but still trying to get some food into the mouth. I am so excited.

In the prepared food, I have a mix of mysis, brime shrimp, garlic, selcon, zoecon.

A week later, the mi is pretty much eating all kind of fresh food with vitamins including flakes. Last night, It ate out of my hand. I am going to try to get it to eat nori or sea weeds.

Thought, I just like to share the info with everyone.

mattt.

 

[MATTT]

AgentSPS,

Yeah, I know what you mean. Wouldn't want the mi to get ick or any illness for the moment. In the future, I am planning to get another so that it would has a mate. Don't know when yet.

No, you don't look for the haging thingy. But that is funny though. Some how the male mi has a magenta color on it sides.

Your pair looks so nice in your tank.

mattt.

 

[AgentSPS]

Mattt seriously consider getting at least one more idol. They seem to do much better in pairs especially when it comes to eating.

I had a single idol before and like yours it took a while to start eating. One day I tried brine and he took a nip at one and did not stop. By that afternoon he was eating frozen mysis. A week later eating just about anything else.

a little note about pairing. I have a pair of yellow and black tongs. Whenever I used them in the tank my idol would follow the tongs everywhere. It was so bad I would have to shoo it away. This is just straight instinct for them.

Well sadly after about a month this guy developed ick. I figured as long as he kept eating he would kick it. No such luck. He made it about 2 weeks until it took over.

Lessons learned:

1) Always get idols in pairs
2) Buy Hawaiian idols
3) Try to get ones that are eating but if not then make sure they are fat because it could take a while before their next meal.
4) Quarantine them even if they don't show any signs of sickness.
5) Try not to introduce new fish for a month after introducing the idols.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6278402#post6278402 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MATTT
AgentSPS,

Yeah, I know what you mean. Wouldn't want the mi to get ick or any illness for the moment. In the future, I am planning to get another so that it would has a mate. Don't know when yet.

No, you don't look for the haging thingy. But that is funny though. Some how the male mi has a magenta color on it sides.

Your pair looks so nice in your tank.

mattt.

 

[johnvu713]

zfunk007
if you do start an online LFS, remember not to overcharge like some of stores online
What's the projected date of operation?

 

[johnvu713]

ok nevermind i just saw you posted your adress. D'oh!!!

 

[MATTT]

AgentSPS,

Yes, getting a pair is a must. I just love your pair they look so natural that way. Following each other all over the tank.

This is my plan, in about a month or more I'll get another similar in size. Probably a little smaller. I am just wondering if they are going to fight or will they pairing up. If that is not working out, I probably trying to sell the one I have and purchase a smaller pair.

mattt.

 

[MATTT]

As a note,

My MI did have icks a week later after I got it and so are a few other fish in the tank. A really bad case of ick, the blue powder tang didn't make it. Some how the moorish idol pull through, maybe that is why it takes so long to get it to eat. I will never know. I installed a 60w uv and I don't know if that help.

mattt.

 

[peterlin98]

Hey guys - I have always wanted to keep moorish idol and yesterday I bought a healthy pair at LFS (Fish Gallery, Dallas, Texas). $30/each before discount..so I decided to give them a try.

They were eating mysis shrimp (frozen I think) at the store. This morning one of them is eating frozen mysis eagerly - the other one hopefully will join the feast as time goes on.

I don't trust these in my reef tank after reading this thread carefully (lots of sps, lps like Acan, Blasto, clams) - so I may have to get a larger tank to house them eventually (when they are ready to come out of QT). Any suggestion on minimum tank size? These are medium size fish - 3 inch wide and look large with the banner.

 

[MATTT]

peterlin98,

Was the pair in the same tank at the lfs. You are lucky to have found a pair that looks healthy and eating.

How big is your reef tank. I have seen a reef tank with one mi in it and it didn't touch a thing other than the food that was giving. But than again it was a full blown reef tank with huge colonies of sps.

You have a pair and that is hard to tell if it is going to bother your corals or not.

The moorish idol is easy to catch because of it large size. You could put it in your reef tank, it might or might not eats your coral. But if it does, you could always catch it and place it in another tank.

mattt.

 

[Paul B]

Mine has been in my reef about two years and he does not bother corals, but thats just mine.
Paul