The Moorish Idol Thread

[benray4fun]

Paul, I'm so glad I found you... There's a kid on the reef discussion forum that posted a thread about moorish idols and I was hoping maybe you might stop by and help'm out with some info. It would be greatly appreciated..."THANKS PAUL" for even considering...respectfully Ben

 

[BlueNWhite]

Adding a second MI?

Adding a second MI?

I'm not sure if this has been asked before, but what are the chances of success of adding a second MI to a tank that has had one in there for about 2-3 months already?

What would you recommendations be?

Thanks.

 

[Asuran]

just noticed that my MI has taken less interested in mysis when i feed now but rather waits by the seaweed clip and enjoys tearing away at the seaweed... also i spotted him chowing down on formula 2 flakes... guess he wants to slowly become a vegitarian? :lol:

 

[LIReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9374209#post9374209 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Asuran
just noticed that my MI has taken less interested in mysis when i feed now but rather waits by the seaweed clip and enjoys tearing away at the seaweed... also i spotted him chowing down on formula 2 flakes... guess he wants to slowly become a vegitarian? :lol:

Mine is doing the exact same thing, but I haven't given it flakes. Mine is still in quarantine - Is yours?

 

[tpdpercula]

5 months ago I purchased two idols, got them home, and set them free. At first they both got along (300 gallon reef) but eventually they had to be seperated. Got rid of the other and now just have one in my big tank. He eats everything, including the occasional zoas. I feed mine a mixture of frozen brine, mysis, marine algea, and give him a sheet of seaweed once a day. I think he is the best fish in the tank.

 

[LIReefer]

Well I have an Idol that came down with Black Ich. A small black dot was visible at about 4 days in quarantine. A couple of days later he was covered in black dots but they weren't as distinct or pronounced as the first one I saw. They seem to smear more. Anyway, following recommendations of a formalin dip - I did this last night. He seemed to tolerate it, but was clearly stressed and dark blotches appeared on the white parts. Is this normal? I had him there for 20 min and then put him in a hypo dip of 1.010 for a couple of minutes and then back in the QT. Today he looks like he got beat up. The lower fins and tail are tattered, and the dark blotches are still visible and look like bruses. He is eating though. Is this the way they look coming out of the bath or did I do something wrong here? I know I need to repeat the treatment every couple of days, but if he is going to take this kind of a beating I'm afraid he may not survive. Any thoughts?

Ed

 

[ckuhndog77]

Here is update on mine. Posted earlier in first half of thread.

Got it on 1/23/06

Photo from tonight

 

[AMD30]

Hi, i am setting up a 300 gal tank 8ft long and was wondering how many MI's i can try to keep? do they really do well in a school? 3,4,5? i have been reading this thread for quite some time and feel i know what to feed it and what kinds of MI's to look for in my LFS. thx for any help!

 

[AMD30]

Hi, i am setting up a 300 gal tank 8ft long and was wondering how many MI's i can try to keep? do they really do well in a school? 3,4,5? i have been reading this thread for quite some time and feel i know what to feed it and what kinds of MI's to look for in my LFS. thx for any help!

 

[Asuran]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9377134#post9377134 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LIReefer
Mine is doing the exact same thing, but I haven't given it flakes. Mine is still in quarantine - Is yours?

Mine has been in the display for about 2-3 months dont remember exactly... but flakes i feed to my other fish and my idol chows them down with the rest of the group... funny seeing how it tries to jock for position at the seaweed clip

 

[echoplex]

Idol at Aquarium of the Pacific Long Beach

Idol at Aquarium of the Pacific Long Beach

Just thought I'd throw up a pic of some Idols I spotted in the Shark/Ray petting tank at Long Beach Aquarium.
There were about 20-30 of them in there looking very healthy, picking green algae off the sides of the tank.
I don't believe this is a very clean tank but who knows, maybe it's being constantly flushed with fresh ocean water.

Yes that's a hammerhead. In the petting tank. :lol:

 

[TandN]

WOW great thread im thinking of getting one myself I love these fish. Does anyone know where to get sponges for them ?

 

[Paul B]

Actually I do. I collect the sponges on City Island on the floating docks. They are all over the place. I freeze them and they last all winter.
Paul

 

[TandN]

Paul arent you concerned about the water quaility out there

 

[Paul B]

Tanya I have been using that water in my reef for three decades. I am not concerned about it at all.
Paul

 

[TandN]

WOW very impressive have you ever done tests on the water for ammonia and nitrats and nitrites before just wondering ?

 

[Paul B]

I have never tested the water for anything except salinity. If it has worked for all of those years, how bad could it be?
At the beginning of this hobby we couldn't buy water so we collected it, I still do
Paul

 

[rivan]

I'm glad I found this thread.

Just to add to this general knowledge about 15 years ago I got a Moorish Idol of about 5" from a local LFS. It had come from prety direct from Hawaii and was really Fat.

I kept it in a 120Gal tank with a few other Tangs for over 6 years. A Great eater and easy to keep. I only lost it when I got a parasite which wiped out half the fish.

So I've always been puzzled when people say they don't last.

 

[rivan]

I forgot to add. That Idol Ate moslty Brine Shrimp and pellet food. Once a week I fed romaine lettuce. The only thing I did which was special is that I used a feeding ring which only the idol could get his snout into to get the pellets. And I used a brine shrimp cone.

 

[achillesheel]

my two guys. had them almost three weeks and the small one has recently started eating "well". the larger one picks on rocks all day and has started showing interest in prepared foods.