Man I miss my subscription to that Magazine.....I personally dont' QT fish, so I don't want to argue that point, but I will purchase MI that are eating prepared foods prior to me putting them in my tank.. Fortunately for me I have several great LFS locally to me that try everything they can to sell healthy eating fish, especially the more finicky eaters.... I will surely read thru this thread before I make any final decisions on buying them. Thanks
The Moorish Idol Thread
- Thread starter zfunk007
- Start date
Man I miss my subscription to that Magazine.....I personally dont' QT fish, so I don't want to argue that point, but I will purchase MI that are eating prepared foods prior to me putting them in my tank.. Fortunately for me I have several great LFS locally to me that try everything they can to sell healthy eating fish, especially the more finicky eaters.... I will surely read thru this thread before I make any final decisions on buying them. Thanks
Any possibility of posting the contents of that article? I'd be very interested to read this.
locust
New member
A local LFS to me has currently got 4 juvenile moorish idols and is selling them at 2 for $30. This store is an absolute disgrace to the hobby. I know that they obtain cyanide caught fish (learned the hard way) but the most infuriating thing is that the business is booming. They will sell any fish to any person, no questions asked. These poor idols were lethargic and emaciated and it was like the store was just trying to get rid of them before they died. The unfortunate thing is that there doesn't seem to be any good LFS around here. I have tried 4 and every one of them does not know what they are talking about. They would be better off selling cars. It's very frustrating. :mad2:
I'm considering a MI again after resisting for ever. It's like a reoccuring night mare only I love the thought of one. I have read as much literature as I could find on them including this thread multiple times. 
I have a 180g setup without fish. The tank has been running for 2 years with LR, heavy skimming and now carbon and phosphate reactors. Parameters are stable, flow is @67x turn over with OM4, 2x Wavyseas + 4 other rear outlets from 2x Dart 3600 gph pumps on a CL. Also 2x MP40 Vortex.
Tank prepping for SPS. Fish will go in first, um, now, um soon ----- Hopefully clams too if the MH decides they stay.
My question is what is the best source location to get them from? I believe it was Hawaii for purchasing within Canada or the US since it has only 1 or 2 hops to destination correct? Or was it Maldives because of some other more stress resistive trait or something? I recall reading somewhere that species from one location was less likely to be as heavily dependent on sponge vs. the other source location....
Any opinions, advise appreciated.
I have a 180g setup without fish. The tank has been running for 2 years with LR, heavy skimming and now carbon and phosphate reactors. Parameters are stable, flow is @67x turn over with OM4, 2x Wavyseas + 4 other rear outlets from 2x Dart 3600 gph pumps on a CL. Also 2x MP40 Vortex.
Tank prepping for SPS. Fish will go in first, um, now, um soon ----- Hopefully clams too if the MH decides they stay.
My question is what is the best source location to get them from? I believe it was Hawaii for purchasing within Canada or the US since it has only 1 or 2 hops to destination correct? Or was it Maldives because of some other more stress resistive trait or something? I recall reading somewhere that species from one location was less likely to be as heavily dependent on sponge vs. the other source location....
Any opinions, advise appreciated.
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I just purchased my first MI on an impulse buy. I know it might not have been the best decision, but after a month I have to say he has turned into an absolute tank. He eats anything that goes into the tank and seems to be doing great. Paul B I am on LI also, maybe can help me get some of those sponges you feel would benefit him??
Ok, Paul. I would appreciate that. Right now he is eating Nori, NLS pellets, frozen brine, mysis, and krill. I am going to try clam, mussels and scallops. When you say that you mean to go to fish market and get a couple and freeze them and shave them like you mentioned? He should be ok untill spring?
Outerbank
New member
jobu28, your fish should be fine if he is eating such a variety of foods. Just remmeber, IMO, to feed them a lot. Mine devours nori.
Previously, I had a MI for 4 years prior to my current MI. He did not eat as much nori. At that time, I owned a very large PBT that guarded and patrolled any nori placed in the tank. However, I fed the tank numerous times and the MI would eat everything.
Previously, I had a MI for 4 years prior to my current MI. He did not eat as much nori. At that time, I owned a very large PBT that guarded and patrolled any nori placed in the tank. However, I fed the tank numerous times and the MI would eat everything.
Thanks for the reply Scott. He doesnt get harrassed at all. Always out, always lookimg for food. Yeah he loves Nori. So do you think sponges are a good idea in the spring or not necessary? If i can ask, what happened to yours after 4 years? What can i expect out of mine. This was always a fish i desired but was always told how hard they are. I am pleasantly surprised at how well he is doing. But i am cautious and want to do right by him and am reading even if he is eating nothing is guaranteed? Thanks.
Outerbank
New member
My first MI died after a long move. I had given away everything but a few fish and some base rock. The new set up crashed as I was very busy and made a stupid decision to add a new copperband and just treat the whole tank as a quarentine tank. My plans were to start over from there with a disease free tank. Least to say, my base rock had a lot more life than I thought and the tank crashed. I saved my old YT and clowns, but lost about 3 fish including the MI. Moral of the story--its best to have one DT and a QT, not just one or the other.
Sounds like you have a great fish. Nothing to expect other than pleasure. Keep it well fed with plenty of swimming room, good circulation, and quality water and it should do well.
I am sure Paul's sponge would be a good addition. He has had a lot of success without an overly large tank.
Paul B
Premium Member
You can't but the sponge, but they love the New York sponge. I used to feed it every day and he would jump out of the water for it although he would eat anything, sponge was his favorite. I have spent a lot of time with them underwater in the South Pacific and the only thing I ever saw them eat was sponges.
Mine died in an accident after five years.
Paul B
Premium Member
Oh, you mean clams and mussles, I thought you meant sponges.
You can definately freeze clams and mussels and shave off thin slivers of it to feed to Idols (and everything else) Do not put the clams in a blender unless you want chowder. They fall apart into a slimy mess. If you freeze them, keep the air out or in the freezer they turn into a rubbery substance from freezer burn. Put them in a tight small zip loc bag or something like that. Then using a razor knofe, shave off thin pieces.
You can do that with spearing alse. Don't forget that clams are fine but Idols never get to eat a clam in the sea. They live with tridnacna clams which are very common in the same areas as Idols but I doubt they could eat one. Their teeth and jaw mussels are practically useless for tearing almost anything except sponge which is very soft.
They will not eat hard sponges as they can't rip pieces off. In the sea I have only seen them eat this lime green very soft sponge. I have only seen that stuff in Tahiti although it probably also comes from Hawaii.
I fed mine a few times a day mostly with pellets soaked in either fish oil or Selcon.
I fed sponge a few times a week
I always target fed it. I think I outlined it at the beginning of this thread.
Good luck
The sponge you are talking about Paul, where do you find it? I live in Europe (Denmark), but was hoping i could find something similar here. Do you have any pictures of it?
also what are peoples experience with MI, and high flow, do they like it, or do they prefere lower flow?
also what are peoples experience with MI, and high flow, do they like it, or do they prefere lower flow?
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