The Moorish Idol Thread

I had a moorish idol once... he loved Favia, Candy Cane, Lobophylia, sponge and Zoa's

He also liked Nori and prepared foods... I had to find him a new home, I couldn't afford to replace the corals forever. I don't think this fish shouldn't be imported, along with many others.
 
I was curious about the idols at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and this is what they sent me... nice little read =)


A few notes about the Moorish Idols that you saw in the Tropical Diver Reef exhibit. This exhibit is a well established ecosystem within 164,000 gallons of salt water . These animals are broadcast fed and tend to eat arcti-pods, clam, frozen mysids, and sponges (growing in the exhibit). The live coral in this tank are also a food source (intentional or not).



The biologists tell me this species seem to do better in groups (we have 40 individuals) and in open water systems typically. Even though we don’t have open water in our system, the corals and larger population may have a positive impact on the life span due to the variety of food sources. As I mentioned before this exhibit is a well established ecosystem that has had time to develop.
 
They still are a very difficult fish with a dismal record. Ihad my last one for about 5 years but that is unusual. If we can' t keep them for ten years or more, we are failing.
 
Update: I've had mine 6 months and it's still doing well. Eats nori, PE Mysis, and Spectrum Marine Formula Pellets (1mm size). Fat and beautiful. The Spectrum is the backbone of my feeding, 3x per day, and I truly think it's a key food for keeping these guys healthy and long-lived.

Check out Spectrum's website, and watch Pablo's videos of his Moorish Idols. Just amazing.

I really need to get a pic of this guy and put it up. He's roughly 5" across and growing, with a nice streamer.
 
Christmas 2008. This is my fat MI. 4 and 1/2 months ago he was about 3/4 inch smaller than Mr. Yellow.

crppedMIxmas2008.jpg


xmas2008090.jpg
 
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Hi guy's
HAPPY NEW YEAR...........
l was wounding what water condition like salinaty you have your MI in??? l know in reef tanks 1.0264 in fish only tanks it 1.021/1.023... also how much water change you guy's do 10% weekly or bi-weekly or more??? I would love to keep one in the future.
 
My tanks are natural seawater, so 1.026-ish. Water changes....big one (20-30%) once per month usually, with some small changes during cleaning as well. I drain the 240g tank down low then refill with heated seawater, complete with additives.
 
Hey guys I just found this thread and Im glad I did. I have had my MI for about a month now, he is in a mixed reef where he is the biggest fish in the pond at about 3-4", I love him he is so graceful and beautiful. I obviously am looking for longterm success. It seems alot of the decent success people have is by feeding NLS pellets. My Idol is eating, he eats dried seaweed all day!! He also grazes on the rocks, muches on on several sponges I keep in the tank for his & my rockbeauys consumption, and he also eats frozen spirulina that I feed the tank. My problem is he doesnt go near the pellets and I hear that should be the backbone to my feedings along w the other stuff I feed.
IMG_1402.jpg
 
Hey everyone, No new pictures lately but thought I chime in here since it's been a while. Well my Idol is pushing almost 3 years now that I've had him. Got him from a fellow RC member on 4/24/07 so just a few months more and I'll have had him for 3 years.

He's still nice and fat. He hasn't really gotten any bigger. Pushing about 6" now. His dorsal fin will occasionally grow to about 2" of stringy filimant before it disappears again. I don't know if someone is eating it or it gets hung up and ripped on the rocks.

He still eats like a pig anything I feed. he's still hanging with my Naso's and really enjoys the tank. I wouldn't say i have the best water quality as I've lost a lot of corals lately, Mostly SPS but a few LPS. Nothing to do with the idol or any other fish, just bad water. I'm trying to get a handle on it now.

I'm still using NSW and will continue to do so as my fish seem to have better color quality and their overall health seems better. My Naso's are pushing 9 years old now. ;)

Take care all.
 
hi crusty, great to hear from u again, been a while since i have been on, busy busy. def glad to hear ur idol is doing well. Well, i once again have an idol, picked him up last nite for 10$ at a lfs, he dont look to well, light in color and has a little ick, buy i got him in my 30gal quar tank, and tryin to treat him, so far no intrest in any food, but i think i can get him to eat within a couple days or so when he calms down a bit. I hope that since he is in there alone, he will be more calm and willing to try to eat, since he wont be harrased by any others, will try to get some pics of him up later, along with some new ones from my 150.
 
Tried to take pics of my Idol today, and didn't do too well. He was in "play" mode, where he swims in fast bursts across the tank in front of me. Just a mischievous fish, I tell ya. :) The pics don't do it, or it's color, justice. It's over 5" across it's body.

This will be the last pics I take most likely. I've sold off the livestock, except for the Idol (two buyers have fallen through so far), and am getting out of the hobby for awhile. Just no time to take care of it.

Very sad to see it all go, but life goes on. Maybe I'll come back again bigger and better down the road. :)

The Idol is going for sale in the buy/trade forum as soon as I hit 50 posts...today. LOL

MoorishIdol.jpg


MoorishIdol2.jpg
 
In honor of my 50th post, I want to send a big THANK YOU out to all of you. It has been a wonderful experience being a part of such a great community. I will truly miss you all and your posts. Jack
 
hi again, will def get pic on later tonight, idol is now eating prime reef flake, omega one flake with garlic, and hopefuly more varied food soon. and is starting to grow its streamer back. ick is gone and color is back.
 
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