The Moorish Idol Thread

[angelfish7]

So i finally pulled the trigger on a MI and picked one up at a LFS. They just came in today! I usually don't like to buy fish the same day they come in but they were very nice size for the price and looked great. Hopefully he'll start eating soon. Looks like he nipped at a few mysis in the QT. I know this was likely asked already on this thread already but can one keep more than one MI in the same tank? would love to get one more. !

 

[stuifbol]

I know of only one person who keeps 4 MI in his tank.....mostly it's no succes I think?

So i finally pulled the trigger on a MI and picked one up at a LFS. They just came in today! I usually don't like to buy fish the same day they come in but they were very nice size for the price and looked great. Hopefully he'll start eating soon. Looks like he nipped at a few mysis in the QT. I know this was likely asked already on this thread already but can one keep more than one MI in the same tank? would love to get one more. !

 

[cbbram]

So i finally pulled the trigger on a MI and picked one up at a LFS. They just came in today! I usually don't like to buy fish the same day they come in but they were very nice size for the price and looked great. Hopefully he'll start eating soon. Looks like he nipped at a few mysis in the QT. I know this was likely asked already on this thread already but can one keep more than one MI in the same tank? would love to get one more. !

I recommend you read this thread in it's entirety. The information is really invaluable. I was able to get all the info I needed to help with my new MI.

 

[Chicago]

Tagging

 

[h2so4hurts]

I feed mine spectrum pellets 4x a day from the autofeeder, scallops 2x a day (once in the morning, once in the afternoon), and mysis at noon. He's very plump The key to these guys is swimming space and a well balanced diet. I'd also suggest quarantining them for at least a month and training them to eat your food. Dropping them in your DT with other fish can be extremely stressful and limit your success with this animal severely.

 

[angelfish7]

I feed mine spectrum pellets 4x a day from the autofeeder, scallops 2x a day (once in the morning, once in the afternoon), and mysis at noon. He's very plump The key to these guys is swimming space and a well balanced diet. I'd also suggest quarantining them for at least a month and training them to eat your food. Dropping them in your DT with other fish can be extremely stressful and limit your success with this animal severely.

So how did you get him to eat pellets. Have mine for two weeks now but he won't eat pellets at all! Only eats ocean nutrition angel formula, mysis and clams.

 

[h2so4hurts]

I had him in a QT tank for 6 weeks and slowly weaned him off of frozen food until he'd eat the pellets. It took a while and I think being in a solitary environment with no stress is really key for getting some of these individuals to eat.

That being said, I had my copperband butterfly in QT for 8 weeks and he wouldn't ever eat the pellets, he still doesn't. He's the reason I feed Selcon soaked scallop twice a day because its really the only thing he likes.

 

[gofor100]

I had him in a QT tank for 6 weeks and slowly weaned him off of frozen food until he'd eat the pellets. It took a while and I think being in a solitary environment with no stress is really key for getting some of these individuals to eat.

That being said, I had my copperband butterfly in QT for 8 weeks and he wouldn't ever eat the pellets, he still doesn't. He's the reason I feed Selcon soaked scallop twice a day because its really the only thing he likes.

+1 on QT being VERY, VERY important. Mine eats everything and I attribute that to me QT'ing him and acclimating him to all foods I feed in my DT (Frozen and pellets) before actually putting him in the DT.

To make the pellets more palatable, I soaked them in some tank water mixed with garlic. They might not take to it right away, but be persistent. Soon enough, they'll begin picking at them off the sand, then eat them right out of the water column. At least, that's how it was with mine.

Good luck!

-Chad

 

[foxrazr]

Update:
My moorish idol was added to the display tank 8-6-12. He is doing good. Is still eating NLS pellets on a timer 3xday, flakes and nori. For some reason he stopped eating pe mysis. He will still taste it but spits it out. It gained some weight. Overall doing good. He sometimes gets harrased by my yellow tang that I have which is almost the same size. The moorish idol has learned how to dodge him.

 

[h2so4hurts]

My tangs chase my idol around too. He doesn't seem to care though. Just goes back to picking at the rocks.

 

[Lazylivin]

Does anyone know if Idols are okay in hyposalinity? My QT is at 1.009 and I would like to keep him there for 30 days.

 

[SDguy]

Coming up on a year with mine. He has at least tripled in size... he's larger that my butterflies at this point, and taller than even my male meredithi angel! The 240g came just in time for this guy!

 

[SDguy]

Not a great pic, but you get the idea...

 

[pinnatus]

Peter, I like your selection of fish. Your tastes mirror mine.

 

[cthetoy]

Does anyone know if Idols are okay in hyposalinity? My QT is at 1.009 and I would like to keep him there for 30 days.

I've kept a few over the years and while Moorish Idols tolerate hyposalinity well they seem to lose weight despite feeding then 5x a day and gain their weight back (slower) once salinity is back to normal or they are in the DT. Just keep an eye on their weight.

 

[SDguy]

Peter, I like your selection of fish. Your tastes mirror mine.

thank you!

 

[Lazylivin]

I've kept a few over the years and while Moorish Idols tolerate hyposalinity well they seem to lose weight despite feeding then 5x a day and gain their weight back (slower) once salinity is back to normal or they are in the DT. Just keep an eye on their weight.

Thank you

 

[AliciaP]

My idol

<a href="http://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q623/Alicia_Pircio/?action=view&current=2012-09-17_14-16-19_674.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q623/Alicia_Pircio/2012-09-17_14-16-19_674.jpg" border="0" alt="Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App"></a>

With his brand newly introduced buddy the yellow tang

<a href="http://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q623/Alicia_Pircio/?action=view&current=2012-09-17_14-17-00_424.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q623/Alicia_Pircio/2012-09-17_14-17-00_424.jpg" border="0" alt="Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App"></a>

been gaining wait steadily since I got him in May. These photos were taken just now.

Hopefully you can see how nice and plump he is getting in this photo

<a href="http://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q623/Alicia_Pircio/?action=view&current=2012-09-17_14-18-33_954.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q623/Alicia_Pircio/2012-09-17_14-18-33_954.jpg" border="0" alt="Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App"></a>

 

[cbbram]

09/10/12 was my 1 month anniversary for my new MI. Eats well and always hungry... eating mysis, Formula 2 flakes, nori, & clams. Just ordered some NLS pellets hopefully it likes them. Just a little worried because it's color is a little faded. Anyone have / had this problem with color?

 

[bullitr]

I have 3 and planning to add more all are starting to eat pellets
It's only been a month

When they do well after few months I will transfer them to the big tank
Any pointers?


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