The Moorish Idol Thread

[zfunk007]

I have had it about a year and a half. It doesn't eat prepared foods, so it is surviving on whatever it finds I guess. In the past month or two it does seem to take frozen Rod's food, but I don't feed that very often. I like it very much, it is a great fish. It loves it when I clean the glass, maybe I stir up something that it likes.

Interesting.... thanks for the tip on the Rods food :thumbsup:

 

[owenspackman]

I would advise against getting two as well. I have never attempted it myself but from working at fish stores for 10+ years I know they are not happy together generally unless like Chad said they have a massive tank to swim around in.

One it is! Thanks guys.

 

[owenspackman]

So my MI arrived today from BlueZoo.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29441159@N03/9734673801/" title="IMG_9537 by owenspackman, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/9734673801_d6b4b81148_c.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="IMG_9537"></a>

Starting the acclimation. I only took the one photo during this period, i turned the lights off and just left him alone.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29441159@N03/9737911780/" title="IMG_9555 by owenspackman, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/9737911780_73245bb7b8_c.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="IMG_9555"></a>

The MI was very stressed during the start of the acclimation, lots of thrashing about in the styrofoam container at the start. I used the Seachem stress stuff that BlueZoo include and it certainly seemed to calm him down. I made the acclimation as slow and long as possible.

These photos were taken with my iPhone, not the greatest of quality, once again I only snapped and few and have just left him alone to let him calm down.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29441159@N03/9734673909/" title="IMG_9560 by owenspackman, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/9734673909_7fa395c949_c.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="IMG_9560"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29441159@N03/9734673631/" title="IMG_9558 by owenspackman, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/9734673631_2ec6b6e78d_c.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="IMG_9558"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29441159@N03/9737912006/" title="IMG_9565 by owenspackman, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/9737912006_e32413e657_c.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="IMG_9565"></a>

I did have a concern about my quarantine have the 'mirror' on the back (not much I can do about that, tried to remove it, impossible) but it currently doesn't seem to be stressing him.

So far no interest in NLS pellets.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I would get it eating mysis, spirulina-enriched brine, and chopped scallop/shrimp/clam before moving on to pellets.

 

[owenspackman]

Moorish Idol Primer

Moorish Idol Primer

I would get it eating mysis, spirulina-enriched brine, and chopped scallop/shrimp/clam before moving on to pellets.

Thank you, I'll try all those things. I already have the mysis and brine. Will be visiting the store tomorrow for the fresh seafood. Fingers crossed.

 

[shlap]

Thank you, I'll try all those things. I already have the mysis and brine. Will be visiting the store tomorrow for the fresh seafood. Fingers crossed.

Dont give up on the pellets though. The only thing mine would eat was pellets. Tried every kind of fresh food in existence and it just doesn't care to eat anything out of the water column. They like picking stuff off the ground/rocks.

Nori rubberbanded to a small rock is something to try too.

 

[Chicago]

Rbbuerband some clam meat and nori to rock

 

[zfunk007]

Nice looking Idol. He doesn't look too skinny. Like they said above, just focus on getting him to eat anything you can at this point. Meatier is usually better at this phase. Mine used to love to eat pretty much any kind of LPS coral

 

[owenspackman]

Nice looking Idol. He doesn't look too skinny. Like they said above, just focus on getting him to eat anything you can at this point. Meatier is usually better at this phase. Mine used to love to eat pretty much any kind of LPS coral

Yeah, he actually looks pretty well rounded. No signs of being underweight right now.

I'm not too worried he hasn't eaten today. He's had a pretty stressful 24 hours and I was trying to feed only a few hours after acclimation. I have left him alone all night and will try again tomorrow. I have left Nori tied to a rock tonight but no interest so far.

 

[owenspackman]

Today I purchased a new 29 gallon that isn't backed with a mirror. The MI was spending its whole time looking at its reflection. Now it has no distraction.

Today I attempted from Squid and Scallops. Immediate interest. I think I cut the pieces too large. He would show interest, blow at them or spit them out. Then finally he consumed a few pieces. A good start.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IsehkyrKi_U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[skip0211]

Your well on your way with the eating the idol is dong in your clip. Open up a clam on the 1/2 half shell and attach it to the rock with a rubber band and sit back and enjoy watching him feast on it!!!

 

[owenspackman]

Your well on your way with the eating the idol is dong in your clip. Open up a clam on the 1/2 half shell and attach it to the rock with a rubber band and sit back and enjoy watching him feast on it!!!

Well, i tried your idea and he had clam today, and he's been tearing it at it like crazy, seems to really enjoy it!

I also visited some floating docks close to my local beach. I collected a decent amount of purple sponge attached to the dock. Some is in my refugium, some in the display to grow out and then a small amount tied to a rock in the quarantine with the MI. He's been very interested in it, tearing small pieces off.

So far so good.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29441159@N03/9765415353/" title="IMG_9593 by owenspackman, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/9765415353_abbea74a26_c.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="IMG_9593"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29441159@N03/9754100724/" title="DSC_0100 by owenspackman, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/9754100724_59dbe93f98_c.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="DSC_0100"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29441159@N03/9754102094/" title="DSC_0112 by owenspackman, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/9754102094_b592937baf_c.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="DSC_0112"></a>

 

[skip0211]

Great to hear .. A little Nori tied to the rocks is now in order ..

 

[owenspackman]

Moorish Idol Primer

Moorish Idol Primer

Great to hear .. A little Nori tied to the rocks is now in order ..

I've done that too right next to the sponge. Seems a little nervous of it, goes over and blows on it, but he's showing interest.

 

[skip0211]

Last but not least.... Don't forget the Mysis Shrimp. The clam, Mysis, Nori was my starting success order. My Idol is now a pellet pig also!

Best of luck with your little guy and Happy Reefing!

Skip

 

[owenspackman]

The Moorish Idol has now been with me for 9 days. Started a 2 week treatment for PraziPro as of last night, he still has his appetite which is pleasing.

The only thing he is yet to eat are pellets, but i'm keeping hope he will.

So far he eats like a pig and is eating from the water column, he's eating the following; Brine, Mysis, Sponge, Nori, Flake, Scallops, seaweed select.

 

[skip0211]

You can't ask for better start than that!! Pellets will happen when he/she hits your DT..

Happy reefing... Great job..

 

[owenspackman]

You can't ask for better start than that!! Pellets will happen when he/she hits your DT..

Happy reefing... Great job..

Thanks for the help skip!

 

[HumbleFish]

Has anyone ever tried doing a f/w dip on their MI? I did one for 5 mins the other day to check for Flukes (he didn't have them), and had to end up putting him in an acclimation box afterwards because he just couldn't regain his equilibrium. He seemed fine during the dip itself. He was OK by morning, swimming normally... but it really gave me a scare. I used RODI, and made sure temp/pH matched.

I've seen this before, but usually the fish is fine after 5-10 mins. This went on with my MI for hours (swimming in circles, swimming upside down, etc.)

 

[chipchip]

My MI is doing good so far. My yellow tang was the only one who stressed him at times. But the tang is not longer in my tank. Now the MI has freedom.

My MI had a cut from my yellow tang. This is months ago. And he did not even care this cut he is such a healthy guy.