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That is a realy nice plump MI. Nice fin too!
The Moorish Idol Thread
- Thread starter zfunk007
- Start date
zfunk007
Premium Member
LivingDeadFish, thanks for comming out of your seclusion to post on this thread. I made this thread for people like you. So we could share our experiences. To hell with the critics! If people like us don't try to keep Moorish Idol's in captivity then it will never be done. At least we are trying and giving them the best we can give them and learning alot in the process.
You should certainly get a camera cause I'd love to see some pictures of your Idol.
Thanks for the comments Paul. He certainly does seem to be doing well. I think since I have been able to feed him 3 times a day for the past 2 weeks or so he has become fatter and happier. I plan on getting an automatic feeder soon so I won't have to worry so much if I miss a feeding.
That story about the clams is awful. I couldn't imagine having to trash a car because of some clams!!
I have no doubt that my Idol's dorsal fin will eventually become just as long and full as the ones in the wild. There isn't anyone in my tank that would nip it off I don't think and it just keeps getting longer and longer. Time will tell.
You should certainly get a camera cause I'd love to see some pictures of your Idol.
Thanks for the comments Paul. He certainly does seem to be doing well. I think since I have been able to feed him 3 times a day for the past 2 weeks or so he has become fatter and happier. I plan on getting an automatic feeder soon so I won't have to worry so much if I miss a feeding.
That story about the clams is awful. I couldn't imagine having to trash a car because of some clams!!
I have no doubt that my Idol's dorsal fin will eventually become just as long and full as the ones in the wild. There isn't anyone in my tank that would nip it off I don't think and it just keeps getting longer and longer. Time will tell.
LivingDeadFish
New member
Just a quick thought, after looking over my system specs, Perhaps keeping an idol for any amount of time just requires alot of o2 in the water.
I have always had 1 chamber of bioballs on my system, and i would think that would add more o2 than just about any skimmer or over flow, which i have both of those also.
With the ease i have had taking care of these fish, perhaps something like high o2 concentration is all they really need.
i have done nothing special for this idol and 95% of his diet that i see him eat is a fresh water food for bettas.
lately i have been feeding 3-4 times a day, and some frozen brine twice already this month, i think ill do that again today, my idol bit me last time i feed brine, kinda hurt i had to check for blood
anyway just my thoughts on o2
ldf
I have always had 1 chamber of bioballs on my system, and i would think that would add more o2 than just about any skimmer or over flow, which i have both of those also.
With the ease i have had taking care of these fish, perhaps something like high o2 concentration is all they really need.
i have done nothing special for this idol and 95% of his diet that i see him eat is a fresh water food for bettas.
lately i have been feeding 3-4 times a day, and some frozen brine twice already this month, i think ill do that again today, my idol bit me last time i feed brine, kinda hurt i had to check for blood
anyway just my thoughts on o2
ldf
zfunk007
Premium Member
Interesting thought Livingdeadfish. I know they need alot of o2 in the water or they become asphyxiated quickly.
I think that ALOT of water flow is essential also. Cause it keeps the oxygen flowing and keeps your Idol in shape
. I have a grand total of 6 powerheads in my main tank along with the 2 water returns. So there is a ton of flow. I think it helps.
I think that ALOT of water flow is essential also. Cause it keeps the oxygen flowing and keeps your Idol in shape
. I have a grand total of 6 powerheads in my main tank along with the 2 water returns. So there is a ton of flow. I think it helps.
zfunk007
Premium Member
Well I tried some new food today. Gave the Idol some frozen squid. He ate it, although he didn't seem to go "crazy" like he does for most of the other food I give him. Just trying to further diversify his food intake.
He has had some small ich spots here and there on him since I put him in. Finally in the past week or so he seems to have just about none at all. From my experience working at this LFS it seems like fish build up an immunity from ich after having somewhat mild cases for a long time. Anyone else notice this? Maybe the garlic helped also.
He has had some small ich spots here and there on him since I put him in. Finally in the past week or so he seems to have just about none at all. From my experience working at this LFS it seems like fish build up an immunity from ich after having somewhat mild cases for a long time. Anyone else notice this? Maybe the garlic helped also.
LukFox
Active member
Zfunk, I had this thread in mind when I was following the idols in Maui. All of them that I saw did have a slightly raised but still noticable bar/bone (only really noticeable if you're actually looking for it though) going through the length of their body. It wasnt a pinched look though, and since I made sure if all of the ones I saw had it, I suppose it's normal and nothing to worry about.
Here's a couple pics I took down there.
Here's a couple pics I took down there.
Last edited:
Paul B
Premium Member
LukFox, nice pictures, I dove in Maui many years ago and I don't remember if I saw and moorish Idols while there.
Idols really need to be fed a few times a day. All fish would benefit from that. I am not home much so I finally got an automatic feeder so at least I can throw some pellets in there a few times a day until I get home and feed some better food.
I hooked up the feeder to my Idol feeding dish. It dispenses food twice a day into a funnel that goes down to a dish which the Idol checks out about every thirty seconds. I have to go out to the Hamptons this weekend and since I will be staying there at least the Idol can have some pellets to eat. I will be at a wedding on the beach so I will be eating better than him.
Take care.
Paul
This is an old picture, that dish is now all covered with coraline algae and the Idol is a lot larger.
Idols really need to be fed a few times a day. All fish would benefit from that. I am not home much so I finally got an automatic feeder so at least I can throw some pellets in there a few times a day until I get home and feed some better food.
I hooked up the feeder to my Idol feeding dish. It dispenses food twice a day into a funnel that goes down to a dish which the Idol checks out about every thirty seconds. I have to go out to the Hamptons this weekend and since I will be staying there at least the Idol can have some pellets to eat. I will be at a wedding on the beach so I will be eating better than him.
Take care.
Paul
This is an old picture, that dish is now all covered with coraline algae and the Idol is a lot larger.
LukFox
Active member
Maybe we went to different parts of the island or something, because wherever there was water breaking on rocks, they were there - always. Easy to find them and there were many . I just wish of the 27 pictures I took of them, more turned out - lol. I always love your pictures btw, Paul.
. I just wish of the 27 pictures I took of them, more turned out - lol. I always love your pictures btw, Paul.
Paul B
Premium Member
Luk, I probably saw many of them as I dove on four of the Hawaiian Islands but it was 33 years ago, almost 300 dives ago, and I can't remember what I had for breakfast.
I did not have an underweater camera then as they were very expensive and I was on my honeymoon. My bride (who I am still married to) had other ideas as to what we would do. We still dive quite a bit, we went to Tahiti last and this year we are going to dive the western Mediteranian but unfortunately, there will be no moorish Idols there, mainly ruins of ancient civilizations.
As I said, sometimes my wife (who works out a lot) has other Ideas of destinations than I do. But at least I talked her out of England and Germany. Talk about no moorish Idols, there is not even any water to speak of there, much less dive in.
Take care.
Paul
I did not have an underweater camera then as they were very expensive and I was on my honeymoon. My bride (who I am still married to) had other ideas as to what we would do. We still dive quite a bit, we went to Tahiti last and this year we are going to dive the western Mediteranian but unfortunately, there will be no moorish Idols there, mainly ruins of ancient civilizations.
As I said, sometimes my wife (who works out a lot) has other Ideas of destinations than I do. But at least I talked her out of England and Germany. Talk about no moorish Idols, there is not even any water to speak of there, much less dive in.
Take care.
Paul
zfunk007
Premium Member
LukFox, thanks for posting! Do you actually have an Idol in one of your tanks? Also those are great pics! I'm jealous. Someday I will dive with the Idols. I'd like to even do a study on them someday if I ever get a chance. I'm toying with the idea of getting a marine biology degree (although I don't know if I can handle the classes) so we'll see. But I think studying their behavior would be very interesting.
The Idol in your pictures LukFox looks just like mine. Picking constantly. And the fairly long dorsal fin. I'm glad to hear that the bar/bone is normal even in the wild. Mines has gotten less and less noticeable as time has gone on and now you can hardly see it.
He seems to be doing extremely well. The spectrum pellets appear to be his favorite food now although as always he will eat anything I put in. I'll post some more pictures in the comming month to mark his progress.
LukFox, if you have more pics, please do post.
Hey Paul, you could always dive in Loch Ness :lmao: I watched a show once where they dove in Loch Ness looking for the monster and found these STRANGE coral like creatures on the bottom. Talk about weird.
Also Paul, you need to take some updated pictures!! Or get someone with a digital camera to come over and take them for you so we can see your Idol in some recent pictures. If I lived close by I would do it!
tdude294, If in fact you are asking a serious question, then no I would NEVER keep an Idol in a 20 gallon tank. You would most certainly be comdemning him to death. But thanks for asking.
I'm taking a trip to the keys this weekend and I'll be gone for 3-4 days. We are doing a little diving and "collecting" trip. I've got an underwater camera so I'll post some pictures when I get back. Thanks for the posts everyone. Keep them comming!
The Idol in your pictures LukFox looks just like mine
. Picking constantly. And the fairly long dorsal fin. I'm glad to hear that the bar/bone is normal even in the wild. Mines has gotten less and less noticeable as time has gone on and now you can hardly see it. He seems to be doing extremely well. The spectrum pellets appear to be his favorite food now although as always he will eat anything I put in. I'll post some more pictures in the comming month to mark his progress.
LukFox, if you have more pics, please do post
.Hey Paul, you could always dive in Loch Ness :lmao: I watched a show once where they dove in Loch Ness looking for the monster and found these STRANGE coral like creatures on the bottom. Talk about weird.
Also Paul, you need to take some updated pictures!! Or get someone with a digital camera to come over and take them for you so we can see your Idol in some recent pictures. If I lived close by I would do it!
tdude294, If in fact you are asking a serious question, then no I would NEVER keep an Idol in a 20 gallon tank. You would most certainly be comdemning him to death. But thanks for asking.
I'm taking a trip to the keys this weekend and I'll be gone for 3-4 days. We are doing a little diving and "collecting" trip. I've got an underwater camera so I'll post some pictures when I get back. Thanks for the posts everyone. Keep them comming!
Paul B
Premium Member
Zfunk, I know about the old pictures. I have a digital camera and I guess I will have to take some updates. I'm going to a wedding now out in the Hamptons so I will get a lot of use out of my digital camera.
Take care.
Paul
ps, I like the idea of diving in Loch Ness. The visability is the same as I am used to, about a foot.
Take care.
Paul
ps, I like the idea of diving in Loch Ness. The visability is the same as I am used to, about a foot.
Shawnts106
New member
Hello everyone.... First a background:
Hello, Ive had a saltwater tank (reef) 75gallon for 9 years ... I also am running a refugium on the tank
After years of just being scared to try one.. I finnally bit the bullet and special ordered one from my LFS that I work at... I got him yesterday its about 2.5 to 3 inches long... so a small juvie.. which is key! very good shape and has a nice dorsal fin!
He has been nibbling at liverock pretty well.. Not crazy but he is nibbleing quite well! Also I have tried feeding every fish food I have.. to no avail.. but I do have some sponge he has picked at but not injested... dont know why.. its white ... some is purple, and I do have a bit of yellow...
I just bought some GARLIC GAURD from seachem today and soaked the food in it.. I took a clamshell, and put some squid, clams and nori in it... soaked it for a half hour and put it in the tank.. the Idol reallllllllllllly eyed it but did not bite.. I suppose hes not ready! haha, its only been in the tank for a day.. so Im not rushing anything, just glad to see that he is nibbling on LR.. hes also nibbling on my closed brain.. which honestly I dont care.. he can eat the darn thing for all I care!
I was wondering if this is normal behavior for a MI... I know they are hard to keep, I know that they hardly ever survive.. but condering I have been able to grow... not KEEP BUT GROWWWW Alveoporas and Gonioporas for about 7 months in my tank .. having to frag my alveopora twice already I decided on a MI... No I do not regret this... even if he dies... I am determinded to do everything I can to keep him alive! I selected a small young specimen for the same reason you all did, because they tend to do better!
so far hes not being picked on by my other fish, or picking on them.. hes swimming madly LOL, and is picking on LR quite often.... but hasnt accepted any frozen foods just yet, but has shown interest!
is this normal? have any suggestions.. I am trying to get the Frozen Sponge Rations in asap! for now he has a bit of LIVE SPONGE, which he doesnt really like! haha
please help me, I have been on another forum but have repeatitivly got almost CURSED at for getting on... also, currsed at for getting and keeping gonis and alves!.. those people are RIDICULOUS... there is another person on this thread that stated they got screamed at for keeping gonis.. I have talked to this person quite a bit.. we both agree on one thing.. FEED THIS SPECIES OF CORAL!!! haha.. they use Liquid Life.. I use Dts live marine phytoplankton.. they both seem to work!!!
anyway! here is my Idol!
Hello, Ive had a saltwater tank (reef) 75gallon for 9 years ... I also am running a refugium on the tank
After years of just being scared to try one.. I finnally bit the bullet and special ordered one from my LFS that I work at... I got him yesterday its about 2.5 to 3 inches long... so a small juvie.. which is key! very good shape and has a nice dorsal fin!
He has been nibbling at liverock pretty well.. Not crazy but he is nibbleing quite well! Also I have tried feeding every fish food I have.. to no avail.. but I do have some sponge he has picked at but not injested... dont know why.. its white ... some is purple, and I do have a bit of yellow...
I just bought some GARLIC GAURD from seachem today and soaked the food in it.. I took a clamshell, and put some squid, clams and nori in it... soaked it for a half hour and put it in the tank.. the Idol reallllllllllllly eyed it but did not bite.. I suppose hes not ready! haha, its only been in the tank for a day.. so Im not rushing anything, just glad to see that he is nibbling on LR.. hes also nibbling on my closed brain.. which honestly I dont care.. he can eat the darn thing for all I care!
I was wondering if this is normal behavior for a MI... I know they are hard to keep, I know that they hardly ever survive.. but condering I have been able to grow... not KEEP BUT GROWWWW Alveoporas and Gonioporas for about 7 months in my tank .. having to frag my alveopora twice already I decided on a MI... No I do not regret this... even if he dies... I am determinded to do everything I can to keep him alive! I selected a small young specimen for the same reason you all did, because they tend to do better!
so far hes not being picked on by my other fish, or picking on them.. hes swimming madly LOL, and is picking on LR quite often.... but hasnt accepted any frozen foods just yet, but has shown interest!
is this normal? have any suggestions.. I am trying to get the Frozen Sponge Rations in asap! for now he has a bit of LIVE SPONGE, which he doesnt really like! haha
please help me, I have been on another forum but have repeatitivly got almost CURSED at for getting on... also, currsed at for getting and keeping gonis and alves!.. those people are RIDICULOUS... there is another person on this thread that stated they got screamed at for keeping gonis.. I have talked to this person quite a bit.. we both agree on one thing.. FEED THIS SPECIES OF CORAL!!! haha.. they use Liquid Life.. I use Dts live marine phytoplankton.. they both seem to work!!!
anyway! here is my Idol!
Shawnts106
New member
If you cant see him there please visit my page.. its on page 2 of this gallery
My Page here you can see my Idol.. 3 pictures!
My Page
here you can see my Idol.. 3 pictures!
Shawnts106
New member
*bump* ^
from what ive read these guys are very similiar to regal angels as far as diet is concerned. maybe this is why you see many reeftanks with both of these fish in them.
They feed on sponges and tunicates. i think the idols prefer the tunicates but i dont know for sure. the question we should be asking is can we propagate tunicates and sponges in our refugiums to meet the demands of feeding these guys? if anyone has experience with fast growing tunicate colonies or sponges please chime in. i think this would help all of us.
peace
They feed on sponges and tunicates. i think the idols prefer the tunicates but i dont know for sure. the question we should be asking is can we propagate tunicates and sponges in our refugiums to meet the demands of feeding these guys? if anyone has experience with fast growing tunicate colonies or sponges please chime in. i think this would help all of us.
peace
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