The tank was set up as a FOWLR and I aquired several large fish with teh tank. They are currently in my 190 holding tank until I get the 400 plumbed. If I want to add a MI, sholud I put him in BEFORE I add the other fish back into the tank or at the same time?
I do know that Moorish Idols have to have VERY mature tanks, at least a year.. they do better, and also, while not being reef safe themselves.. they do better in a reef tank!
As far as how to add these fish.. I do know that Moorish Idols should not be kept with any agressive fish, aka puffers, triggers, certain tangs, (large), certain angels etc..... they do better if there are only very peaceful tank mates.. like clownfish, gobies, maybe a dwarf angel.. my Coral Beauty and Flame Angel do not bother my MI one single bit.. they act like they have always known him!
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT!... I have found that MI are REALLY GOOD at dodging YELLOW TAILED DAMSELS!! lol, mine are sooo fast, yet the MI dodges them like crazy! its really funny!
Any ideas on what size and when to add a MI would be greatly appreciated.
I have found and read that a YOUNG (2.5 to 4inch) specimen from hawaii seems to be the best candidate for survival in an aquarium...
good luck.. but a word of warning... these fish are NOT FOR BEGGINERS.. they are seriously hard to keep, trive and survive in aquariums..... as I am finding out day by day... they are the most picky fish available IMO... and unless your going to devote several hours a day to trying to feed it and watch its behavior to monitor how it is doing... then do not get one! .. If you do.. be prepared to spend 40$ + on fish food!!!!
I hope to have him around for years to come as he is a cool fish!
VERY GOOD!!! I do too! I think they are one of the most beautiful fish on earth!!!! Also, I took a lunch (slash)... ( or / .. well you could do this > \ ) anyway... I took a lunch/watch the IDOL break just now and mine is just absolutly PIGGING OUT on the blue sponge!!! I will have to get a species or a picture going up on here!!! I personally, though have read no reference to this.. But I think that a Meaty diet, or shrimps, mysis, or brine, and squid, and clams and musscle combined with a good quality pelet soaked in some type of flavor, vitamin enhancer like Zoecon or Selcon or something.. (BTW: we do not also carry selcon but we do have ZOE and Zoecon), anyway.... also, combined with a large part of their daily to every other day diet some type of marine sponge.. like this blue or yellow sponge will give them YEARS in captivity.... I htink personally that SPONGE is a MASSIVE part of the Moorish Idols diet!!!.... Mine is CONSTANTLY picking on sponge growth... more of the deaper colors than the whites or Qtip sponges!... Mine seems so far to absolutly go CRAZY for the BLUE sponge, and Purple sponge... and then likes the Yellow sponge, but seems to dislike, or not care for much for the Qtip and the White sponges.... but this is just MY IDOL... other peoples if collected at different deapths or parts of the world my be attracked to different species of sponge growth!.... I personally am experimenting with various species, colors and forms of sponge so see which mine loves the most... so far mine loves the varities that seem to do well in REEF TANKS... indicating that these sponges are found high on the reef in the ocean... which is also a good reason why MI like them.... They are typically a high reef animal... the ones from hawaii are found on the tops of reefs... just a few meters below the surface... and since these sponges do so well in reef tanks with high lighting I would bet on it that these sponges are found in higher shallower areas on the reefs of the world! ... makes sence to me.. what do you think???
and think i have a very good start
If your tank is mature and has a very good live supply of micro and macro fauna like Scuds and sponge and pods and such then yes you do have a good start.. if not I would wait till you get these in great supply... or I would quickly set up a refugium... these are excelt to get Scuds and pods and such to breed like WILDFIRE!
goodluck!
i will let my MI's establish in the tank for a good couple months before any other fish are added so i can get them on some kind of feeding sched.
VERY GOOD PLANNING! I like this experiment so far... hehehe... also, you should get some damsels like Chromis or something like a few gobies that are peacefull in there before the Idol.. get them cycleing the tank and then a few months or years however long it takes to get a good LR system and Pod reproduction going .. then Add a YOUNG specimen *hawaiian is the best* and then youve got WHOLE lot of a better chance of him surviving!... I waited 9 yearsssss before I added my IDOL! DAY 6 with him for he.. and hes got a full belly of what I suppose is sponge and pods! ... anyway... I think you get my point!
im going to have 3ft reef with a nice structure and caves and what not and then 5ft of open tank/water for the fish to swim and roam i figure this way i can almost simulate natural habitat somewhat.
Sounds like a great Environment for a MI to me... You mentioned Reef... you mean Corals, LR, not base rock, Coraline sponge of course, ect.. right??? These fish are NOT reef safe thenselves.. but the do alot better in a reef tank...
I have mine now for 6 days.. hes nipped at a Welso Brain, and just a bit at a RED GONIOPORA.. both of these corals were closed up and quite TICKED at something... I think they mine is purposely nipping at dammaged upset or dieing corals... easy meal! LOL they CAN and ARE BEST kept in reef tanks.... but beware.. you may loose or MAY NOT loose a prized coral... just be prepared and willing to spend 40$ or more on a nice expensive LIVE meal for it ...hehehe
I really dont mind that mine is nipping at these 2 corals at all... I believe if it is getting some type of nutrition from them... LET IT! If it somehow is making it live by eatting my Brains out! (lol, no pun intended) haha, then Ill give it to it!
I just saw your other thread Shawnts106. To answer your questions about the pellets. To get my Idol eating pellets I used "New Life Spectrumax, Finicky Fish Formula." The bottle has a Moorish Idol on it so you can't miss it. Once he started eating those I switched him over to "Spectrum THERA+A by New Life." Those pellets are an anti-parasitic formula that I swear by. ALL my fish at the LFS I work at and all my fish in my 6 tanks at home get these pellets every day.
Thanks for that INFO !!!! this will have to be a must to try!!!! thanks!
This is a GREAT thread so far!! really informative.. I myself have learned a great deal just in this one small thread!
oh, someone mentioned they have been doing research for I think months like 8 hours a day... LOL, that is wonderful that you are getting as much info as you can before you make that purchase!!! Thats like me.. no matter if Im getting something or not.. be a coral, fish or new shrimp! LOL, I do an extensive amount of research on the animal before actually getting it! This makes for a much happier animal... plus a much SAVED MUUULAAAA on trying things like getting it to eat, or it eatting things etc...
I researched this ONE FISH for nearly about 5 years before purchasing THIS ONE!.... I now have ALOT better understanding of this species and its learned requirements!!! Therefore being able to give this fish what it needs!!!! I now know that these fish in the wild feed on sponge, some algae and small inverts like Pods scuds, worms etc... Knowing this I can offer it sponge, pods and algae.. various calurpa species.. Red grape, Feather, and Green Bubble Calurpa... although its not paid any attention to the algaes... well at least I knew to try it! haha
I knew to select the BEST POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR SURVIVAL.. a young hawaiian specimen!
... this gives the fish a better chance of survival!
RESEARCH, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IS EVERYTHING!
GOOD LUCK!
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