I did a water change last night, I was having some trouble with brownish algae growing on the sand, and after stirring the sand a little, I noticed some sludge, so (shame on me) for the first time, siphoned the sludge. Well that solved the problem. I have a few toga narcissus snails that I thought would take care of that stuff, but I guess it was too much for them, since I never saw them come out at feeding, I assumed they were always full. I am planning on getting some porcalin* snails to do some night shift cleaning work. Anyway, the MI did fine throughout the cleaning, as usual. The Algae food I give it is called formula 2. Anyone else giving their MI this stuff? It gobbles it up. The color food is called formula 1. Getting ready for my upgrade, and am very psyched. I am getting a larger skimmer next week too.for my 30 gal sump. Well I never heard from anyone on what types of fish I can put in with the MI. After the 210 is up and running, I am planning on getting another Idol, maybe two. Do you think there will be fighting between them? Would 3 Idols in a tank be too much?
The Moorish Idol Thread
- Thread starter zfunk007
- Start date
WILDTHING
New member
Shawnts106 said:Hey you guys.. I updated my pictures on my PAGE!!! so check it out! check out the MI streamer.. and the new aquascaping!
please let me know what you think!
My Album... Page 2
heres an Image.. if It will cooperate!.. Nevermind it wont!rrrrrr
Thats a really nice tank, well done. That streamer is crazy! I can't believe you don't mind him picking on that brain its beautiful.
colleen
CrazyLionfish
New member
I think 3 idols would be weird.. lol I think 2 would be better, but that tank may be too small for 2 and definitly too small for 3, I think. Someone who has done so much research on them and is looking into being a moorish idol "expert" has one in his 300 gallon tank that is dedicated for him, meaning all the rock is made perfectly for the moorish idol etc.. He also feeds his like 5 times a day and his looks SO nice, not skinny at all and so healthy and is eating out of his hand. He was on the swfish.com forums, I duno if hes on here.
zfunk007
Premium Member
I'm starting to think that when I upgrade my FOWLR tank from a 110 to a 210 I may move my Moorish Idol to there. I haven't decided yet though.
The reason for this is that I think I have a particularly curious Moorish Idol. Like I said he "samples" almost all of my corals and is causing some damage. So I may have to consider moving him to my other tank at some point once I get it upgraded (not sure when that is going to happen lol).
But for now I don't mind him nibbling on a coral here and there. Him and the Regal are my prized fish and I cater to them first. I've always prefered fish over coral anyway
.
Chisel, putting more than one Moorish Idol in your tank could be risky unless you have a HUGE system. They may bicker. I'd wait and make sure you can keep the current one you have alive for a couple years before you consider getting more. Just my opinion.
The reason for this is that I think I have a particularly curious Moorish Idol. Like I said he "samples" almost all of my corals and is causing some damage. So I may have to consider moving him to my other tank at some point once I get it upgraded (not sure when that is going to happen lol).
But for now I don't mind him nibbling on a coral here and there. Him and the Regal are my prized fish and I cater to them first. I've always prefered fish over coral anyway
.Chisel, putting more than one Moorish Idol in your tank could be risky unless you have a HUGE system. They may bicker. I'd wait and make sure you can keep the current one you have alive for a couple years before you consider getting more. Just my opinion.
Shawnts106
New member
Agreed!... also, 2 are going to run out your natural food quick!... I agree.. you should only try one.. keep it going for a few years... then if you want... get another!
Shawnts106
New member
Also, I am a bit worried.. now the MI isnt picking at the frozen food... or algae.. but he is still picking at the LR and Brain.... I starting to worry about him... I am about to try some pellets... hold on let me put them in the tank !
... well... .he is paying attention to them.. nipping even... but I dont think ingesting anything yet!... I have noticed he has been really paying attention to the frozen foods I put in to the tanks water column... for the other fish... he is nipping at those too!... so maybe hes going to start eatting a few things soon!
... well... .he is paying attention to them.. nipping even... but I dont think ingesting anything yet!... I have noticed he has been really paying attention to the frozen foods I put in to the tanks water column... for the other fish... he is nipping at those too!... so maybe hes going to start eatting a few things soon!
CrazyLionfish
New member
Shawn you better get your moorish idol doing better, or all those people at swf are gonna be saying "Told Ya So" and you don't want that do you!??! lol
Shawnts106
New member
lol, OH PLEASE! geeze!... lol, they can say told ya so all they wont... it would not prove anything but more of their egotistical stuck on ways!
He is still doing fine... still has a gut! HAHA... just didnt eat plankton today!... I think thats partly because I took him off sponges too fast... I will collect more tomorow for him so he still has some natural fare!
He did nip at pellets today! which is a very good sign!... he shows an extreme interest in foods still... just did not show any in the plankton today!... nothing more than a "I dont feel like eatting pizza today!" haha!!!!
you see what I meen?
He is still doing fine... still has a gut! HAHA... just didnt eat plankton today!... I think thats partly because I took him off sponges too fast... I will collect more tomorow for him so he still has some natural fare!
He did nip at pellets today! which is a very good sign!... he shows an extreme interest in foods still... just did not show any in the plankton today!... nothing more than a "I dont feel like eatting pizza today!" haha!!!!
you see what I meen?
zfunk007
Premium Member
Heres a list of the fish I have with my MI:
-Red Margin Fairy Wrasse
-Some other kind of Fairy Wrasse
-Sixline Wrasse
-2 Blue Chromis
-2 Convict Gobies
-3 Atlantic Blue Tangs
-Dusky Jawfish
-Neon Goby
-Regal Angel
And I think thats it... For the most part they all get along pretty well... Hope this helps a little Chisel...
-Red Margin Fairy Wrasse
-Some other kind of Fairy Wrasse
-Sixline Wrasse
-2 Blue Chromis
-2 Convict Gobies
-3 Atlantic Blue Tangs
-Dusky Jawfish
-Neon Goby
-Regal Angel
And I think thats it... For the most part they all get along pretty well... Hope this helps a little Chisel...
Shawnts106
New member
OO..OO... YELLOW TAILED DAMSELS... ABOUT 100 IN THAT TANK WITH THE MOORISH IDOL!!! lol
ok just kidding!!!
Well... my MI hasnt been nipping at any prepared foods in 2 days.... hes still paying attention to them... just not nipping!
He keeps pooping sand!... this is really bothering me!!!.....
I am hopping to be getting some sponge in soon... and some ANGEL forumla!
Any Advise would be appreciated!
ok just kidding!!!
Well... my MI hasnt been nipping at any prepared foods in 2 days.... hes still paying attention to them... just not nipping!
He keeps pooping sand!... this is really bothering me!!!.....
I am hopping to be getting some sponge in soon... and some ANGEL forumla!
Any Advise would be appreciated!
I can't help but think that this MI thing has a factor of luck involved, I have luckily never had a problem w/ my MI eating, if I throw rice grains in the tank, it would probably eat it Maybe it has something to do with where they are collected. Or are there possibly any tank bred idols out there?
CrazyLionfish
New member
Heres a quick random question, since you mentioned that rice grain thing. One day I was eating cheerios and wondered, what if I fed these to my triggers and lionfish? They eat anything. What do you think would happen? lol
I dont think anything extra ordinary would happen, I was once in the carribean and remember eating doritos while in the water and was surrounded by fish, and decided to give them doritos....they went nuts over the stuff. I don't know if they came back that night hoping for some pepto bismol or not.
CrazyLionfish
New member
lol ya when I was in st. thomas there they gave us bread, I was like what the heck. But they went crazy over it. Hmm. Maybe we are stealing all the natural food so they have to eat bread!! AHHH lol
Shawnts106
New member
LOL, you guys are crazy!..
anyway, No there is NO possibility of CB MI... we cant even keep them Alive for very long... much less captive breed them!
Well... he is still suddenly not eatting anything, though paying attention to it.. just not nipping!
anyway, No there is NO possibility of CB MI... we cant even keep them Alive for very long... much less captive breed them!
Well... he is still suddenly not eatting anything, though paying attention to it.. just not nipping!
CrazyLionfish
New member
Don't make us say we told you so!!! lol Don't do it!!
zfunk007
Premium Member
Shawnts106, sorry to hear your Idol stopped eating . I think you are probably experiencing what alot of Idol owners experience. Where their Idols start eating, look good but then suddenly stop and decline in health. Try what benf said. Maybe that would stimulate his appetite.
Also, i'm telling you, get some Kent Garlic Xtreme. That stuff is potent! Its much more concentrated than Garlic Guard. Soak some kind of food in that for your Idol and hes bound to go after it. Thats what got mine eating in the first place.
Your right chisel, I think for alot of people it is a matter of luck. They get an Idol that is eating well to start out. Mine was certainly luck since I didn't have the luxury of picking my Idol out of a bunch of ones to pick the healthiest. However, I also made every effort possible to get mine eating and healthy. When I first got him he was skinny as a rail, now he is fat and his banner is long and full. But I think collections sites do make a big difference in aquiring a healthy specimen.
As far as breeding them in captivity. I have no clue, but I doubt they have been bred in captivity yet. The closest I have ever heard is that guy in Australia that caught his own Idols and has kept them for over 9 years. I'd imagine you would need a tank that is 1000's of gallons to get them breeding in captivity. But who knows.
. I think you are probably experiencing what alot of Idol owners experience. Where their Idols start eating, look good but then suddenly stop and decline in health. Try what benf said. Maybe that would stimulate his appetite. Also, i'm telling you, get some Kent Garlic Xtreme. That stuff is potent! Its much more concentrated than Garlic Guard. Soak some kind of food in that for your Idol and hes bound to go after it. Thats what got mine eating in the first place.
Your right chisel, I think for alot of people it is a matter of luck. They get an Idol that is eating well to start out. Mine was certainly luck since I didn't have the luxury of picking my Idol out of a bunch of ones to pick the healthiest. However, I also made every effort possible to get mine eating and healthy. When I first got him he was skinny as a rail, now he is fat and his banner is long and full. But I think collections sites do make a big difference in aquiring a healthy specimen.
As far as breeding them in captivity. I have no clue, but I doubt they have been bred in captivity yet. The closest I have ever heard is that guy in Australia that caught his own Idols and has kept them for over 9 years. I'd imagine you would need a tank that is 1000's of gallons to get them breeding in captivity. But who knows.
