The Moorish Idol Thread

[zfunk007]

I've got a surge protector on my main lighting system (the halides and PC's). The rest of it are on just regular power strips. I plan on upgrading but it takes time and money. And considering I just quit my job at the LFS, this hobby is only going to get more expensive for me!! (until my own business gets going)

Shawn, if you want to get rid of your Idol I will seriously take him. I may only have a 110 FOWLR for him but I will be able to feed him 4-5 times a day. I think thats almost more important than being in a 300 gallon tank with someone thats not going to be able to give him much attention. Like I said also, my 110 is going to be upgraded soon. Very soon.

WILDTHING had a good idea also. If your very set on keeping those brains then just setup a little LPS tank. You do work at an LFS and have cheaper access to everything you would need. I think you could do it .

 

[Shawnts106]

Your right about the ability to set up a small LPS tank.. and getting it cheaper, but its still not the same as having them in the main display!!!

Thanks for your offer Z... but I really dont want to ship the fish... I dont have access to and O2 cylinder or the proper bagging equipment to ship him... so shipping is just not an option....

I really at this point do NOT know what I am going to do!... Im just haveing hard times dealing with water quality too!... the Fuge is just not even doing its job... 20ppm on Nitrates... which upsets me!... I LOVE THIS FISH, but I DO NOT LOVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEALING WITH ITS NEEDS!...

Ive still got alot of thinking to do!


but thanks for the suggestions!

 

[WILDTHING]

I really at this point do NOT know what I am going to do!... Im just haveing hard times dealing with water quality too!... the Fuge is just not even doing its job... 20ppm on Nitrates... which upsets me!... I LOVE THIS FISH, but I DO NOT LOVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEALING WITH ITS NEEDS!...

Anthony Calfo has a thread about using a 5g bucket filled with sand as a sink, then when its no longer functioning toss it and replace with another 5g. Seems interesting.

 

[Shawnts106]

A 5 gallon bucket filled with sand as a sink???? Im veryyyyyyy veryyyyyyy confussed!!!


What does a sink have to do with bad water quality???????

Are you referring to the Sulfur method? I have heard of using a 5 gallon bucket filled with sulfur and pumping water through it and denitrafying the water in this method... but never sand..... maybe some type of natural DSB type filter?????

please explain... this sounds interesting!

 

[WILDTHING]

A 5 gallon bucket filled with sand as a sink???? Im veryyyyyyy veryyyyyyy confussed!!!


What does a sink have to do with bad water quality???????
OTE]

:lol: :lol: :rollface: :lol: :lol: A Nitrate sink. Absorbs trates like a DSB is supposed to and returns purer water to your system.:lol:

 

[fppf]

I use Purigen by seachem to reduce rates.
http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Purigen.html

I have found it works good and is reusable. I use about 500 ml in my 125 FOWLR and it keeps the rates about 10-15 PPM. Though I have had to use more than they say is needed and I need to "Recharge" it every month or so. To recharge it simply soak it in a 1:1 water bleach mixter for 24 hours. Then flush good and soak in a dechlor for 8 hours. Going on over a year on the same 500 ml and it is still working good. Marine Depot sells liter jars for $33.

The Idols are doing good tonight. The trailer on Gill is really growing in fast. Jill's is also growing but slower. She is not eating nearlly as much, but enough where I'm not worried.

 

[Shawnts106]

HUM!! love those seachem products!!!

But that doesnt cure my MI and Brain problem... also, tonight Ive noticed his belly is HUGE!!!... must have ate alot of left over pellets today!.... and hes swimming a bit funny, as if hes got an air bubble in his tummy.... I saw him try to eat a floating bubble the other day... so its possible he did today!... hes really swimming funny, like hes got BAD FISH GAS!

I hope everything is ok... Ill keep you guys updated on him!... maybe he will pass it!



TTYL

 

[Shawnts106]

Just thought Id let everyone know... hes fine... just must have been a trapped gas bubble!!!... hes still eatting pellets quite well.... but I have a worse fear now... I have noticed hes getting skinny, way to skinny for comfort... so Ive nearly decided that Im going to give him to the friend with the 300 gallon tank... hes got alot of LR to graze off of... lots of sponges... plus he feeds him... so he will have more swimming room plus more food... Ive been noticeing that hes been going after the loose Amphipod thats scurrying about on the sand.... so thats good too!

as one once said... Man can not live on bread alone...

and as I just am now saying...

Moorish Idols can not live on pellets and Amphipods alone!


haha!


well... Ill update your guys more later... OH, btw: he completly devoured the Pink Frilly sponge! ... Reef Sponges = MI food!

 

[fppf]

Both of my Idols are doing good also, so far.
The trailing fin on Gill has grown about 2 inches in the last 6 days. Jill's has also grown but only about an inch. There not real thick but I think this is a good sign of health. They are both eating like "Pigs" now and scarf down almost anything that I put in there.

I have been feeding (in order of amount) frozen brine with a vitamin sup, Sea Veggies, Frozen Mysis, Angle food preps with spong.

I ordered the New Spectrum food and they don't touch it. And the only times Gill got sick and threw up was when I put some in the tank. So that was a waste of money in my book. They also really don't seem to care for the Angle food with spong in it. They "Sample" it and spit it out.

I have had really good results with my Regal and Powder Blue Tangs using the Brine, Sea Veggies, and Mysis diet. They both have brite color and are fat and happy. I'm hoping to have simular results with the Idols. I have had the Regal Tang about a year and a half and the powder blue about six months now.

 

[Shawnts106]

GREAT NEWS TO HEAR!!!

My MI will eat on the Angel Formula with Sponges quite well!!!...

he does seem to get tired of it after a while though!


keep those good updates a' comeing!

 

[zfunk007]

Glad to hear your Idols are doing well everyone. Mine is doing great also. His banner just keeps growing. Its insane how long it is now.

Sorry to hear you can't ship me your Idol Shawn, but I understand .

 

[Shawnts106]

Thanks for being understanding Z...

Ive been really feeding him extra lately... hes a bit skinny, and you know how hard it is for them to regain weight.... hes got all the sunk in qualitys.... if you know what I mean, despite him eatting like a piggy 3 or 4 times a day!

So Ive been feeding him extra... once Ive got him fattened up a bit more and hes less sickly looking I think Im goin to give him to My friend with the 300gallon... that is, as soon as he gets his foot long Atlantic Tang out... I dont trust Tangs and Idols together!

I know YT and MI swim together (in the same waters) in the waters of hawaii... but still... when they are in an enclosed 4foot by 2 foot glass box, things start to get interesting!


Another reason why Im giveing him to the friend is because of his sudden craving for Bubble Coral.... and Cup Coral..... yesterday I caught him nipping away at them!... rrrrrr



Geeze, I LOVE these fish, but hate their habits!
I really would just like to set up a tank JUST FOR HIM!... like a MIN. of 55 gallons... with alot of current for him to get some excersize in!

But Space being an issue.... thats not goint to happen, plus a 55 would be as big as I could really afford right now... MAYBE another 75 gallon!....

It would end up having to be in my room... and the sound of running water is not my friend when Im trying to sleep!

yes I would get use to it..... however!.... thats just really not going to happen because of space.... yes I do have room to put on... no I will not have ANY ROOM to walk!... haha

plus... MY YT in the fuge is probably getting sick of a constant diet of Calurpa! haha


well.... chat at cha later!

 

[fppf]

Just wondering why you don't trust Idols and Tangs?
Could you give some more details???

I have a powder blue and a Regal in the main display tank. I guess we will see what happens. Unless the issues are really spelled out I don't take them to heart too much. My powder blue and Regal where going to rip each other apart if you ask most people. But there like 2 peas in a pod. Now, the lawn mower Blenny that started chewing on my Red African Sea Star no one would beleave. Just trying to say that these fish have just as much personality as we do. Some will go fine, others will fight to the death.

 

[Shawnts106]

Just wondering why you don't trust Idols and Tangs?

Ive already stated that


Ocean - room = 4foot by 2 foot glass box... = furthermore... angry tangs!


Tangs are extremly energetic fish that need alot of swimming room.... when you confine them into a glass box crowded by other fish they seem to get a little ****y for lack of a better word...




I was referring to my tank.... a person who owns a 2 or 3 hundred gallon tank shouldnt have many problems... I suppose it really depends on the size of the tank, the size of the fish, the number of fish and the fishes own individual temperment....

 

[fppf]

Ah, Ok I follow you now.
I have a 125 now so we will see what happens.
If I need to bump up I wont be shy about doing it for these fish. When my house gets built (next few years) there will be somewhere between a 2000-5000 gallon reef in the living room. But that is a little far off now.

 

[ToonPack]

Hi

A VERY long time since I posted, but here's an update.

almost 3 months in with my Idol and he's absolutely FINE

He will eat anything from flake to frozen foods, the only thing he doesn't like are cockles, thought I'd try one and he had a bit of a nibble but wasn't keen.

He's nice and round and filled out and after feeding he looks like Mr Creosote from the M/Python movie I think he would permanently eat if I let him.

As for feeding regime, my tank gets fed daily once only. If he's bullying my softies (which is rare now) I'll additionally add a little flake for him but he's doing good.

 

[zfunk007]

If you can ToonPack, post a picture! We'd love to see him.

I have 3 Atlantic Blue Tangs in with my Idol. They never seem to bother each other (well the tangs bicker but they leave the Idol alone). So in my experience you can put tangs with Idols. However it may be a different story if you put an Idol in with a well established tang. That could be an issue. But hopefully fppf won't have that problem. Time will tell.

Well another update for you. You can add zoanthids to the list of corals my Idol will eat. He started picking at 3 of my colonies the other day. He ate a few of my green ones, yellow ones and grey ones. So I took them out. He doesn't seem as interested in the blue and purple ones, so I'm leaving those in the tank for now.

This Idol is by far the most unpredictable fish when it comes to eating corals. It's almost as if he becomes bored one day and says to himself "Ok, I think I'll sample this coral over here today just for the heck of it." Very strange. Someone should call Scott Michaels and tell him to list the Moorish Idol under "Not recommended for reef tanks."

But its all good, Idol comes first. What he eats, gets taken out. Just as long as he's doing well thats all that matters to me.

 

[Shawnts106]

ZOOS NOW!! geeze, tell him to give it a break! haha

 

[Paul B]

I went clamming last weekend and it was a holiday for my moorish Idol too. He just loves fresh clams. Unfortunately, I love them too.
Paul

 

[CrazyLionfish]

Shawnts.. i told ya soo. lol jk I won't be mean.

And your post implied that you wanted your friend with his 300 gallon to get rid of the tang before he takes your Moorish Idol. However a few posts later you said in a 200 or 300 gallon it should be fine. Anyways.... good luck everyone with your idols! And no offense shawn, but I don't think a 55 gallon would be good for a Moorish Idol at all, but I'm sure he'll LOVE your friends 300. Good luck.