The Moorish Idol Thread
- Thread starter zfunk007
- Start date
zfunk007
Premium Member
Wow, this is great!! All these updates and new stories of people's Idols. I'm excited for you all!
Johnvu713, yes the online store is up and running, on ebay. Ebay kind of sucks for this hobby, but it's a start. We are working on a website that will hopefully be up and running next year. I need to appologise to everyone also for posting the address of my store on here. It's apparently against the Reef Central rules to do so. I am sorry I didn't realize that.
Peterlin98, those Idols look great! Minimum I would reccommend would be a 210 (but even bigger would be better). Mine was in a 210 before I moved him for destroying my corals. And since I FINALLY got my wholesale licence I am now going to be getting him another 210 that will be just for him, my regal angel and broomtail wrasse. Him and my Broomtail are kind of cramped for space and tend to bicker a lot. Nothing serious but the Idol always eggs him on and the Broomtail sometimes reacts by chasing him. Understandable since they are in a tank that is far to small for them. Soon they will have much better.
AgentSPS, those 2 Idols look fantastic in your tank! One of them looks a little fatter than the other. Hopefully they will both be that fat soon! It also looks like they have a pretty decent ammount of swimming room in that tank. So I think they will do well.
MATTT, thats great that your Idol finally started eating. Just keep feeding him as many times a day as you can. And hopefully he will fatten up and get over his anorexia!
Well I am now past the 6 month mark on my Idol. I got my Idol on June 7th of this year (the day I started this thread) and he is still doing fantastic. Especially considering the fact that I don't give him nearly the varied diet I used to and the fact that he is in only a 110 gallon tank. I have been giving him lots of live Caulerpa though (since I have so much of it growing now) and he devours it like it's his favorite food.
I'm telling you all, if you can get your Idol eating the New Life Spectrum Pellets, they will do well. That food does wonders for all my fish and I swear by it. Keep it in mind for your Idols.
Keep the updates coming!
Johnvu713, yes the online store is up and running, on ebay. Ebay kind of sucks for this hobby, but it's a start. We are working on a website that will hopefully be up and running next year. I need to appologise to everyone also for posting the address of my store on here. It's apparently against the Reef Central rules to do so. I am sorry I didn't realize that.
Peterlin98, those Idols look great! Minimum I would reccommend would be a 210 (but even bigger would be better). Mine was in a 210 before I moved him for destroying my corals. And since I FINALLY got my wholesale licence I am now going to be getting him another 210 that will be just for him, my regal angel and broomtail wrasse. Him and my Broomtail are kind of cramped for space and tend to bicker a lot. Nothing serious but the Idol always eggs him on and the Broomtail sometimes reacts by chasing him. Understandable since they are in a tank that is far to small for them. Soon they will have much better.
AgentSPS, those 2 Idols look fantastic in your tank! One of them looks a little fatter than the other. Hopefully they will both be that fat soon! It also looks like they have a pretty decent ammount of swimming room in that tank. So I think they will do well.
MATTT, thats great that your Idol finally started eating. Just keep feeding him as many times a day as you can. And hopefully he will fatten up and get over his anorexia!
Well I am now past the 6 month mark on my Idol. I got my Idol on June 7th of this year (the day I started this thread) and he is still doing fantastic. Especially considering the fact that I don't give him nearly the varied diet I used to and the fact that he is in only a 110 gallon tank. I have been giving him lots of live Caulerpa though (since I have so much of it growing now) and he devours it like it's his favorite food.
I'm telling you all, if you can get your Idol eating the New Life Spectrum Pellets, they will do well. That food does wonders for all my fish and I swear by it. Keep it in mind for your Idols.
Keep the updates coming!
Yes,
My going from having ick and not eating for more than a month to eating out of my hand. It's pretty much eats anything that I feed it, flakes, clams, half shell mussles, squid, mysis, shrimp, brine shrimp, angel formula one formula two, crab and scallops. One thing it has not touch yet is nori or sea weeds. Maybe some day soon.
But the bad thing is, the only time that I can feed it is at night when I get home from work.
mattt.
My going from having ick and not eating for more than a month to eating out of my hand. It's pretty much eats anything that I feed it, flakes, clams, half shell mussles, squid, mysis, shrimp, brine shrimp, angel formula one formula two, crab and scallops. One thing it has not touch yet is nori or sea weeds. Maybe some day soon.
But the bad thing is, the only time that I can feed it is at night when I get home from work.
mattt.
Drewcipher
Premium Member
Just for a refresher after reading this entire thread, how many of you that are keeping MIs have them in a reef tank? And what types of corals do you keep? We are setting up a new 225 soon, and will be keeping LPS. Most stuff says bad combo, but you guys seem to be doing alright.
zfunk007
Premium Member
Just know that if you put a Moorish Idol in a reef tank you are taking risk. As far as I can tell, they have no real specific "choice" of corals they like and don't like to eat. My Idol started out eating none of the corals in my tank. And after 4 months time, he was eating every coral in my tank, stonies and all!
But then people like Paul B have never had a problem with their Idols eating any corals. Even LPS's whch they supposedly will always eat. So it's really hit or miss. If your going to put one in a reef tank, just be prepared to possibly lose a few corals. Thats my best advice.
But then people like Paul B have never had a problem with their Idols eating any corals. Even LPS's whch they supposedly will always eat. So it's really hit or miss. If your going to put one in a reef tank, just be prepared to possibly lose a few corals. Thats my best advice.
Paul B
Premium Member
So far after about two years he does not touch corals. I have had a few Idols and none of them ate corals but as you can tell, some of them do. In the sea I have never seen them eat corals either but they live where there are only sps corals.
He has every type of coral to munch on in my reef (he's that black stripe to the left of the picture) and I have been lucky.
And they never see bubble corals in Tahiti.
Paul
He has every type of coral to munch on in my reef (he's that black stripe to the left of the picture) and I have been lucky.
And they never see bubble corals in Tahiti.
Paul
peterlin98
Premium Member
mattt - Yes, our LFS (Fish Gallery) had 6 of them. They were eating frozon brine - and out of these they helped me selected the best looking fish. So far only 1 out of the two I have is eating.
My reef tank is 150. but right now they are in a small 19 gallon QT tank. I guess once I feel comfortable that both are familiar with feeding - then I may try to release them to the display tank. I'm not too sure about catching fish once it is released to the tank. There is too many corals/rock that will make catching fish difficult.
zfunk007 - Not sure if I'm committed to another tank that is 210. I thought about having another fish only tank but the maixmum is probably 150. If I get a new tank then I can stock around Moorish Idol. From this thread I understand that Idol should be the first fish introduced.
My reef tank is 150. but right now they are in a small 19 gallon QT tank. I guess once I feel comfortable that both are familiar with feeding - then I may try to release them to the display tank. I'm not too sure about catching fish once it is released to the tank. There is too many corals/rock that will make catching fish difficult.
zfunk007 - Not sure if I'm committed to another tank that is 210. I thought about having another fish only tank but the maixmum is probably 150. If I get a new tank then I can stock around Moorish Idol. From this thread I understand that Idol should be the first fish introduced.
smokez01
New member
Here is something interesting
I have always heard and read that these fish never eat, and have very very bad success rate in captivity
Where I work, we recently received 4 in from Hawaii, and to my amazement, they DEVOURE spectrum pellets, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp
I swear, these guys are total pigs, you would NEVER imagine that they are hard to care for. is this strange ??
I have always heard and read that these fish never eat, and have very very bad success rate in captivity
Where I work, we recently received 4 in from Hawaii, and to my amazement, they DEVOURE spectrum pellets, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp
I swear, these guys are total pigs, you would NEVER imagine that they are hard to care for. is this strange ??
Paul B
Premium Member
Smokez01, although they eat, they are still not the hardiest of fish. Mine also eats anything and will eat all day and I have had him almost two years but I have had a few of these fish and although I ususlly keep my fish 10 years, I have yet to keep an Idol past about three years, which stinks. There is still something we don't know about these fish that is missing. From observing them in Tahiti I believe it's the fact that I have always seen them living in mated pairs, they may mate for life. Putting two fish together is not the same as a mated pair. In the sea they also eat almost exclusively a lime green looking sponge that I have not been able to identify. I collect sponge locally in NY and Zfunk collects it in Florida and the Idols love it but it is still not the same sponge that they get in the sea. I hope we can keep these fish at least ten years and if we cant, then we have to find the missing factor. 4 or 5 years with a fish the size of a moorish Idol would be a failure but it is a start.
I also equate copper band butterflies like moorish Idols but they don't get the same press. That is another fish that you can get to eat like a pig and in a few years for no apparent reason they die.
Have a great day.
Paul
I also equate copper band butterflies like moorish Idols but they don't get the same press. That is another fish that you can get to eat like a pig and in a few years for no apparent reason they die.
Have a great day.
Paul
Does any one knows the true life spand of a a moorish idol in the wild ?
Do we ever think that since most mi we got are close to adult size, and the mi acutal life spand is five years or less in the wild. Just a thought.
Does any one know the different between male and female moorish idol ? Paul you are right, maybe the pair should be a male and female. That would be hard to get some thing like that in one shot.
mattt.
Do we ever think that since most mi we got are close to adult size, and the mi acutal life spand is five years or less in the wild. Just a thought.
Does any one know the different between male and female moorish idol ? Paul you are right, maybe the pair should be a male and female. That would be hard to get some thing like that in one shot.
mattt.
Hi all.
I have a rare opertunity to go down to Walt Smiths facility this weekend in LA. I am thinking of going ahead and getting a MI while I'm there if I can find a good one. I'm still a little hesatant as I'll be leaving for Xmas for about a week and will have a friend watching/feeding my tanks.
The tank I want to put him in is a 400G but I already have some large tangs in there. I added in a small blue tang a while back and they have yet to even take a second look at him so I don't think a MI would be a problem in there with them.
Any ideas on if I should go ahead and get one or wait? Thanks and keep up the good info coming.
I have a rare opertunity to go down to Walt Smiths facility this weekend in LA. I am thinking of going ahead and getting a MI while I'm there if I can find a good one. I'm still a little hesatant as I'll be leaving for Xmas for about a week and will have a friend watching/feeding my tanks.
The tank I want to put him in is a 400G but I already have some large tangs in there. I added in a small blue tang a while back and they have yet to even take a second look at him so I don't think a MI would be a problem in there with them.
Any ideas on if I should go ahead and get one or wait? Thanks and keep up the good info coming.
Paul B
Premium Member
Mattt, I don't know their life span but there is one guy that has one for ten years so if it is true than I guess they can live long. A comparitive sized fish like a tang or angel should have a life span for at least twelve years or longer. I have kept many tangs and angels for ten years and they were adults when I got most of them. One of the first posts tells how to tell male and female. I still think they mate for life and they pair up when young which may be the reason their longivity stinks.
Smokez01, I never swam with regal angels so I really can't comment on their diet or living arrangements in the sea. I have kept them and never had a problem that I remember with them.
Blown 63 Chevy, go get that sucker. A 400 gallon tank sounds perfect. The only problem may be that the tangs may bully it away from food. They are not that agressive and it looks like their jaws are not very strong. They can't seem to bite through anything and their dorsal fin is useless for defense. I give mine bite size pieces of food.
Mine has had it's problems, it had a very bad case of Pop eye twice which I cured with a hypodermic needle. That was a couple of months ago, now I see one eye is slightly clouded. I am not going to catch him again but if it gets worse I got some very powerful (probably too powerful) antibiotic from a vet. It is used on horses. (no, not sea horses, seabiscuit horses) there almost the same size. If it gets worse I will inject it into his food. Of course I don't know the dose but anything I can give will be too much. Just another experiment. You never know, maybe it will make the thing live twenty years and pop out babies every other day. (I doubt it)
Have a great day.
Paul
Smokez01, I never swam with regal angels so I really can't comment on their diet or living arrangements in the sea. I have kept them and never had a problem that I remember with them.
Blown 63 Chevy, go get that sucker. A 400 gallon tank sounds perfect. The only problem may be that the tangs may bully it away from food. They are not that agressive and it looks like their jaws are not very strong. They can't seem to bite through anything and their dorsal fin is useless for defense. I give mine bite size pieces of food.
Mine has had it's problems, it had a very bad case of Pop eye twice which I cured with a hypodermic needle. That was a couple of months ago, now I see one eye is slightly clouded. I am not going to catch him again but if it gets worse I got some very powerful (probably too powerful) antibiotic from a vet. It is used on horses. (no, not sea horses, seabiscuit horses) there almost the same size. If it gets worse I will inject it into his food. Of course I don't know the dose but anything I can give will be too much. Just another experiment. You never know, maybe it will make the thing live twenty years and pop out babies every other day. (I doubt it)
Have a great day.
Paul
Thanks Paul
My tangs are a bit weird, they will not eat anything that floats on the water. All they will eat is sinking pellets. Except for the sheets of nori I put in there. I have gotten them to eat some frozen mysis but I had to thaw it out so it would sink, otherwise it would float on the top until it went into the overflow. Maybe I'll go ahed if I can find a good one. Do they have them in Fiji? As that's where Walt get's his stuff from.
My tangs are a bit weird, they will not eat anything that floats on the water. All they will eat is sinking pellets. Except for the sheets of nori I put in there. I have gotten them to eat some frozen mysis but I had to thaw it out so it would sink, otherwise it would float on the top until it went into the overflow. Maybe I'll go ahed if I can find a good one. Do they have them in Fiji? As that's where Walt get's his stuff from.
Paul B
Premium Member
Chevy, They only come from the South Pacific but they come from all over the South Pacific. They are not rare at all. I never dove in Fiji (I don't know why though) When I got my Idol it also only are sinking pellets, thats why I invented that dish with the tube that goes up to the auto feeder. Idols are cheap in NY, about $20 or less.
Take care.
Paul
Take care.
Paul
Thanks.
ReefGeekster
Premium Member
Saltwater fish tend to be more difficult to keep in captivity but if you provide them with the best possible environment (perfect water quality, excellent diet and appropriate tank size) some saltwater fish can live for many years. Most published information about the life span of saltwater fish are from public aquariums where the fish are kept in the best possible conditions. Many saltwater fish succumb to illness early in life due to poor husbandry.
Some saltwater species only live an average of 2 to 4 years. These include butterflyfish, mandarins,Moorish idols, gobies, blennies, wrasses, damselfish, squirrelfish, triggerfish, surgeonfish and tangs. Most small tropical seahorses that are available for aquariums live about 3 to 4 years. The larger seahorses can live longer but are rarely available for the home aquarium.
A few of the more hardy species can live up to and over 10 years, including lionfish, clownfish,eels and groupers. There are many varieties of angelfish and some can live quite a long time. The Queen angelfish, French angelfish and gray angelfish can live up to 20 years but grow to a large adult size. For this reason, few mature adult angelfish are kept in captivity for as long as 20 years.
from: http://www.petplace.com/article.aspx?id=4079
Paul B
Premium Member
I read that article and I am not sure I agree with it, I don't know where they got those figures from and some of them could be true. Of course I have no data on the longivity of fish either except that I have been keeping them for over fifty years. I have not kept a moorish Idol past three years myself so it may be true. I find mandarins to be a fairly long lived fish though. I have read about angels living twenty years but I don't know anyone who kept one that long. Interesting article, if that is truely the life span of an Idol, then we are not doing so bad.
Paul
Paul
ReefGeekster
Premium Member
As the article stated: Most published information about the life span of saltwater fish are from public aquariums where the fish are kept in the best possible conditions.
And consider yourself successful at the moorish idol; the only true way to find out the life span is tag wild fish when they are juveniles and track them through out their lives in different regions of the World. Other wise we'll have to depend on public aquariums for their data.
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