The Moorish Idol Thread
- Thread starter zfunk007
- Start date
bosborn1
In Memoriam
zfunk007
Do you know when you will be able to sell idols? The more i read I really want to get a pair and can't seem to find any availble as pairs online. My LFS has a wholesaler list that shows pairs availble but you never know what that means. I have bought breeding pairs of madrins for this wholesaler that turned out to be 2 males.
I have read that people have good experiance with keeping idols with yellow tangs. I have one particulary aggressive one. I am concerned about that to.
I have decided to either go with an Achillies Tang or the Idol as a final centerpiece fish to complete my reef tank. I would really like the idol but I want to make sure that I find the absolute right fish or fishes before I risk the addition. My reef is very stable right now so I would like to avoid anything dying in it.
Do you know when you will be able to sell idols? The more i read I really want to get a pair and can't seem to find any availble as pairs online. My LFS has a wholesaler list that shows pairs availble but you never know what that means. I have bought breeding pairs of madrins for this wholesaler that turned out to be 2 males.
I have read that people have good experiance with keeping idols with yellow tangs. I have one particulary aggressive one. I am concerned about that to.
I have decided to either go with an Achillies Tang or the Idol as a final centerpiece fish to complete my reef tank. I would really like the idol but I want to make sure that I find the absolute right fish or fishes before I risk the addition. My reef is very stable right now so I would like to avoid anything dying in it.
zfunk007
Premium Member
Well I'm currently working on upgrading the facilities in my garage so we can hold fish (right now we are just doing inverts and of course my display fish tanks). Once I get those up I will start ordering some Idols from a wholesaler in Hawaii. I'll let you know when. It won't be till summer though most likely.
Lord Voldemort
New member
How are Moorish Idols NOT reef safe? 
Lord Voldemort
New member
Anyone????
dastratt
New member
Generally, fish considered "not reef safe" may eat corals or other ornamental reef inhabitants. A perusal of this thread demonstrates that people DO keep Moorish Idols in their reef tanks though. In perusing RC I see many "not reef safe" fish in reef tanks, but sometimes they run into problems with the fish damaging corals. Sorry if this wasn't helpful but I've never kept a Moorish Idol, I just think they're way cool 
zfunk007
Premium Member
Moorish Idols can be reef safe. It depends on the individual fish. Some never touch corals, others eat every coral in sight (like mine). It's the luck of the draw really, at least in my experience.
It's been a while since I updated so I figured why not. My Idol is still doing great, just keeps getting bigger. I have to get them that new tank soon! I think for my Idols 1 year anniversary in this tank I'll get him a new one (provided there are no mishaps). Wouldn't that be nice?
I have still been getting him all kinds of sponge from the keys when I go down every other week. Blue sponge, orange sponge, yellow sponge. Usually he won't touch any of it for a day or 2 and then he will just start going to town on it.
I have been thinking of adding some fish to his tank but I'm not sure. Right now it's him, a LARGE Broomtail Wrasse (my tank is way to small for him now), a Striped Parrotfish and a Pacific Regal Angel (who has also been growing nicely). I have this sergeant major that has been in another tank of mine for months and months and he's been growing. Thinking of throwing him into the mix. Not sure if I want to do that yet though. We will see.
How is everyone else's Idols doing?
It's been a while since I updated so I figured why not. My Idol is still doing great, just keeps getting bigger. I have to get them that new tank soon! I think for my Idols 1 year anniversary in this tank I'll get him a new one (provided there are no mishaps). Wouldn't that be nice?
I have still been getting him all kinds of sponge from the keys when I go down every other week. Blue sponge, orange sponge, yellow sponge. Usually he won't touch any of it for a day or 2 and then he will just start going to town on it.
I have been thinking of adding some fish to his tank but I'm not sure. Right now it's him, a LARGE Broomtail Wrasse (my tank is way to small for him now), a Striped Parrotfish and a Pacific Regal Angel (who has also been growing nicely). I have this sergeant major that has been in another tank of mine for months and months and he's been growing. Thinking of throwing him into the mix. Not sure if I want to do that yet though. We will see.
How is everyone else's Idols doing?
Paul B
Premium Member
Mine is still doing well. Same problem, to large. Mine has never re-grown his dorsal fin and I do not want to remove any more rock. He has problems trying to get around all the rock, but he will just have to get over it. I ran out of sponge and can't collect any until the summer.
I feed all of my fish from this feeder.
I feed all of my fish from this feeder.
zfunk007
Premium Member
So you feed them through a turkey baster? Interesting... I guess it's a good way to get them as much food as possible. How did you run out of sponge Paul? Surely there must be more of it around in the New York Harbor somewhere? 
You may find this funny, but in the evenings, I feed my fish "Jumbo Fish Formula" from Spectrum. They are extra large pellets that my Idol, Regal and Parrotfish could not possibly eat because the pellets are far too big. But what happends, is my Broomtail chews them up and exudes pieces of them through his gills which all the other fish in my tank eat from. They all end up crowding around the Broom to get the leftovers. It works well too. Pretty funny huh?
In the mornings though they get their own food.
You may find this funny, but in the evenings, I feed my fish "Jumbo Fish Formula" from Spectrum. They are extra large pellets that my Idol, Regal and Parrotfish could not possibly eat because the pellets are far too big. But what happends, is my Broomtail chews them up and exudes pieces of them through his gills which all the other fish in my tank eat from. They all end up crowding around the Broom to get the leftovers. It works well too. Pretty funny huh?
In the mornings though they get their own food.
Paul B
Premium Member
I ran out of sponge because it is winter here. The water is about 40 degrees (or less) and the sponge disappears in the winter.
I collected about a pound last year and I didn't think the Idol would eat so much. This summer I will collect a lot more.
It is probably all over New York harbor but there is no place around the Harbor where you would be allowed to collect or even walk around on the rocks. They would take you as a terrorist and probably shoot you.
I collect it in the Long Island Sound, since the Sound is 150 miles long, there is a lot of places to collect.
I feed all my fish with that device and would not think of just dumping food in the tank. The Idol still gets one meal from the dish, which is all covered in coraline algae (but he doesen't mind).
I give the Idol clams, mysis, plankton, fish, nori etc, the other fish get the same except for the blue pipefish which get live baby brine. The gorgonians get a mixture of Selcon and finely chopped up clam and other things.
It will be spring in a week or two and I will start collecting. I went out to Montauk yesterday (the east end of the Island) but there was nothing to collect. I wanted some seaweed.
Have a great day.
Paul
I collected about a pound last year and I didn't think the Idol would eat so much. This summer I will collect a lot more.
It is probably all over New York harbor but there is no place around the Harbor where you would be allowed to collect or even walk around on the rocks. They would take you as a terrorist and probably shoot you.
I collect it in the Long Island Sound, since the Sound is 150 miles long, there is a lot of places to collect.
I feed all my fish with that device and would not think of just dumping food in the tank. The Idol still gets one meal from the dish, which is all covered in coraline algae (but he doesen't mind).
I give the Idol clams, mysis, plankton, fish, nori etc, the other fish get the same except for the blue pipefish which get live baby brine. The gorgonians get a mixture of Selcon and finely chopped up clam and other things.
It will be spring in a week or two and I will start collecting. I went out to Montauk yesterday (the east end of the Island) but there was nothing to collect. I wanted some seaweed.
Have a great day.
Paul
rkehockey16
New member
what a beautiful fish i wish i had the room to keep one it would be a wonderful center peice.
Skynyrd Fish
Member
Thanks for the info on this thread. i have an Idol for 4 days and just tried the angle formula w/sponge. First time he ate since introduction and he really is going after it. I feed him 4 times today. Hope he will make it. I tried all my usual tricks, garlic mysis, and cyclopese.
Thanks!
I will post some pics soon.
Thanks!
I will post some pics soon.
zfunk007
Premium Member
Well I think it's time for an update. Here are some new pictures I took today:
Idol and the big mean Broomtail!
Idol trying to eat a turbo snail (yes he has done it).
Racing across the tank. Even after all this time he has kept his banner long and healthy looking.
Some of his favorite orange sponge from the Florida Keys.
Idol eating on some blue sponge that actually had a chance to start growing (until the Idol decided it was time to eat it!).
All is well in the Idol camp here. He is getting so big! I keep saying this, but I need a bigger tank! There was a tank advertised in the local paper, 180 gallon, and I was thinking about getting it. But the guy sold it before I had a chance. This summer, I swear.
My Idol is a strange creature. That blue sponge in the one picture that he is eating. Well he left that sponge un touched for months (like I said, it was actually growing and spreading onto the rocks). Then one day he just decided to devour it and there is almost nothing left. Strange. Anyway I'd love to see some updates from some of the people that have posted on this thread over the past 10 months or so. Pictures everyone!
Idol and the big mean Broomtail!
Idol trying to eat a turbo snail (yes he has done it).
Racing across the tank. Even after all this time he has kept his banner long and healthy looking.
Some of his favorite orange sponge from the Florida Keys.
Idol eating on some blue sponge that actually had a chance to start growing (until the Idol decided it was time to eat it!).
All is well in the Idol camp here. He is getting so big! I keep saying this, but I need a bigger tank! There was a tank advertised in the local paper, 180 gallon, and I was thinking about getting it. But the guy sold it before I had a chance. This summer, I swear.
My Idol is a strange creature. That blue sponge in the one picture that he is eating. Well he left that sponge un touched for months (like I said, it was actually growing and spreading onto the rocks). Then one day he just decided to devour it and there is almost nothing left. Strange. Anyway I'd love to see some updates from some of the people that have posted on this thread over the past 10 months or so. Pictures everyone!
Paul B
Premium Member
Zfunk, your Idol is looking much better than mine. Since I ran out of sponge and the thing got so big he has also run out of swimming room. So far he seems very healthy and I think a little too fat. Fat is not always good. I am hoping he stays healthy until the summer when I can collect some sponge.
I think he is going on two and a half.
Take care.
Paul
I think he is going on two and a half.
Take care.
Paul
yoboyjdizz
Active member
zfunk, not sure but my lfs is having the 180 aga's on sale i wonder if aga is having a sale maybe you should check in to that, he told me until end of the month it was like 900 or so for megaflow's tank and stand...nice idol by the way
Similar threads
