The Moorish Idol Thread

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9731269#post9731269 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
Pedro, you are correct, the sponge that I did collect that Idol's do not eat is "red beard sponge" It grows right along and some times on top of the other sponge that Idol's eat that I can't identify and is not in any of the pictures on the site you posted. It looks more like mushrooms that you would see on a rotten tree only it's orange red. I can collect loads of it now that I have found the location. It also only grows a few inches under the water which makes me think it is also photosynthetic. I have never seen it at the bottom but only on floating docks where it can live submerger only by a few inches. I don't know if it grows in the winter as these docks are removed from the water for cleaning then.
I went on the web site you suggested but it is in Spanish and even though I am of Italian decent, the only word I know in Spanish is Ricardo Montalban :lol:
Paul
Click to expand...

Lets research then, shall we?! Yeeesss!!

1 - Haliclona (sigmadoica) caerulea is found on floating docks, but does not exactly match the one you mention, never the less have a look here:

http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/HBS/invertguide/species/sigmadoica_caerulea.htm

Occurrence: In the Hawaiian Islands, H. caerulea is mainly restricted to shallow-water fouling communities (i.e. pier pilings, floating docks) of the major harbours on Oahu or associated disturbed habitats (i.e. dredged channels and artificial lagoons). It is also found on the roots of the non indigenous Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mangle, native to Florida, West Indies, and South America, which is abundant in Pearl Harbour and Keehi Lagoon. In Kaneohe Bay, H. caerulea is found on patch reefs in southeast corner of the bay as well as the fouling community on Coconut Island floating docks.

2 - Now this one seems more close to match the one you mention, Suberites zeteki

http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/HBS/invertguide/species/suberites_zeteki.htm

Occurrence: Common as fouling in harbours, especially those with some estuarine conditions, and in Kaneohe Bay, primarily on floating docks, dock pilings and mangrove roots, also on hulls of ships.

3 - This one is also a candidate Mycale armata

http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/HBS/invertguide/species/mycale_armata.htm

Occurrence: In the Hawaiian Islands, M. armata is mainly restricted to shallow-water fouling communities (i.e. pier pilings, floating docks) of the major harbours on Oahu or associated disturbed habitats (i.e. dredged channels and artificial lagoons). In Kaneohe Bay, M. armata is found on patch reefs in southeast corner of the bay as well as the fouling community on Coconut Island floating docks.

4 - This one here Mycale (Zygomycale) parishii from the description is also a significant candidate

http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/HBS/invertguide/species/zygomycale_parishii.htm

Occurrence: In the Hawaiian Islands, this sponge is mainly restricted to shallow-water fouling communities (i.e. pier pilings, floating docks) of the major harbors on Oahu or associated disturbed habitats (i.e. dredged channels and artificial lagoons). In Kaneohe Bay, is found on patch reefs in southeast corner of the bay as well as the fouling community on Coconut Island floating docks.

Any way, all of these have a very common feature which is:

Occurrence 1: shallow-water fouling communities (i.e. pier pilings, floating docks) of the major harbours on Oahu or associated disturbed habitats (i.e. dredged channels and artificial lagoons). In Kaneohe Bay, is found on patch reefs in southeast corner of the bay as well as the fouling community on Coconut Island floating docks

Occurrence 2: Common as fouling in harbours, especially those with some estuarine conditions, and in Kaneohe Bay, primarily on floating docks, dock pilings and mangrove roots, also on hulls of ships.

Continuing, have a look hereââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦see anything familiar, if so please identify it

http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/zoo432/floats/flmain/flmain.html

...these docks are really fouledââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦well if it suites the Zanclus, thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s fine with me and a submerged old tire will do the thingââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦ Halichondria bowerbanki perhaps??.... http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/zoo432/floats/flmain/flsquirtvssponge.jpg

ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦and same site, more here http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/zoo432/floats/fllocomotion/fllocomotion.html

ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦well, wellââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦after all it seems they may be bought online..?!, have a look here although I didnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t see a close match

http://www.gulfspecimen.org/Sponges.html

ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦what you knowââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦collection locations indicated hereââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦Charleston South Carolina

http://www.cofc.edu/~grice/resources/invert_collect.html

quote: A very nice orange sponge (Hymeniacidon heliophila) is common under the bridge next to Anchorline Restaurant. Being intertidal, it is very tolerant of aquarium conditions.

ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦definitely Anchorline Restaurant, whatever it is or looks like (and serves) looks definitely a place to go and ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦ have a snack ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦ after collecting some spongeââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦if it is accessible where it lives under the bridgeââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦

ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦well nowââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦, just to finish perhaps?! a vacation at the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Florida, the sponge capital of the worldââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦well use to be before the red tide but any way the sponge industry is not what it was despite the recovery and finding of the new sponge beds back in the 80ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s

I hope this brief research helpsââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦you and anyone interested

Kind Regards
Pedro Nuno (Blueregaltang)

P.S.: ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦and Paulââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦I didnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t quite understand to which site you where referring, but if the site you visited and are reffering is this one http://www.reefforum.net/showthread.php?t=5012, my thread about my experience with the Zanclus, it is in Portuguese (Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢m Portuguese), a very, but very significantly different language form the one you mentionedââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¦
 
Pedro I know as much Portuguese as I do spanish.
The sponges here in NY are not tropical and they would not be a cause of fouling. They only grow a few inches away from the docks and have to be ripped off. I will try to get some pictures in the summer of them as they grow.
Thanks for the links.
Paul
 
Hey there Paul and the rest of the MI crowd. Well I finaly did it and am now one of teh crowd myself. I picked up a nice fat MI yesterday from a local reefer. He was getting rid of him only because he had started eating his smaller zoa's.

I don't have any zoa's in my tank so I wasn't worried about that. Don't have any pic's just yet but he's a beautiful specimen. Nice and plump and I was told that he eats anything put in the tank. Got him acclimated in the tank yesterday and the ONLY fish that even challenged him was my Copper banded Butterfy. Kind of strange because the CBB has never paid any attention to any other fish I have put in the tank. They seem fine no so no worries. The rest of the fish didn't really notice him.

He's doing fine in the tank and swimming around gracefully. I got him to eat some prepared food that I got from the guy I bought him from. I also saw him picking around the rocks at other stuff so I put in some pellets and he went right after them. Wasn't even shy around my 13" Naso tangs. Got right up in the mix with them so that's a good thing. I also thru in some pellets this morning before I left for work and he ate again so I think he's going to do just fine.

I feed a variety of pellets. I usually buy some of each kind, both large and small, and mix them all up in a large container. Then I just scoop some out when I feed so they will always get a variety of different foods each time. I also occasionaly feed some frozen foods as well.

Paul, I was looking up MI's on google the other day and went to a link that was discussing them, wipedia or something like that. Anyways, in the article they mentioned feeding them bananas and alvacados. Made me think of you and your writings. Or did you provide that information to them? ;)

Have a great day everyone and I'll continue to post in here when I can now that I have a MI to observe myself and contribute with. :D
 
Chevy, congradulations on the Idol. I know you will be able to take care of it properly. Just feed that sucker a lot and I would soak some of those pellets in Selcon once in a while.
I may have provided them with information on feeding bananas and avacados as I have been doing that for about 20 years.
Good luck.
Paul
 
Chevy I can't get that link to work but the streamer grows back very fast like in a few days then it gets fatter. At least at first. If it keeps getting bitten off it just stops growing.
Good luck.
Paul
 
Dear Paul B.

I got the MI about 10days ago. I think It likes the flow very much.
:) It does not eat any dried food and frozen food but picks some algae and something. It is OK until now. I keep reading this thread and found some word Banana from yours...

You mean banana is real banana or it is nickname of something?
MI really likes it?

:)
 
7thheaven, that is a real bananna, just mush it up. If it is not eating dried or frozen food I doubt it will eat bananas. Algae is not enough to sustain a MI. If you can try some live blackworms or brine shrimp just to get it eating. You need to feed him at least two and better three times a day.
Their favorite food is sponge but I don't think you can buy it, Where you live you may be able to collect some.
Most MI's I have seen are in shallow water where there is more water movement.
Good luck.
Paul
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9726101#post9726101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mike de Leon
Dou you QT your fish? I see that you have an Achilles....
Click to expand...

nope...


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9808071#post9808071 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blown63chevy
OK I've posted some pic's of the idol in the tank in this thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...911#post9805911
He's doing great so far. He hangs out mostly with my 2 large Naso tangs and seems to be enjoying the tank. Still eating good as well. Thanks to bebo77 for a healthy fish.

He dosen't have much of a streamer right now but I'm sure it will grow back in.
Click to expand...


yeah the streamer growns and falls off.... I am sure hhe will grow it again very soon..
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9815417#post9815417 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 7thheaven
Dear Paul B.

I got the MI about 10days ago. I think It likes the flow very much.
:) It does not eat any dried food and frozen food but picks some algae and something. It is OK until now. I keep reading this thread and found some word Banana from yours...

You mean banana is real banana or it is nickname of something?
MI really likes it?

:)
Click to expand...

7thheaven

Since youre in Korea try feeding your MI with clams from your local market. Just open the clam in half and drop it in your tank. My MI would tear it up.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9816550#post9816550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
7thheaven, that is a real bananna, just mush it up. If it is not eating dried or frozen food I doubt it will eat bananas. Algae is not enough to sustain a MI. If you can try some live blackworms or brine shrimp just to get it eating. You need to feed him at least two and better three times a day.
Their favorite food is sponge but I don't think you can buy it, Where you live you may be able to collect some.
Most MI's I have seen are in shallow water where there is more water movement.
Good luck.
Paul
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul..

Wow Real bananas uh? :) You mentioned "mush up".That means I should use mixer? Could you tell me how you make them feed with bananas?

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by 7thheaven
Dear Paul B.

I got the MI about 10days ago. I think It likes the flow very much.
It does not eat any dried food and frozen food but picks some algae and something. It is OK until now. I keep reading this thread and found some word Banana from yours...

You mean banana is real banana or it is nickname of something?
MI really likes it?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click to expand...

7thheaven

Since youre in Korea try feeding your MI with clams from your local market. Just open the clam in half and drop it in your tank. My MI would tear it up.
Click to expand...

Thanks cthetoy.. I will try it~
 
No you don't need a blender. Just eat a ripe bananna and save a piece. Put it in the freezer. Cut off a small piece and mush it with a fork or knife. You can add some Selcon or other vitamins if you like. The piece of banana will sink so you have to drop it in front of the fish. If your Idol does not eat anything else I doubt it will eat bananas but you could try. Most of my fish (but not all) eat it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9820095#post9820095 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
No you don't need a blender. Just eat a ripe bananna and save a piece. Put it in the freezer. Cut off a small piece and mush it with a fork or knife. You can add some Selcon or other vitamins if you like. The piece of banana will sink so you have to drop it in front of the fish. If your Idol does not eat anything else I doubt it will eat bananas but you could try. Most of my fish (but not all) eat it.
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul.

Do you think banana has the enough nutrient MI can live?
If my MI eat the bananas, It can live just eating this?

and how about hanging it to the tank like nori? it works too?
 
No I don't. Bananas are a suppliment food and should not be fed to anything as a main food. Nori is also good but it too is not a moorish Idol staple food. They really should have sponge as that is their primary food.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9820728#post9820728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
No I don't. Bananas are a suppliment food and should not be fed to anything as a main food. Nori is also good but it too is not a moorish Idol staple food. They really should have sponge as that is their primary food.
Click to expand...

Yep~! I think so.

but the problem is I can not get the sponge that MI likes easily.

Sometimes It picks the dried food a several times,so I will keep

watching~

wish me luck~

Thanks again.
 
I heard many MI eat New Life Spectrum food. but I can not buy this product in my country.

Could you tell me the link of this product? I can order it from US
 
You want:

NL1115 New Life Specturm Marine Fish Formula 300g.
or
NL1113 New Life Specturm Marine Fish Formula 150g
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9822309#post9822309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cthetoy
You want:

NL1115 New Life Specturm Marine Fish Formula 300g.
or
NL1113 New Life Specturm Marine Fish Formula 150g
Click to expand...

Thanks cthetoy~!!
 
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