Has anyone here successfully kept a moorish idol?

[ImNemo]

Just wondering if anyone here has a moorish idol and what size tank and for how long?

 

[Old Fritz]

Just wondering if anyone here has a moorish idol and what size tank and for how long?

One of my friend's has a moorish idol that he has had for about 6 months now. I think the key thing is just getting one to eat well. He has it in a 300 gallon tank.

 

[Paul B]

I had my last one for about 5 years in a 100 gallon tank. To learn about them I went to BoraBora and spent a lot of time with them underwater. They are a very common fish and eating is not their biggest problem.

In the sea they take long swims, like 100 yards around the reef looking for sponge. In the South Pacific they eat this lime green sponge but in Hawaii they eat this stuff that looks like dying seaweed that covers everything. After they eat a while, the female who was following him comes and he leaves.

I found a sponge here in New York that grows on wooden docks that they love.
There are very few people who kept them for ten years in a home tank, very few, maybe two that I heard of.

This is Hawaii where they eat the mulm off the rocks. No other fish that I saw eats that.

I made a feeder for them that drops some fish oil soaked pellets into a dish 5 or 6 times a day as they eat constantly. I also gave them that sponge every couple of days.

I would call keeping one for 5 years a failure.

 

[AZMSGT]

The Moorish Idol question comes up allot. Here are some recent posts on the subject that might help you. These posts I found interesting and informative regarding the infamous Moorish Idol. I want one.. just will be a while before I try.

Has anyone here successfully kept a moorish idol?

Just wondering if anyone here has a moorish idol and what size tank and for how long?

www.reef2reef.com

Moorish Idol- a fish best left in the ocean? whats your experience?

Hello all! So I just set up a new tank and I have always loved Moorish Idols. Unfortunately, I have heard so many people that say they never live more than a year in reef aquariums. But, with the right diet and adequate space, is it possible? Please, share your experiences with them and tell me...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Terri Caton]

I know this is an old thread but here is an on-going thread that has good info.

I’m getting a Moorish Idol tomorrow

Aqua locker claims all fish are eating well before they are shipped. What were they feeding it? This was shipped out of California not their facility in Texas. Just a guess but I think it is similar to LA and how their fish ship from the wholesaler. Like LA also has their DD section out of...

www.reef2reef.com

Here's mine.

 

[AquaLifeStudio]

I've had mine for a little more than 15 months. For the first 3+ months it was held in quarantine and treated with copper and prazipro before being added to our main display tank. It's been about 1 year now and the Idol has been doing really well and is a strong eater for whatever I add to the tank. Nori is it's favorite treat and I feed it often and lots of it.

There was a Regal Blue and a Yellow Eye Kole Tang that existed in the main display for a few months prior to being added. I added a Blonde Naso, an Achilles and a Goldrim Tang afterwards; the Idol can compete with them for the food.