Keeping The Mysterious Moorish Idol

[mcarroll]

Well said, but for on point...

The #of shipments is still more for online orders unless you are driving there – across town, not further – to pick your fish up.

Also, a high enough percentage of aquarium consumers are shopping online that local fish stores are financially troubled because of a lack of revenue – even if they are awesome.

(The same effect that Amazon hopes to have on the rest of the retail sector, and why they are OK with not making money.)

 

[Thle009]

This is a great fish. Talk about personality. Mine ate right out of my hands, then one day it got bored and started to re-arrange my SPS corals so I had to sell it to another member who later donated it to the university.

 

[4FordFamily]

I updated this thread with the suggestion to use fresh mussels to entice eating (worked well for my regal as well) and some photos of a pair I have in quarantine.

Note: I will not be keeping them together long term, as this usually does not work out. A friend will get the other if they both make it through quarantine.

They seemed easier than usual to get eating... neither of them were preconditioned in any way — straight from live aquaria (quality marine) and skinny as heck upon arrival. Took to Nori and frozen food within 3-4 days. Mussels really set them up for success.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Ill buy one if you want to sell.

 

[Maritimer]

Those are spectacular, 4Ford ... There's a subtlety and an elegance to them that perfectly balances their pudgy bellies and almost clownish noses.

If I hadn't heard scary things about them around corals, they'd be on my "attempt" list for sure!

~Bruce

 

[saltyhog]

That's a heck of a QT tank you have going there 4Ford!

Here's mine.....well probably as close to one as I'll get unless I get my dream tank one day.

Kona Coast

 

[4FordFamily]

Ill buy one if you want to sell.

I have the other vouched for, if both pull through. I may start acclimating small groups of idols to home life and selling some day depending on the success of this endeavor, however. They’ll command a steep price though for it to be cost effective and shipping will be cost-prohibitive.

Those are spectacular, 4Ford ... There's a subtlety and an elegance to them that perfectly balances their pudgy bellies and almost clownish noses.

If I hadn't heard scary things about them around corals, they'd be on my "attempt" list for sure!

~Bruce

They can chow on coral no doubt! It’s a noted risk. I only keep cheapi coral by and large so it’s worth the calculated risk, for me! Thanks Bruce!

That's a heck of a QT tank you have going there 4Ford!

Here's mine.....well probably as close to one as I'll get unless I get my dream tank one day.

Kona Coast

They’re gorgeous in the wild. Magestic is the adjective i would add to Bruce’s post!

Thank you! It’s a wrasse, idol, regal angel, and tang attack!

 

[Black Pearl]

Lovely fish, but mine is taking too much of a liking to my sps and will devour an Acan in seconds, He might have to find a new home

 

[4FordFamily]

Lovely fish, but mine is taking too much of a liking to my sps and will devour an Acan in seconds, He might have to find a new home

I’m sure he’d be pretty easy to sell! It’s definitely a risk with idols!

Sorry you’re having trouble with it.

 

[TonapahNorth]

Great article. Thanks for sharing this info and keeping it updated.

 

[4FordFamily]

Great article. Thanks for sharing this info and keeping it updated.

Thank you, I try to make sure I share with others.

 

[JaimeAdams]

Good read.

 

[4FordFamily]

Good read.

Thank you.

 

[Heliarc19]

Glad this popped back up, very interesting. I knew I couldn’t keep one but it’s nice to see the care and effort you put in.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Those are so beautiful, they really are a majestic fish.

 

[puffy127]

I see that you had a regal angel and a moorish idol in the same QT. Which is more difficult to get eating? Did you keep them both long term? Is one more aggressive than the other?

 

[4FordFamily]

I see that you had a regal angel and a moorish idol in the same QT. Which is more difficult to get eating? Did you keep them both long term? Is one more aggressive than the other?

Regals are harder to get eating but much easier to keep once eating and established long-term. Yes until a power outage on vacation. I am waiting on a regal for my new tank until my QT opens up!

 

[puffy127]

Regals are harder to get eating but much easier to keep once eating and established long-term. Yes until a power outage on vacation. I am waiting on a regal for my new tank until my QT opens up!

Which would you add first, a regal or the idol?

 

[4FordFamily]

Which would you add first, a regal or the idol?

Regal.

Sorry, I didn’t answer the aggression question. Idols are definitely more aggressive. Neither is particularly aggressive however.

 

[puffy127]

Regal.

Sorry, I didn’t answer the aggression question. Idols are definitely more aggressive. Neither is particularly aggressive however.

Thank you for all this great info!