Moorish idol

gaz · Oct 3, 2015

Has anyone kept a moorish idol long term? If so can I get some info on how you achieved this.pics would be nice[emoji106]

KJ · Oct 3, 2015

Paul B its you man.;)

Paul B · Oct 4, 2015

I found a sponge that grows wild on wooden docks here in New York that idols jump out of the water for. Besides that, I devised a feeding dish that sits on the bottom with a tube up to the surface with a funnel on top just above the water. Over the funnel I have an auto feeder that dispenses fish oil soaked pellets into the funnel 3 or 4 times a day. The Idol would look at the tube on his trips around the tank and when he sees the pellets falling he waits for them. Moorish Idols are very large feeders and should be fed a few times a day. Besides that food and the sponge I would feed him clams and live blackworms every day as all my fish get. I wrote about this in my book.

4FordFamily · Oct 4, 2015

Mine I kept in cupramine so he didn't have to fight off any minor parasites so his energy went to eating and conserving himself. Had him only 8 months though not long term. He's thriving and eats everything even flakes

4FordFamily · Oct 4, 2015

IME Angels, idols, and tangs are not even remotely sensitive to cupramine. Wrasse are a different story. I've kept many in cupramine but halichoeres seem to struggle in particular

djr12 · Oct 6, 2015

gaz said:
Has anyone kept a moorish idol long term? If so can I get some info on how you achieved this.pics would be nice[emoji106]

I've had mine for 3 yrs, even last year when I had a break out and lost like 8 fish, he survived and ate every day, even had a hole the size of a quarter in his side. He eats anything, and I mean anything, all day long. He did heal up fine, and even a bigger pig since then LoL

4FordFamily · Oct 6, 2015

djr12 said:
I've had mine for 3 yrs, even last year when I had a break out and lost like 8 fish, he survived and ate every day, even had a hole the size of a quarter in his side. He eats anything, and I mean anything, all day long.

Strange, he looks so thin! Mine is fat as a walrus but that's because he eats tons of nori each day. I add several whole sheets to his tank for he and the angels to devour daily.

My rule of thumb "don't buy idols that you can see their spine" doesn't hold true for yours if you've had him 3 years! Mine too eats everything and anything. These guys frequently lose weight slowly in home aquaria and I personally fault a lack of nori. They should have access to stuffing their face with it for at least a few hours per day. (My idol eats a half sheet by himself nearly every day I venture to guess).

That said I haven't had mine 3 years yet. Probably 8 months to a year.

djr12 · Oct 6, 2015

3FordFamily said:
Strange, he looks so thin! Mine is fat as a walrus but that's because he eats tons of nori each day. I add several whole sheets to his tank for he and the angels to devour daily.

My rule of thumb "don't buy idols that you can see their spine" doesn't hold true for yours if you've had him 3 years! Mine too eats everything and anything. These guys frequently lose weight slowly in home aquaria and I personally fault a lack of nori. They should have access to stuffing their face with it for at least a few hours per day. (My idol eats a half sheet by himself nearly every day I venture to guess).

That said I haven't had mine 3 years yet. Probably 8 months to a year.

He's definitely not thin, LoL Also a lot bigger then the size of and open palm too. I'm sure if your fish is 8 months old and eating, he's going to do great.

4FordFamily · Oct 6, 2015

djr12 said:
He's definitely not thin, LoL Also a lot bigger then the size of and open palm too. I'm sure if your fish is 8 months old and eating, he's going to do great.

Thanks.

Yeah it's just odd when their spine shows like that. It's usually a bad sign but after 3 years you're doing something right!!

My idol is a little fatty and even has no trouble bullying my large Angels around in his tank (emperor, queen, passer, blue face, rock beauty, and a couple dwarves) or the resident tangs (yellow belly hippo, Achilles, and PBT). I was surprised at his ability to keep up with the group and not get bullied!

Humblefish · Oct 6, 2015

@110reef <-- This is the guy you need to talk to about MI. He's had one for 5-6 years, I believe.

docsky729 · Oct 7, 2015

I just lost mine over the weekend. I got him as a small juvenile in Nov 2006 so he was just shy of 9 years in my tanks. I noticed over the past month that he really started to thin out and not attack food as much as he did in the past. He was the boss of the tank and would make sure that he got his share of the food first. I like to think that it was just his time to go do to his age. Not sure how long these guys can live in the wild.

I keept mine if a full reef. He would eat zoas and acan's so i was unable to keep those and would bother clams sometimes but would leave everything else along. I would also see him eating bristle worms a lot. He would have their spikes sticking out of his face after downing big one.

We are very sad to see him pass as he felt as if he was part of the family. Definitely a favorite of all the visitors that would see the tank. If i get a chance i will post some pic from over the years.

Cleo642 · Oct 7, 2015

docsky729 said:
I just lost mine over the weekend. I got him as a small juvenile in Nov 2006 so he was just shy of 9 years in my tanks. I noticed over the past month that he really started to thin out and not attack food as much as he did in the past. He was the boss of the tank and would make sure that he got his share of the food first. I like to think that it was just his time to go do to his age. Not sure how long these guys can live in the wild.

I keept mine if a full reef. He would eat zoas and acan's so i was unable to keep those and would bother clams sometimes but would leave everything else along. I would also see him eating bristle worms a lot. He would have their spikes sticking out of his face after downing big one.

We are very sad to see him pass as he felt as if he was part of the family. Definitely a favorite of all the visitors that would see the tank. If i get a chance i will post some pic from over the years.

Sorry for your loss.

Humblefish · Oct 7, 2015

@docsky729 Sorry to hear of your loss. :( But keeping one for 9 years is a heck of a accomplishment! My last one lasted just under a year because I didn't act soon enough to separate him from an aggressive Blue Angel. One before that lived for 5 years, and I lost him to Hurricane Katrina. :( They are amazing fish.

docsky729 · Oct 7, 2015

Attached are a couple images that i happened to have on my work computer from over the years. This fish will be missed for sure.

Humblefish · Oct 7, 2015

@docsky729 Absolutely beautiful!

4FordFamily · Oct 7, 2015

Gorgeous idol and I'm very sorry for the loss. I am quite attached to fish I've had a long time particularly as well.

Thle009 · Oct 7, 2015

I had one for about a year, then it got a little big for my 160G. Traded it to a friend who ultimately donated to MN zoo because it started to fight with it's own reflection in the glass.

melypr1985 · Oct 7, 2015

Thle009 said:
I had one for about a year, then it got a little big for my 160G. Traded it to a friend who ultimately donated to MN zoo because it started to fight with it's own reflection in the glass.

lol "fish weren't made to be in a box kid" - Gil, finding nemo

Thle009 · Oct 7, 2015

Yeah, I thought 160g would be large enough. but I was wrong.

melypr1985 · Oct 7, 2015

Thle009 said:
Yeah, I thought 160g would be large enough. but I was wrong.

I was really joking about him seeming to go nuts. If you've seen the movie, the angle fish is obviously crazy talking to her "twin" (her reflection) telling her to move out of the way so she can see. So Gil (the moorish idol) looks at nemo and tell him "fish weren't meant to be in a box kid" talking about the angel fish. Its what i thought of when you said he was attacking his reflection lol - i'm weird. I bet somebody got the reference though!