My Attempt at the Infamous Moorish Idol

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Angels ?

I thought they were very close relatives to butterflyfish ?
I learned they were close to tangs. Even live Aquaria states that plus they can be found in the surgeonfish section.
 

LaloJ

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So far so good! I feed him multiple times a day. He has a good appetite.

He finished his copper and prazi treatment. He is in observation for one week. One more week to go until he goes into the DT!! I’m very excited.
Did you put copper and prazi in a tank with rock and sand? How did you manage to maintain the correct level of copper?
 
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Did you put copper and prazi in a tank with rock and sand? How did you manage to maintain the correct level of copper?
Copper and prazi in a separate QT with sand only. Sand doesn’t absorb much copper and has a lot of surface area for bacteria.

This tank is a separate observation tank with no medications.
 
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B3C806D3-22BB-4B89-BB8F-F7D921B4A8FA.jpeg
Look who’s in the tank today!
 
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Yes. So here’s the latest update: his lateral line shows. I’ve been feeding as much as I can, but I think a small QT limited how much I could feed. The moorish has an incredible appetite and will eat 20 times a day if given the chance.

Im hoping the display tank will give him more chances of gaining calories. The best thing for this fish is if it accepts seaweed. That will make both our lives much easier.

Until then, Frozen LRS fish frenzy is his favorite food:
 
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Check out this monster at feeding time. It’s crazy how much this guy will consume in just a single sitting. It’s my 3rd time feeding like this today. Plus I saw him eat the green nori. Today was his 2nd day in the DT.

 
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Moorish idol started eating my acan. :)

Good news: the moorish idol gained weight and completely filled in it’s lateral line. He has an excellent appetite and enjoys LRS and NORI!

Here’s me hoping the moorish will leave the clams alone. :)

If not, I accept it! As long as the moorish is happy - which so far, he is!
 
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Update: This moorish is not reef safe. It picks on acans, brain corals, and another type of LPS.


So far it leaves the clams alone, but I’m positive those will be on his menu very soon.

Moorish leaves SPS and softies alone (the ones I care about most).

I’m still keeping this fish because it has a personality like no other.

If you aren’t committed to the good, bad, and ugly with moorish idols, I’d recommend you’d pass.

The next post will be the corals it’s nipped at so far.
 
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Here’s what he’s picked at. The acans are pretty much done for, the brain is retracted. The other one is fine for now. I might sell all the corals that it picks because they’ll just die in my tank. Once he has a coral he likes he won’t let it go. He’s very persistent.

Other than that, he’s a very good fish. I assume a healthy moorish idol will pick at corals. It shows how strong their appetite is.

All future coral purchases will revolve around the moorish idol.

PS: I don’t have sponges growing yet, but I’d assume growing them will be very beneficial for this specific moorish. He likes to pick at things.
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Thats unfortunate they are picking on LPS. Are there other reefers with different experience? I've now read 2 - 3 that pick at coral. Is nori available for him in between feedings?
 
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I know Paul B had a moorish, but I don’t think he kept the LPS that they are prone to eating.
 
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