The Moorish Idol Thread - Page 125

pinnatus · 01/27/2017, 09:50 AM

Yeah, mine has been on hunger strikes a few times during the 7+ years I have had it. I have always been able to get it eating again, usually using Rod's food. Normally it eats pellets but sometimes it decides it doesn't want pellets and stops eating. Always a little worrisome until it starts eating again.

Skim · 01/30/2017, 09:18 PM

I guess my guy is going 4 years and is about 5 1/2 to 6 inches from Nose to tail and about the same top to bottom. Never had a problem with him to eat, nothing but Flake and Pellets. NSL Flake, Omega Flake, Omega super Kelp Flake, Omega Pellets, NorthFin Marine and Krill pellets and the odd sheet of Algae. I should have gotten 2 at the time but he pals around with the Naso all the time. The 2 are pigs they would eat all day long if I kept feeding them.

Naraku · 01/30/2017, 11:27 PM

What country did the Moorish idol come from ?
Maybe they have better collection methods.

Over here in the US, we mostly get them from Fiji, and Maldives

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skim

I guess my guy is going 4 years and is about 5 1/2 to 6 inches from Nose to tail and about the same top to bottom. Never had a problem with him to eat, nothing but Flake and Pellets. NSL Flake, Omega Flake, Omega super Kelp Flake, Omega Pellets, NorthFin Marine and Krill pellets and the odd sheet of Algae. I should have gotten 2 at the time but he pals around with the Naso all the time. The 2 are pigs they would eat all day long if I kept feeding them.

blueclam99 · 02/08/2017, 11:41 AM

Does anybody has experience with a Moorish Idol attacking or eating zoa polyps? Mine currently is eating flakes and pellets. So far there is no sign of any interest in the zoa colony. She is picking frequently the liverocks, though.

Sounds Fishy · 02/08/2017, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueclam99

Does anybody has experience with a Moorish Idol attacking or eating zoa polyps? Mine currently is eating flakes and pellets. So far there is no sign of any interest in the zoa colony. She is picking frequently the liverocks, though.

I heard that it can happen,but it seems to only be that way for some.If they are fat and well fed it may help,deter them from nibbling(and , maybe not...)

pinnatus · 02/09/2017, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueclam99

Does anybody has experience with a Moorish Idol attacking or eating zoa polyps? Mine currently is eating flakes and pellets. So far there is no sign of any interest in the zoa colony. She is picking frequently the liverocks, though.

Mine ignored my zoas for maybe three months. Then one day it decided it liked them and within a few weeks all zoas were gone.

Keimaxbode · 02/09/2017, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skim

I guess my guy is going 4 years and is about 5 1/2 to 6 inches from Nose to tail and about the same top to bottom. Never had a problem with him to eat, nothing but Flake and Pellets. NSL Flake, Omega Flake, Omega super Kelp Flake, Omega Pellets, NorthFin Marine and Krill pellets and the odd sheet of Algae. I should have gotten 2 at the time but he pals around with the Naso all the time. The 2 are pigs they would eat all day long if I kept feeding them.

I haven't heard of anyone able to keep multiples in a home aquarium past the juvenile stage. My MI is two years old and eats everything. I got him from Live Aquaria (Divers Den).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thi7b · 03/12/2017, 08:38 PM

My son moorish idol developed cloudy eye on one side. Is there any treatment that is worth trying? He is eating just fine.

pinnatus · 04/23/2017, 05:21 PM

My Moorish Idol died this week He was 8 years old.

Naraku · 04/24/2017, 10:10 AM

Sorry to hear. I have not heard of anyone with an 8 year idol.

Do you think it died of old age or bullying by the 2 emperor and not being able to compete for food?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinnatus

My Moorish Idol died this week He was 8 years old.

Sounds Fishy · 04/24/2017, 01:47 PM

What a bummer,you must have be getting real attached,and,I suppose there is a limit to their life expectancy. I haven't heard of an MI living in captivity,prior to yours.

pinnatus · 04/25/2017, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naraku

Sorry to hear. I have not heard of anyone with an 8 year idol.

Do you think it died of old age or bullying by the 2 emperor and not being able to compete for food?

He had been declining for a few months. I think the emps were out-competing him for food, and the Rock Beauty was nipping at him every chance he got. He seemed to have lost a bit of coordination or vision over the past 6 months or so and had a hard time getting pellets - he missed more than he got. So all in all, maybe old age. Not sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sounds Fishy

What a bummer,you must have be getting real attached,and,I suppose there is a limit to their life expectancy. I haven't heard of an MI living in captivity,prior to yours.

He was a really great fish. Great personality and he loved being watched.

lionfish300 · 04/25/2017, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinnatus

My Moorish Idol died this week He was 8 years old.

Wow sorry to hear that, 8 years that have to be one of the great MI

johnike · 04/26/2017, 04:43 AM

Nice run, Ken.

pinnatus · 04/26/2017, 06:33 AM

Thanks.

I always feel bad when a fish dies. I try to know if there was something I could have done better or differently. The Idol was my favorite fish I have ever had in 43 years of keeping marine fish. I also think I had it longer than any other fish I have ever had.

Naraku · 04/26/2017, 07:13 AM

Will you ever consider another or a group?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinnatus

Thanks.

I always feel bad when a fish dies. I try to know if there was something I could have done better or differently. The Idol was my favorite fish I have ever had in 43 years of keeping marine fish. I also think I had it longer than any other fish I have ever had.

pinnatus · 04/26/2017, 07:28 AM

I would like to have another. From what I can tell, groups do not work in a home-sized aquarium.

Breakthecycle2 · 04/26/2017, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinnatus

I would like to have another. From what I can tell, groups do not work in a home-sized aquarium.

I had three at one point. THey were fine together until velvet took them all. I also had a pair another time, One turned on the other out of the blue.

pinnatus · 04/26/2017, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breakthecycle2

I had three at one point. THey were fine together until velvet took them all. I also had a pair another time, One turned on the other out of the blue.

Your second example seems to be the norm. I began with 3, but they took each other out til one was left.

SunZz · 06/23/2017, 12:05 PM

I have a Fijian MI that's been in QT for a month now, eating everything very well. Curious as to the people who have had them in reefs before...what corals seem to be more appealing than others or is it just going to be a gamble when he goes into the DT?

m0nkie · 06/23/2017, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunZz

I have a Fijian MI that's been in QT for a month now, eating everything very well. Curious as to the people who have had them in reefs before...what corals seem to be more appealing than others or is it just going to be a gamble when he goes into the DT?

zoa, any meaty lps... it's pretty random. for me SPS was fine. they left leather alone too

sidman74 · 06/27/2017, 02:31 PM

I recently came across a healthy specimen at my LFS and decided to buy. It is rather on the large size and dwarfs the other fish in my tank. System (90 gallons) has been up for 3 years. My wife and I are planning an upgrade to a 220 now that we have a fish large enough to require it.

It is eating frozen krill, marine algae mix, misis, sheets of nuri, and anything else it can pick off the rocks. Seems interested in a green galaxia coral I have but has left a kenya tree, green zoas, green star polyps, and my hammers alone.

Lots of good information in this thread so wanted to say thanks.

lagatbezan · 08/06/2017, 02:24 PM

Anyone have experience adding a MI as a last addition to an established 300g tank that has an adult emperor angel and some tangs including a hippo, yellow, purple and powder blue? Curious how they handle themselves when initially added.

pinnatus · 08/07/2017, 09:28 AM

They are timid and essentially defenseless. After they get established they become a little more bold, but really this is a fish that cannot be allowed to be bullied. Best to make sure he is protected - maybe an acclimatization box. If they get bullied, they won't last long and probably will probably not recover even if the bulliers are removed.

lagatbezan · 08/07/2017, 09:52 AM

Thanks for the feedback pinnatus. I'm really contemplating attempting one, they look gorgeous. "If" I do, maybe I put an eggcrate in the tank and divide it up for a few days to let him adjust. any feedback on how to qt them? I usually do TTM with two 10g tanks and then move to 30g for observation before they go into the main tank. any advice or suggestions?

01/27/2017, 09:50 AM	#3101
pinnatus RIP Ludinano Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,572	Yeah, mine has been on hunger strikes a few times during the 7+ years I have had it. I have always been able to get it eating again, usually using Rod's food. Normally it eats pellets but sometimes it decides it doesn't want pellets and stops eating. Always a little worrisome until it starts eating again. __________________ - Ken Current Tank Info: 240 gal Fish-Only, 13-gal w/ clowns

02/08/2017, 11:41 AM	#3104
blueclam99 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Minnetonka, Minnesota Posts: 39	Moorish Idol with zoa colony Does anybody has experience with a Moorish Idol attacking or eating zoa polyps? Mine currently is eating flakes and pellets. So far there is no sign of any interest in the zoa colony. She is picking frequently the liverocks, though.

04/23/2017, 05:21 PM	#3109
pinnatus RIP Ludinano Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,572	My Moorish Idol died this week He was 8 years old. __________________ - Ken Current Tank Info: 240 gal Fish-Only, 13-gal w/ clowns

04/24/2017, 01:47 PM	#3111
Sounds Fishy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 532	What a bummer,you must have be getting real attached,and,I suppose there is a limit to their life expectancy. I haven't heard of an MI living in captivity,prior to yours. __________________ Blue Spotted Ribbontail Stingray.Zebra Moray Eel.Aqueon 210 gallon,Trigger Ruby Elite 36 gallon sump

04/26/2017, 06:33 AM	#3115
pinnatus RIP Ludinano Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,572	Thanks. I always feel bad when a fish dies. I try to know if there was something I could have done better or differently. The Idol was my favorite fish I have ever had in 43 years of keeping marine fish. I also think I had it longer than any other fish I have ever had. __________________ - Ken Current Tank Info: 240 gal Fish-Only, 13-gal w/ clowns

01/30/2017, 09:18 PM	#3102
Skim Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Brantford ON. Canada Posts: 277	I guess my guy is going 4 years and is about 5 1/2 to 6 inches from Nose to tail and about the same top to bottom. Never had a problem with him to eat, nothing but Flake and Pellets. NSL Flake, Omega Flake, Omega super Kelp Flake, Omega Pellets, NorthFin Marine and Krill pellets and the odd sheet of Algae. I should have gotten 2 at the time but he pals around with the Naso all the time. The 2 are pigs they would eat all day long if I kept feeding them.

03/12/2017, 08:38 PM	#3108
thi7b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 274	My son moorish idol developed cloudy eye on one side. Is there any treatment that is worth trying? He is eating just fine.

04/26/2017, 04:43 AM	#3114
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	Nice run, Ken.

04/26/2017, 07:28 AM	#3117
pinnatus RIP Ludinano Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,572	I would like to have another. From what I can tell, groups do not work in a home-sized aquarium. __________________ - Ken Current Tank Info: 240 gal Fish-Only, 13-gal w/ clowns

06/23/2017, 12:05 PM	#3120
SunZz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 1	I have a Fijian MI that's been in QT for a month now, eating everything very well. Curious as to the people who have had them in reefs before...what corals seem to be more appealing than others or is it just going to be a gamble when he goes into the DT?

08/06/2017, 02:24 PM	#3123
lagatbezan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,109	Anyone have experience adding a MI as a last addition to an established 300g tank that has an adult emperor angel and some tangs including a hippo, yellow, purple and powder blue? Curious how they handle themselves when initially added. __________________ Ryan. 300g with velocity t4 for return and a Reflo dart on a closed loop, T5 lights & SRO3000 skimmer. Current Tank Info: 300g

08/07/2017, 09:28 AM	#3124
pinnatus RIP Ludinano Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,572	They are timid and essentially defenseless. After they get established they become a little more bold, but really this is a fish that cannot be allowed to be bullied. Best to make sure he is protected - maybe an acclimatization box. If they get bullied, they won't last long and probably will probably not recover even if the bulliers are removed. __________________ - Ken Current Tank Info: 240 gal Fish-Only, 13-gal w/ clowns

08/07/2017, 09:52 AM	#3125
lagatbezan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,109	Thanks for the feedback pinnatus. I'm really contemplating attempting one, they look gorgeous. "If" I do, maybe I put an eggcrate in the tank and divide it up for a few days to let him adjust. any feedback on how to qt them? I usually do TTM with two 10g tanks and then move to 30g for observation before they go into the main tank. any advice or suggestions? __________________ Ryan. 300g with velocity t4 for return and a Reflo dart on a closed loop, T5 lights & SRO3000 skimmer. Current Tank Info: 300g