Moorish Idol success stories or failures

[Dmorty217]

Looking to hear about long term success stories with this fish (at least a year hopefully longer) I haven't ever tried one in my 19 years in the hobby but have always wanted one. From what I have gathered from research they seem to prefer pellets and the streamer grows due to algae (nori) or at least helps this. You don't hear much about these fish and I'm only aware of Ken (pinnatus) keeping one for any amount of time.

[saf1]

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

Looking to hear about long term success stories with this fish (at least a year hopefully longer) I haven't ever tried one in my 19 years in the hobby but have always wanted one. From what I have gathered from research they seem to prefer pellets and the streamer grows due to algae (nori) or at least helps this. You don't hear much about these fish and I'm only aware of Ken (pinnatus) keeping one for any amount of time.

I can't help you much other than I read this thread a couple weeks back. Originally I was going to try and add several fish that I've seen while diving in Hawaii and the idol is one of them. I decided to wait until the tank is mature and I do more homework. You have probably already seen this thread anyway but if not, here it is since I really have nothing to offer other than they are pretty when I see them diving.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...07477&page=126

[Dmorty217]

Originally Posted by saf1

I can't help you much other than I read this thread a couple weeks back. Originally I was going to try and add several fish that I've seen while diving in Hawaii and the idol is one of them. I decided to wait until the tank is mature and I do more homework. You have probably already seen this thread anyway but if not, here it is since I really have nothing to offer other than they are pretty when I see them diving.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...07477&page=126

I have read probably 70 pages of this thread and have learned a lot, ken has the most long term experience with one as far as I know so I was looking to hear pointers. I will never buy a fish at a LFS so seeing one eat isn't really a option for me.

[Pslreefer]

I’ll update mine in about 8 months, lol as it’s been in my tank for 2 months and another persons tank for 2 months as well...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dmorty217]

Originally Posted by Pslreefer

I’ll update mine in about 8 months, lol as it’s been in my tank for 2 months and another persons tank for 2 months as well...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ha it doesn't have to be a year or more but I have kept several corillivore butterflies now for a few months (3-7 months) and then they suddenly die so I consider success being at least a year. Really in this hobby success would be several years

[LargeAngels]

8 years. Just about the best eating fish I’ve ever had. Ate anything. Passed away from a sudden bacterial infection.

[Dmorty217]

Originally Posted by LargeAngels

8 years. Just about the best eating fish I’ve ever had. Ate anything. Passed away from a sudden bacterial infection.

Did you get it from a online vendor or observe it in the store before purchase?

[Pslreefer]

I will say that mine will eat any food I drop in the tank.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[marinelife]

I had one for a while before my Purple Tang killed it. Mine eat everything. Pellets and frozen mysis.
If you can get one to eat I think you would not have an issue keeping it. I would also recommend live rock with organisms growing on it.

[Dmorty217]

Originally Posted by marinelife

I had one for a while before my Purple Tang killed it. Mine eat everything. Pellets and frozen mysis.
If you can get one to eat I think you would not have an issue keeping it. I would also recommend live rock with organisms growing on it.

Well since the Idol will be in QT with no liverock for a minimum of 30 days one will have to eat without liverock present or die in the process. I will never buy a fish and just put it in my tank... never

[Pslreefer]

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

Well since the Idol will be in QT with no liverock for a minimum of 30 days one will have to eat without liverock present or die in the process. I will never buy a fish and just put it in my tank... never

I have never qt’d in a fish in eleven years and don’t plan on it. Unless you have a mature qt m, an idol would have a better chance of survival straight in the dt, along with most other sensitive or hard to keep livestock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dmorty217]

Originally Posted by Pslreefer

I have never qt’d in a fish in eleven years and don’t plan on it. Unless you have a mature qt m, an idol would have a better chance of survival straight in the dt, along with most other sensitive or hard to keep livestock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The QT has been setup for months but I will never not QT again and introduce flukes,Ich or velvet into my DT and watch all my hard work die because I cut corners

[rvareef]

my secret is bananas

[pinnatus]

Dmorty - be glad to answer anything I can. Most of my observations are in the MI thread.

[locito277]

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

The QT has been setup for months but I will never not QT again and introduce flukes,Ich or velvet into my DT and watch all my hard work die because I cut corners

You can try to get him started on nori. They will munch that quick. From there you can get creative to introduce other foods. Had one prior to Irma for 4 months. He ate everything. After the deaths I️ purchased 3 of which one did not survive the night. The other 2 are alive and well 2 months later. Smaller one eats meats and everything. Larger one will only eat Nori and an occasional pellet. Working on him. I️ believe he is gaining wait because of the LR. I️ think MI don’t do well in a qt unless you have established LR throw sponge in there.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[LargeAngels]

I bought it from a diver in Hawaii.

[Dmorty217]

So no one QTed their Idol?? That's not a risk I'm willing to take, last time I cut QT short I watched nearly 10K worth of fish die from a unconfirmed disease. I suspect it was praziquantel resistant flukes, but it wiped out my tank... Never again

[Dmorty217]

Originally Posted by rvareef

my secret is bananas

I have read this works well. Also seems like tangs love them too

[Achilles Torben]

Hello Dmorty

Bought one in 2013. One of my first fish in hobby. By my dealer idol swim in coral tank. Eats there Mysis well. In my tank he ate everything. Picked also at SPS. Not really reef safe crusting anemone ate also. Get really fat. Dieing by mistake to quarantine after rebuild. First picture 2013 second 2015 / 2016

Greetings Torben

Gesendet von meinem SM-G935F mit Tapatalk

Last video is July 6th 2016
First picture November 21st 2013
Also about 3 years

[LargeAngels]

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

So no one QTed their Idol?? That's not a risk I'm willing to take, last time I cut QT short I watched nearly 10K worth of fish die from a unconfirmed disease. I suspect it was praziquantel resistant flukes, but it wiped out my tank... Never again

I ALWAYS QT. Moorish idol was also QT'd. Ate flake, pellets and mysis shrimp in QT. Had really good water flow. I seem to have very good result with Omega One Marine flakes in a high water flow environment. Many of the more difficult classified tangs (Achilles, powder blue, etc.) have done really well on that as a first food source. Moorish idol was no different. He was treated with Cupramine and Prazipro after he started eating.

[locito277]

Originally Posted by LargeAngels

I ALWAYS QT. Moorish idol was also QT'd. Ate flake, pellets and mysis shrimp in QT. Had really good water flow. I seem to have very good result with Omega One Marine flakes in a high water flow environment. Many of the more difficult classified tangs (Achilles, powder blue, etc.) have done really well on that as a first food source. Moorish idol was no different. He was treated with Cupramine and Prazipro after he started eating.

I think strong flow also benefits them greatly as in the reefs they swim where the currents are strong and they do this for long distances. I got two MP 60s on one side making waves and the swim against it all day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dmorty217]

Thanks for the advise guys. I have a 75g I use for QT and a MP40 in it for flow

[d-man]

The ones I QTd for people always ate nori well first. Then pellets

[Dmorty217]

I have DD getting me one so it should be eating and for the most part healthy. It will be several weeks but I will update on this thread and the MI primer thread when I receive it.

[Chris Moses]

Once/If you get them to eat there are fairly hearty.

Flat out bad for a reef tank, will pick everything apart. Big eaters, generally love Mysis & clams.

Haven't had one in years because both my tanks are reefs. If I did a non-reef tank I would get 2 of them along with some other non-reef safe critters like Triggers, Wrasse & Angels.

Cheers

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk