Moorish Idol Behavior

[dstienmann]

I've had my Moorish Idol For almost a year, Hes pretty Healthy looking nice and fat, w/ long a streamer, But recently Seems to be when the lights in the room are off, I believe he can see hes reflection or just dont like the lights off. Hes attacking himself, looks like hes yelling at me. Is he Going to knock himself out against the glass or damage his beak? Does he need a lady now?


(Ive changed the color of the lights to the Radion AB+ from a whiter light roughly about the same time) may this is when it started..

 

[Maritimer]

I've never kept idols (though they're spectacularly beautiful!), but @4FordFamily has been pretty successful with 'em. Got any insights?

~Bruce

 

[4FordFamily]

I've had my Moorish Idol For almost a year, Hes pretty Healthy looking nice and fat, w/ long a streamer, But recently Seems to be when the lights in the room are off, I believe he can see hes reflection or just dont like the lights off. Hes attacking himself, looks like hes yelling at me. Is he Going to knock himself out against the glass or damage his beak? Does he need a lady now?


(Ive changed the color of the lights to the Radion AB+ from a whiter light roughly about the same time) may this is when it started..

Sounds like he is fiercely defending his territory. My “pair” (not a pair at all I’m just quarantining them together) are starting to chase each other a bit in QT. If you added another, he’d probably beat the snot out of it, based on how he is reacting to his own reflection. Idols are pretty laid back fish but are fiercely aggressive to each other in captivity, more often than not. It is possible to pair them but not worth the risk, IMO. Most who have tried to keep pairs have ended badly. They do OK in large groups in the wild and perhaps giant tanks but that’s not really realistic in 99% of home aquaria.

Powder blue tangs much the same, only aggressive to nearly everything remotely similar in shape, but especially each other. I did think I successfully paired two, only to have them divorce very suddenly and tragically, needing separated. Despite very bad wounds the loser did survive, barely. In large aquaria they too do OK in large groups but small groups end badly, almost always.

Sorry for the tangeant. Do you feed it Nori? Enough that he can eat 2/3 the day grazing upon it? A really fat, full idol is often more laid back. I’ve increased my feeding frequency and the amount of nori I offer and my two are getting along better.

They will be separated as soon as they’re out of quarantine! @HotRockTarBaby will have one of them, should they both make it. So far they’re thriving!

 

[dstienmann]

Sounds like he is fiercely defending his territory. My “pair” (not a pair at all I’m just quarantining them together) are starting to chase each other a bit in QT. If you added another, he’d probably beat the snot out of it, based on how he is reacting to his own reflection. Idols are pretty laid back fish but are fiercely aggressive to each other in captivity, more often than not. It is possible to pair them but not worth the risk, IMO. Most who have tried to keep pairs have ended badly. They do OK in large groups in the wild and perhaps giant tanks but that’s not really realistic in 99% of home aquaria.

Powder blue tangs much the same, only aggressive to nearly everything remotely similar in shape, but especially each other. I did think I successfully paired two, only to have them divorce very suddenly and tragically, needing separated. Despite very bad wounds the loser did survive, barely. In large aquaria they too do OK in large groups but small groups end badly, almost always.

Sorry for the tangeant. Do you feed it Nori? Enough that he can eat 2/3 the day grazing upon it? A really fat, full idol is often more laid back. I’ve increased my feeding frequency and the amount of nori I offer and my two are getting along better.

They will be separated as soon as they’re out of quarantine! @HotRockTarBaby will have one of them, should they both make it. So far they’re thriving!

I Did get out of the habit of feeding Nori, they can eat a full sheet or 2 a day 8"x11" It was literally just a **** storm all day long, I've added it back in there. will see how he does

They get auto feed about 6 times a day 3 different types of pellets and graze off the rocks all day on top of that

 

[azreeftank]

I Did get out of the habit of feeding Nori, they can eat a full sheet or 2 a day 8"x11" It was literally just a **** storm all day long, I've added it back in there. will see how he does

They get auto feed about 6 times a day 3 different types of pellets and graze off the rocks all day on top of that

Yeah daily Nori and plenty of frozen food and it should calm down. I unfortunately are in the process of having to take my prized Idol out of my reef. Had him for over 4 years as a model citizen and he just took a liking to my hammers and acans so sadly he must go. Mine has never shown any aggression or anything and I keep him in a well stocked tank. If anything the Achilles tang bosses the idol around when the Nori comes out.