sheatime
Community Member
Just added a moorish idol into my tank earlier... Noticed him going after my turbo snails... He eats like a pig, was going to town on flakes and seaweed at the LFS, just wondering if snails are common for their diet?
Moorish idol
- Thread starter sheatime
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I have one as well. Got him two weeks ago. Beautiful fish. Tears seaweed up but nothing else yet. Pecks at the live rock a bunch though. Mine hasn't gone for any corals......yet.
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
I have never seen one go after snails before, but if he wants snails I would buy him snails. Getting an eating Moorish idol is a score.
OP
OP
sheatime
Community Member
@eatbreakfast he's eating flake and going to town on seaweed! But yeah he was picking at the snails when they were on the sand bed. Now that they're on the glass, it has stopped atleast it appears so
Breakthecycle2
2500 Club Member
He was picking on whatever was on the shell. Mine do that sometimes.
I have kept mine for 4 months or so... they go after everything they think they can eat.
Long term success with this fish is hard.
My longest running one was 1.5yrs then just died. They seem to do better in large tanks 400+.
I have read on forums about long term success but have yet to see it. This fish is not the best choice for most hobbyist. I did not want the one I have now but was taking it off a friend who made a poor choice at the Lfs. My only suggestion is to feed it acans to keep the long term destruction they cause in a standard reef tank at a minimal.
Was on my phone more info.
In my opinion and observation of keeping this fish.. They go after everything including my hand. After keeping them for a while you will get a feel of what it goes after and pull that from the tank or hope for the best. They can destroy a large coral in a few hours unchecked. I ended up pulling 30% of my coral out of my main display for this reason.
And for the question yes mine eats snails.
Long term success with this fish is hard.
My longest running one was 1.5yrs then just died. They seem to do better in large tanks 400+.
I have read on forums about long term success but have yet to see it. This fish is not the best choice for most hobbyist. I did not want the one I have now but was taking it off a friend who made a poor choice at the Lfs. My only suggestion is to feed it acans to keep the long term destruction they cause in a standard reef tank at a minimal.
Was on my phone more info.
In my opinion and observation of keeping this fish.. They go after everything including my hand. After keeping them for a while you will get a feel of what it goes after and pull that from the tank or hope for the best. They can destroy a large coral in a few hours unchecked. I ended up pulling 30% of my coral out of my main display for this reason.
And for the question yes mine eats snails.
Last edited:
fbodykiller
Well-Known Member
I have a guy in my local club that has 2 of them and has had them for a number of years so far.
I wanted to check on some of my opinions I stated above and I did talk to a few people that have kept them for 2+ years. I think long term success with this fish is possible. I wish more people that kept them for 2+ years would post on boards so I could learn what I am doing wrong.
As for info on what I have observed them pick at or eat or kill is the following.
The one I have now started as 2. The pair did well (eating) for a month and then the smaller of the 2 would chase/bite and stress out the larger one to the point that it ended up passing. There was another issue with it swimming erratically. These 2 fish were a rescue of sorts so I did the best I could with my limited knowledge.
I have also observed them eat/pick at snails. I think mine has a kill count of 3 in 4 months. He has also killed a Emerald crab.. Picked off all of its legs.....
As for shrimp and other fish it does attack a Kole tang and sexy shrimp.. It does not seem to want to eat the shrimp just wants them to move where he thinks they should be I guess.
As for coral I am sure at this point he has picked at every coral and anemone in my tank. Killing/eating doughnut corals (including the one in my profile pic), zoanthids, acan's, duncan's, pipe organ. Out of the ones I have kept they all seem to do the same thing within 3-6 month. I have also found they seem to stick to brown or green coral. I kept a colony of rainbow acan's in my tank for 2 months and the one I have now never touched it. I have also noticed he stays away from the bright colour zoanthids. Seems to nip at all the brown ones.
Other then that I have also found they don't QT that well. This could be me but I just hypo them no copper as everyone I have used copper on seems not to last.
I hope this helps and to be honnest this is all just anecdotal information.
As for info on what I have observed them pick at or eat or kill is the following.
The one I have now started as 2. The pair did well (eating) for a month and then the smaller of the 2 would chase/bite and stress out the larger one to the point that it ended up passing. There was another issue with it swimming erratically. These 2 fish were a rescue of sorts so I did the best I could with my limited knowledge.
I have also observed them eat/pick at snails. I think mine has a kill count of 3 in 4 months. He has also killed a Emerald crab.. Picked off all of its legs.....
As for shrimp and other fish it does attack a Kole tang and sexy shrimp.. It does not seem to want to eat the shrimp just wants them to move where he thinks they should be I guess.
As for coral I am sure at this point he has picked at every coral and anemone in my tank. Killing/eating doughnut corals (including the one in my profile pic), zoanthids, acan's, duncan's, pipe organ. Out of the ones I have kept they all seem to do the same thing within 3-6 month. I have also found they seem to stick to brown or green coral. I kept a colony of rainbow acan's in my tank for 2 months and the one I have now never touched it. I have also noticed he stays away from the bright colour zoanthids. Seems to nip at all the brown ones.
Other then that I have also found they don't QT that well. This could be me but I just hypo them no copper as everyone I have used copper on seems not to last.
I hope this helps and to be honnest this is all just anecdotal information.
Breakthecycle2
2500 Club Member
I have done a lot of research over the last 6 months or so. After reading other members suggestions and some trial and error on my part, here are what I feel are keys to "success" (that needs to be determined long term). High oxygenation and surface agitation. Feed Nori 4-8 sheets a day and do not use carbon (i.e....chemipure elite long term).
OP
OP
sheatime
Community Member
Thanks for all the responses everyone! glad to see that it isn't just an odd occurrence. Since the snails have found their way onto the glass and overflow box, he has left them alone 
Orly20
Well-Known Member
This fish has been kept long term and the best success stories are the people who got them toe eat NLS pellets. Look up Paul Tabolt who has had several for years and fed strictly on pellets good luck
I've had mine for at least 3 years. Got it as a large from a LFS and it was eating NLS pellets. Gave him room and tank mates that he can be the dominate alpha male. Fed him many times a day within the first year or so. Now he is eating medium formula two pallets and any frozen food.
This is mine.. had for 4+ months now... What happened to your Idols Dorsal fin/Streamer?
MT. Reefer
Mt.Reefer
This is mine.. had for 4+ months now... What happened to your Idols Dorsal fin/Streamer?
That's my favorite fish. See them every time snorkeling in Hawaii. Would love to get one someday but everything I hear about keeping them is negative. Glad there are some out there like you that can!
