How cool is it that my MI has been with me now for 19 days, eats five times a day and is now eating NLS pellets from my hand?
After reading several threads, this fish is one that should be avoided unless you have experience, time to give it multiple feedings, make SURE it eats NLS pellets(anecdotal experience suggests nls pellets are best for longevitity in captivity) and lastly make sure you get your lfs wholesaler harvested the MI from Hawaiian region.
The Moorish Idol is probably one of the most exotic of reef fish and captivates nearly everyone who sees it, me included. As you can see, my avatar is two Moorish Idols in silhouette. I’ve used that avatar for 35 years and have an updated version as my business logo. To say I love the Moorish Idol is an understatement.
I don’t know your experience but I’m going to make an assumption that you are relatively inexperienced because you purchased a Moorish Idol and put it into a “new” tank. That’s not advisable! They are extremely delicate fish that need an aged tank with lots of pods, good algae, sponges, worms and a host of other living macro and micro organisms that would be available in an aged tank, say, of 12 months. You may get “lucky” and keep him alive and healthy for awhile. I’ve seen it happen but not in a new tank.
You started this thread with a 19 day longevity with the Moorish, so each day he lives is a new record for you. I sincerely hope that that longevity continues so you can keep reporting the positive.
My personal best is two years BUT there were many shorter lengths of time before and after. Yes one of the pluses is to get one harvested from Hawaii. However that alone does not guarantee a long life for the Moorish Idol for they have much going against them living a life in captivity. They are do not fair well in the collectors holding facility because the collector or exporter does not feed them anything for the time held before shipping to a mainland wholesaler. The reason is, they want the fish’s gut to be empty so it doesn’t poop in the bag, thereby poisoning itself in ammonia.
Once it reaches the mainland wholesaler they are seldom fed anything of consequence. They are lucky to get some flake or pellet food thrown at them, food items that are totally foreign to them and which they ignore. This further exacerbates their starving situation. In a short period of time, their intestinal tract is devoid of the beneficial and necessary bacteria that breaks down food and turns it into the energy they need to thrive. Too often they do not survive the dead gut problem.
The fact that your Moorish Idol is eating pellets and “from my hand” is astounding and actually unbelievable as they are one of the shiest fish in captivity. Perhaps you are gifted or have an Idol that is one in a million. I don’t know. They die too quickly from SDS, Sudden Death Syndrome.
I would venture to say that whoever gave the anecdotal advice, "nls pellets are best for longevitity in captivity” doesn’t have enough experience with multiple Moorish Idols to make that a sure thing. Pellet food is a man made processed food that is totally foreign to all fish. The fact that they eat it at all says to me they are starving before it is introduced and eat it out of total necessity, find it palatable and begin to thrive on it. Pellet food is the last thing I would rely on as a staple for my fish especially a Moorish Idol. My current Moorish eats Nori fed twice daily along with brine shrimp fortified with spirolina algae, PE Mysis, Ocean Plankton and I add thousands of amphipods and copepods every other week. The LR is teaming with live foods for him to graze on plus normally occurring algae.
For the record: I’ve been in the SW hobby and business for 50+ years exclusively. I have plenty of experience with all kinds of marine fish, and corals. You should feel proud he’s eating for you but I would not count him over the hump until he’s been with you 6 months and longer.
Thanks for reading this long post. I think it’s important to point out to newbies, Moorish Idols are probably the most difficult and delicate of marine fish to keep alive and have very specific needs. Even the most experienced marine hobbyist will often fail with this magnificent fish.
Amphibious
aka; Dick
