Morish idol
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I know my LFS has one in their mixed tank. He has been in the tank for about 6 months now. Does nto seem to be causing any problems. But I have never had one.
Ive heard the ywill tear apart reefs...but every fish has a personality...like i had a tank with 2 puffers and soft corals,crabs, snail, etc. and they never bothered any of it............
I think if you keep the fish close to full he wont pick at corals, because they pick when they get hungry..usually
I think if you keep the fish close to full he wont pick at corals, because they pick when they get hungry..usually
NaClCrocodile
Active Member
Gah, I hate to see MI's bought without extensive research. They are like mandarins in that they have a very narrow spectrum of food that they will eat. In the wild (If I recall correctly) they only eat a certain type of sponge. They won't nip at your corals but unless you can get him to prepared foods or supply it with fresh sponges constantly, he won't be around for long. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but most turn out this way. There's a Primer on RC that'd be good reading now that you've got one.
On the flip side, I have seen one at a museum's aquarium that they'd weaned to prepared foods and had kept for a while - it's not impossible, it's just highly specialized.
On the flip side, I have seen one at a museum's aquarium that they'd weaned to prepared foods and had kept for a while - it's not impossible, it's just highly specialized.
kingfisherfleshy
Well-Known Member
Or you can feed it newlife spectrum...and a smattering of other things just to keep it from getting bored.
Have always wanted to try...when this guy first started selling newlife he took moorish idols on TOUR around the country and fed them ONLY newlife...they flourished. Just go to their homepage and look at all the gorgeous fish they have living together in peace that eat NOTHING but newlife...if that doesnt convince you, try a bottle of the stuff. Feed it to any of your fish. You will never feed any other commericial food ever again. (flake pellets ect)
End Note: I feed my reef newlife, with selecon enriched mysis, and a different selection of dried algae from a clip.
Have always wanted to try...when this guy first started selling newlife he took moorish idols on TOUR around the country and fed them ONLY newlife...they flourished. Just go to their homepage and look at all the gorgeous fish they have living together in peace that eat NOTHING but newlife...if that doesnt convince you, try a bottle of the stuff. Feed it to any of your fish. You will never feed any other commericial food ever again. (flake pellets ect)
End Note: I feed my reef newlife, with selecon enriched mysis, and a different selection of dried algae from a clip.
A guy in our local club has had one for I think about a year now. They are difficult fish and getting them to eat is the trick.
Back to topic - My friend's idol eats zoanthids and polyps. Probably something to consider although each fish can be different.
Back to topic - My friend's idol eats zoanthids and polyps. Probably something to consider although each fish can be different.
FishLipz
Cheap and Easy Reefer
I've heard that the Newlife Spectrum pellets seem to be the best captive food for idols too. Everything I've read still says they are very difficult to get eating though. Good luck with such a beautiful fish. It's a shame so many perish due to poor collection and unwillingness to accept captive foods.
iReefer
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thanks guys for the inputs. I know they're hard to keep, but this guys eat like hog at the store, it ate pellet and brine shrimp though i would give it a try as i never had one and have always wanted to keep one of these beautiful fish all my reefing years. lol
NaClCrocodile
Active Member
See, now why didn't you say so? That's an addition I'd kill to have. They're really awesome fish - even if they take the occasional nip out of a coral.
The guy at the LFS said he used clams. Went to Publix and got the clams that are on ice over in seafood. MI went to town on them. Now it will eat anything.
110reef
Active Member
I have had mine now for 18 months. It eats anything and everything in the way of fish food, including pellets and flakes. It gets along well with all inhabitants of my tank. But as JT mentioned above, it developed a taste for zoas after I had it for about 4 months, and it cleared out all my zoas, and tried very hard to eat my palys but couldn't quite manage it. Nontheless, the Palys were damaged and remained closed, til I relocated them to another tank. I found, especially in the beginning, that the Idol doesn't eat a lot, but really seems to need to eat often.
I should also say that in the last couple of months, the idol has not looked as good as before. It has lost most of its streamer, which they do anyway, but it hasn't grown back like it normally does. The change in health seems to coincide with when I raised the mag to combat byropsis. So, its poorer condition may be due to the higher mag, or the lack of byropsis (the Idol used to eat it), or none of the above. Blackish markings appeared on the dorsal fins when this happened - I don't think it is a disease, but rather an indication of bad health. However, it is still acting the same as always, and still eating like a pig, and lately has started to look a little better. So, hopefully it will regain its health. It has been a really great fish to have, and I hope I can keep it a lot longer, because it is really my favorite.
By the way, I have it in a 240 gallon mixed reef tank. Other fishes are 2 Blue Devils, Rabbitfish, Asfur Angel, Yellow Coris Wrasse, Purple Tang, Achilles Tang, Mandarin, Scooter Blennie and a Majestic Angel.
Here is a little film of it:
Some pics:
Night time coloration:
I should also say that in the last couple of months, the idol has not looked as good as before. It has lost most of its streamer, which they do anyway, but it hasn't grown back like it normally does. The change in health seems to coincide with when I raised the mag to combat byropsis. So, its poorer condition may be due to the higher mag, or the lack of byropsis (the Idol used to eat it), or none of the above. Blackish markings appeared on the dorsal fins when this happened - I don't think it is a disease, but rather an indication of bad health. However, it is still acting the same as always, and still eating like a pig, and lately has started to look a little better. So, hopefully it will regain its health. It has been a really great fish to have, and I hope I can keep it a lot longer, because it is really my favorite.
By the way, I have it in a 240 gallon mixed reef tank. Other fishes are 2 Blue Devils, Rabbitfish, Asfur Angel, Yellow Coris Wrasse, Purple Tang, Achilles Tang, Mandarin, Scooter Blennie and a Majestic Angel.
Here is a little film of it:
Some pics:
Night time coloration:
Last edited:
kingfisherfleshy
Well-Known Member
I dont think you can do better than newlife for any fish as far as staples go. The more variety added onto that the better, but as far as a place to start, newlife will always be my first choice.
If he is eating like a pig, get some newlife, some oyster or whatever else is recommended, and start feeding the guy.
110reef - Heres hoping your fish recovers. Never really liked these fish till I saw them live in the wild. Their elegance on the reef is second to none in hawai'i. Have wanted one ever since.
If he is eating like a pig, get some newlife, some oyster or whatever else is recommended, and start feeding the guy.
110reef - Heres hoping your fish recovers. Never really liked these fish till I saw them live in the wild. Their elegance on the reef is second to none in hawai'i. Have wanted one ever since.
