wicked2na
Community Member
After countless hours of researching about the Moorish Idol I decided I was going to purchase one. I decided I would purchase him online from liveaquaria.com, they seem to have a good track record and the price was fair. The Idol arrived the next day and looked great, he was about 4" and was in great health. He acclimated well and was a little nervous in his new temporary 20 gallon home so I kept the lights off for a few days. He did not like the glass bottom of the quarantine tank so I added a light layer of sand so he could not see his reflection, this seemed to calm him down a bit. He refused to eat any food I tried to feed him, this food included brine, mysis and an assortment of marine pellets. I had read that the Moorish Idol preferred to have tank mates and that they learned quickly to eat in captivity by watching other fish eat so I added a few tangs I had in quarantine to his tank hoping this would assist with getting him to eat. After a few hours with his new tank mates I realized that the Moorish Idol was unleashing a beating on them. I removed the tangs and had a new idea, lets try and put him in a larger tank with fish that kinda of enjoy to play rough. So I added him to my fish only tank with an assortment of triggers. I was mostly worried about them beating on him considering he was a new addition, but I rearranged all the rocks so they were all confused and to my surprise they accepted him like he had always been in their tank. The next morning I fed the tank and he still wasn't eating, but later that day I noticed him pecking around a bit and at the evening feeding he started to eat what was floating around the tank. I have had him for about 1 month and he now eats everything I throw in the tank, but he seems to be losing body mass. I wouldn't say too skinny, but loosing some weight.
He also loves to chase and get chased, he reminds me of my salfin tang they always have some sort of chase game going on then they decide to play with the circulation fans. I guess you have to make up games when you live in a glass box. He is doing well with the triggers and his top streamer fin is twice as long as it was when I got him, I figured the triggers would have bitten that off a few times, but they don't mess with it.
My only concern is he doesn't seem to rest, all of the other fish go to their chill spots to sleep, but he keeps on swimming around the tank. Could this unrest be one of the reasons these fish do not do well in captivity?
I will keep everyone posted on my experience and if any other Idol owners have any recommended foods for heath or tips for a "hide out" for him they would be greatly appreciated.
FYI He is currently in a 165 Gallon 72x24x26 he and his friends will be moving to a larger tank soon, I do understand triggers get very large.
He also loves to chase and get chased, he reminds me of my salfin tang they always have some sort of chase game going on then they decide to play with the circulation fans. I guess you have to make up games when you live in a glass box. He is doing well with the triggers and his top streamer fin is twice as long as it was when I got him, I figured the triggers would have bitten that off a few times, but they don't mess with it.
My only concern is he doesn't seem to rest, all of the other fish go to their chill spots to sleep, but he keeps on swimming around the tank. Could this unrest be one of the reasons these fish do not do well in captivity?
I will keep everyone posted on my experience and if any other Idol owners have any recommended foods for heath or tips for a "hide out" for him they would be greatly appreciated.
FYI He is currently in a 165 Gallon 72x24x26 he and his friends will be moving to a larger tank soon, I do understand triggers get very large.
