Moorish Idol
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Fish
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about fish.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60674
Printed Date: July 12 2025 at 3:18am
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Topic: Moorish Idol
Posted By: Moosetang
Subject: Moorish Idol
Date Posted: December 05 2012 at 7:42am
| Ok, I have another fish I am interested in. Just curious on anyone's experience with Idols. I've success is out there and I hope to hear from someone that has or had them. Anything helps! Thanks again!! |
Replies:
Posted By: builderofdreams
Date Posted: December 05 2012 at 8:36am
|
If you are putting the Idol in a Reef Tank. Don't Do It. They are beautiful but one of the Meanest fish i have ever seen. They will eat anything they take a liking to. My wife and i personally witnessed my idol (that i only had for about 2 weks) Tear aprt and eat a Medium sized Sebae Anemome. They are one of my favorite fish but personally think they belong in a FOWLR tank. I am sure others will disagree but thats my personal experience. ------------- It's Not a Hobby It's an Obsession 150&210 Gallons of Madness and. Sanity! 801-850-4915 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65135&title=builderofdreams-feedback-post |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 05 2012 at 8:53am
| The direction I'm going as far as coral is all SPS. Do they nip at that? Or do you think they go for anything? Other than the coral issue, how was it as far as feeding and actually keeping the fish? |
Posted By: builderofdreams
Date Posted: December 05 2012 at 9:08am
|
I had the fish when i first started salt and had no SPS just LPS and Softies. The idol ate right off jump,Silversides,Krill and other meaty foods It was kept with Lions and Groupers. I just could not control what it ate and it seemed Nothing was off limits to this fish. ------------- It's Not a Hobby It's an Obsession 150&210 Gallons of Madness and. Sanity! 801-850-4915 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65135&title=builderofdreams-feedback-post |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 05 2012 at 9:35am
| That's amazing to hear it did well right from the start. How long had your system been running before you added him? Also, did he die? Or did you sell him? |
Posted By: builderofdreams
Date Posted: December 05 2012 at 9:31pm
|
^^^^^ I will not buy a Fish that i don't Physically see eat. The tank was less than a year old. I took the Idol back to the LFS. "Corection" I had him for 2 months not weeks. Removing the Idol was my first introduction to removing 100 pounds of live rock just to remove a Fish. ------------- It's Not a Hobby It's an Obsession 150&210 Gallons of Madness and. Sanity! 801-850-4915 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65135&title=builderofdreams-feedback-post |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 05 2012 at 9:45pm
| I hear ya there! Catching fish is a pain! Thank you for your incite!! |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 06 2012 at 8:40pm
| Bump |
Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: December 06 2012 at 9:15pm
| Idols are known to pick at SPS. I have helped several people remove them from their tanks because they were killing very expensive corals, specifically SPS and LPS. |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: December 06 2012 at 9:26pm
|
They are incredibly difficult to keep. But have been making strides in husbandry care. I've had a couple each living over a few years. But that is not the norm by any means. I have lots to say, not much time to type. Hopefully others will jump in here. Bottom line, not a wise move, but if you are serious about it and really want to contribute to learning more about them then give me a call and make a prudent move forward. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 08 2012 at 5:55pm
| I am defiantly interested in trying this fish. I have a couple difficult I am susessfully keeping right now. I've alway loved the Idol. |
Posted By: twolow4law1
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 12:05pm
|
any idea on a price for these fish ------------- 60 gal rimless , 40 gal rimless 120 gal reef HOOKED ON SALT WATER 801-682-0477 |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 12:07pm
| They are in the ballpark of $60-$90. Depending on size. |
Posted By: twolow4law1
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 7:11pm
|
who has them or you just serching i would try one ------------- 60 gal rimless , 40 gal rimless 120 gal reef HOOKED ON SALT WATER 801-682-0477 |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 7:14pm
| I'm having Aquatic Dreams bringing it in. I'm sure they would bring a few in. |
Posted By: sabeypets
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 7:53pm
|
The one that I had nipped at everything in my tank SPS, LPS, softies, sponges, ect. Once I got him home I couldn't get him to eat any frozen food. I have a 280 gal system that had been up and running for over a year. I though he may have a chance in this tank but died in about 4 weeks.
I seen 2 at a LFS about 5 weeks ago for under $40.
I think you can get these "tank raised" for about $130-$150 and one should have a lot better luck with these.
These are very difficult to keep.
------------- Shaun American Fork "Would you leave a dead cat in your kitchen till tommorow?" Builderofdreams |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 7:56pm
| Under $40? May I ask which LFS? I am very interested in trying this fish. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 12 2012 at 10:48pm
Here is a pic of one of mine in my big tank. Fortunately the coral grow about as fast as they eat it. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 6:46am
| How long have you had him Mark? What do you feed and how did you entice him to eat when you first got him? |
Posted By: chuckfu
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 9:01am
|
he eats the coral
------------- Try, try, try, then give up! |
Mark Peterson wrote:Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 11:23am
|
I had one on a FOWLR setup (with a few softies thrown in) that lived for 4 + years.
Used to feed it live sponge and clams / mussels on the half shell once a week, plus as much variety of foods as possible daily.
Including: frozen brine, mysis, bloodworms, blackworms, glassworms, squid, mussels, clams, cyclopeeze, chopped shrimp, spinach, kale. Plus, LIVE brine, blackworms, tubifex worms.
Some things it would eat like a pig; some things it totally ignored. And the things it liked changed weekly. One week it would gorge on live blackworms; next week ignore them.
My experience is thsi fish needs -
- A very varied diet, and frequent feedings (at least twice daily; 3 or 4 times would be better)
- Very clean water with stable parameters, a big skimmer to handle all the food and fish waste; frequent water changes
- A large aquarium (100g or above) with a large amount fo good aged live rock to graze on
- No agressive fish in the tank or it will hide all day and not eat
- In nature they live in pairs; but in an aquarium you need at least a 225 gal tank to house a pair w/o fighting
------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 12:03pm
| Thanks BobC! :) Where would I get live sponge? |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 12:46pm
|
I used to live on Long Island so I was able to just go down to the water and collect it.
Here, i think you might have to either get hooked up with an LFS to bring some in each month, or order online at a place like aquacon.com
------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: December 13 2012 at 3:49pm
| Ok cool. Thank you guys for all your help! |