Moorish Idol Experience
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=64630
Printed Date: August 15 2025 at 11:05am
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Topic: Moorish Idol Experience
Posted By: Ann_A
Subject: Moorish Idol Experience
Date Posted: May 28 2013 at 10:17am
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I thought I would share my experience with moorish idols and continue to update it as time goes by since I seem to be having success thus far. Before continuing, I'm going to say that I do not recommend these fish to most hobbyists because of their difficult feeding behaviors and the low survival rating. I got lucky and found a pair that was eating before I purchased them. Two weeks ago I purchased a pair of moorish idols from Reefon. They were eating at the store, and devoured pellets and flakes. When first introduced into my quarantine tank with my other fish, a clownfish, a melanurus, a niger trigger, a powder blue, and an emperor angel, they were picked on a little by my powder blue and angel. However, having bought two it split the aggression and they fought the attackers off pretty easily. I immediately began feeding with garlic in the food, alternating between frozen brine, mysis, pellets, formula one flakes, and formula two flakes. After three days they started eating for me, and once started they haven't stopped. They are pigs! They absolutely love the formula one and two flakes and sometimes nibble at a few brine shrimp. So far they have yet to eat pellets or mysis for me. By the end of the first week they had not only maintained their weight, but had put on some more mass around the stomach area. For now they are in copper with my other fish and will be for the next three weeks until the main tank has been cleared on all parasites. Once the main tank is ready, they will be added back in there and a week later the rest of the fish will go in as well. That way the moorish idols will have time to adjust to the tank without the stress of other fish and will establish territory before having to battle the other fish. Any tips from others would be great. I'd love to hear other people's experiences with these extremely difficult fish. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Replies:
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 05 2013 at 4:11pm
| I just picked one up yesterday. What do you have yours feeding at this point and what foods did you start out with? I love fish and want to try e everything I can to get it going. Thanks Ann! |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 05 2013 at 4:12pm
| Love this fish*** |
Posted By: DLindquist
Date Posted: June 06 2013 at 5:21am
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What beautiful fish. Good luck! ------------- A government strong enough to give you everything you want, is powerful enough to take everything you have. |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 06 2013 at 6:29am
| What kind of pellets did they eat at the store? |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 06 2013 at 8:47am
I freed formula 1 and formula 2 flakes and spectrum pellets. They were eating these at the store so that's what I got for them. Also, soak all of the food in garlic, try frozen foods, try live foods, and feed multiple times a day. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Moosetang wrote:Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 06 2013 at 9:09pm
Day 2 Update - My Idol is now eating spectrum pellets and a little sprinula brine. But the thing I've found he pigs out the most on is Aquatic Dreams Yumm Yumm formula. Maybe give that a try Ann. Mine seems to go crazy over that! I have been mixing garlic with Entice as well. Things are looking good so far!! 
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Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 7:47am
Hey Ann, just wanted to know how your Idols where doing this far. 
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Posted By: Dan9554880
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 9:17am
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I was wondering where do you guys recommend to get a moorish idol from? And if you know what are the prices? ------------- 210 Mixed Reef 20 Nuvo nano reef Learn your tank, not the hobby |
Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 9:30am
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I dont know for sure, but the AD reef yum yum food looks like Coral Frenzy and the BSD pellets. ------------- www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water |
Posted By: Elite-Aquatics
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 9:31am
Aquatic Dreams has one right now. ------------- Premium aquarium filtration! |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 10:01am
$70 and I saw him going crazy over spectrum pellets! |
Posted By: Aquatic Evolution
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 12:39pm
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We get them all the time and they are $29.99, currentlly sold out but should have more this week. They always eat for us frozen and pellet.
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Posted By: AcroNem
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 12:55pm
| That's awesome Shawn I'll have to check them out. What day should I check in? |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 12:58pm
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Honestly I don't recommend getting them. Buti f you insist on getting one then we sell them at Reefon occasionally for $30. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: AcroNem
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 1:04pm
| Probably won't get one I realize they are extremely tough. Either way I haven't seen Shawn in forever so I need to stop in. Where is reefon? |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 1:41pm
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Midvale ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 1:43pm
| How is your Idol doing Ann? |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 1:56pm
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Mine are great! One had popeye but it cleared up and they're both doing great now. They devour pellets, flakes, frozen, and live. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 08 2013 at 6:25pm
| That great to hear!! Mine seems to be a machine! Goes crazy over everything I've been feeding! Hopefully we just got lucky!! |
Posted By: Ghetto Man
Date Posted: June 09 2013 at 11:03am
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How has this thread gone so long without pictures?! Ever since I dove off the big island ~7 years ago the Moorish Idol has been at t he top of my wish list. One day I'll design a big system with them in mind.
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Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 09 2013 at 11:10am
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Haha. Pics to come this afternoon. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 09 2013 at 12:10pm
| I'll get pictures up this afternoon as well! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: June 09 2013 at 3:15pm
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Aloha Ghetto Man and all, Here are some pics of my Idols in my old "huge tank".     ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 09 2013 at 5:52pm
This is the best I could get because mine are really shy since being moved out of quarantine into the display tank this morning. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 10 2013 at 12:44pm
   ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Ghetto Man
Date Posted: June 10 2013 at 12:47pm
| Fantastic! |
Posted By: Dan9554880
Date Posted: June 10 2013 at 2:44pm
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Beautiful fish it makes me want to have another one ------------- 210 Mixed Reef 20 Nuvo nano reef Learn your tank, not the hobby |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 10 2013 at 5:13pm
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Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 12 2013 at 9:37am
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Very nice! I'm jealous of yours' streamer. Mine lost theirs sometime at the store and are slowly growing them back now. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Dan9554880
Date Posted: June 12 2013 at 9:55am
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Do you guys think that they are a hard fish to keep or when you find one that's eating its easy from there? Moosetang- where did you get yours? ------------- 210 Mixed Reef 20 Nuvo nano reef Learn your tank, not the hobby |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 12 2013 at 10:29am
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Still difficult because they're very fragile. One of mine got popeye a week after being introduced to my quarantine. After treating with prazipro and copper he still had it but was still eating and behaving normally. When it was time to move him into the display tank he still had popeye but because he was acting completely normal and was unaffected in any other way I still put him in there. After a week in the display it went away. I'd be very cautious about buying one of these. IF you can find one thats eating well (preferably Spectrum pellets) then maybe get it. Be prepared to supplement their diet with live sponge though. Mine cleaned my display of all sponge within a two days of being added to the tank. Research shows that sponge is a necessary part of their diet that helps with long term success. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 12 2013 at 10:30am
  ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 12 2013 at 10:49am
Aquatic Dreams. They have one right now. Eating extremely well for $70. Personally, extremely difficult. I'm still in "ah" with the luck I've had with this one. I've never, ever seen one eat until Aquatic got the two in. $70 I think is defiantly worth the buy if you want to give it a shot since its already eating so well. All I've ever heard why they are so difficult is because of feeding. If you get one that's already eating, I think luck will be on your side. IMO. |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 12 2013 at 10:51am
| Ann, where can I get live sponge? |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 12 2013 at 11:13am
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Most LFS can get it. Fish4U usually has some. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 12 2013 at 11:29am
| Oh ok. Thanks Ann! |
Posted By: Dan9554880
Date Posted: June 12 2013 at 4:00pm
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Well I bought one from liverocknreef about a month ago for $50 they told me that it was eating and i did saw picking at food but they it was because it got a fed a few times already for other people. So I took it home and the only thing I got it to eat was clams. So I don't want to go expend a lot of money again and have it die. Aquatic Evo says that when he gets them he sells them for $30 and he gets them to eat pellets and mysis what do you guys think of that? ------------- 210 Mixed Reef 20 Nuvo nano reef Learn your tank, not the hobby |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: June 12 2013 at 5:58pm
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Shawn at Aquatic Evolution is awesome to work with! ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 17 2013 at 10:02pm
| How are the Idols doing? Mine is a freakin machine! He's doing incredible!! |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: June 17 2013 at 10:06pm
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Mine are both doing wonderfully! ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Moosetang
Date Posted: June 17 2013 at 10:06pm
| Awesome to hear!! |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: June 17 2013 at 10:07pm
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This is a great thread. Hopefully you can continue to have success and help everyone to learn more about these great fish. Personally, I've had very good success with them. Still a very challenging fish that I would really be hesitant to recommend to anyone. But it is really nice when someone does have success with them. Way cool! Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 6:21pm
Well up until about a week ago they were both doing great, but then one decided he didn't like the other anymore and started beating him up. Unfortunately I don't have an isolation container and I didn't have my quarantine ready to go. Today I found him stuck to a rock, dead, and being eaten by the other idol.  ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: AcroNem
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 8:36pm
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This is awful to hear I'm really sorry ): will you try to get another one in there or stick with the one? ------------- 150G mixed reef, growing coral farm. Thirteenth year keeping reefs, always here to talk fish. 801-850-7577. |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 8:50pm
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I may not even keep this one because I'm so mad about it. If I EVER get more it will be a long time. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |