Moorish Idol - reef safe?

Tanggirl · 01/07/2011, 08:14 PM

What is everyone opinions on the Moorish Idol being in a reef tank?

nicfo25 · 01/07/2011, 08:16 PM

I have heard they are very hard to keep long term in any tank.

Patrick12 · 01/07/2011, 08:24 PM

If you get one, make sure it is in top condition. The hawaiian specimens seem to be the only idols folks have success with. They can and do eat coralline algae, but should not bother your corals. Please make sure you read up on them fully before wasting your time, money and the fish. Even if eating, they do not fair well without proper nutrition.....look into that. There is a pellet food that seems to allow them to last longterm.

Fishamatank · 01/07/2011, 10:38 PM

They have very specific dietary needs. Getting them to eat at all can be a challenge, and once they are eating you have to make sure their needs are met.
They may nip at corals.

Postal · 01/08/2011, 11:04 AM

I had a Moorish Idol for a year. He behave well until I put some acan frags in the tank. Apparently they were as good as candy to him.

nikon187 · 01/08/2011, 02:16 PM

not reef safe or reccomended for most tanks. Most just don't have the ability to meet their dietary needs. Considered expert only

Verti · 01/08/2011, 02:24 PM

Not a reef-safe at all.
The one I had eat any corals he could reach to... SPS, LPS, zeo, mushroms, etc.

To success with this fish -
* see it eats before buying it.
* See that it has no "ammonia burns" on his face or fins.
* It is recommanded not to mix with tangs.
* Feed with Nori algea.

tylorarm · 01/08/2011, 03:16 PM

I've had one for more than 1.5yrs, but I wouldn't consider that long term. I have variety of mostly sps coral, but have some LPS, lots of zoas, and a large anem. I feed it a varied diet and a lot. Doesn't pick on any corals that i've noticed. Here's a picture:

frankyrivera · 10/03/2013, 06:36 PM

Tyloram never mind the fish your tank is sweet lol

1SlickFish · 10/03/2013, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankyrivera

Tyloram never mind the fish your tank is sweet lol

I know......... right?

HumbleFish · 10/03/2013, 06:58 PM

IME; they are about as reef safe as any Centropyge angel. So, hit or miss. MI have very high metabolisms and require multiple daily feedings. And IME, feeding any "with caution" reef compatible fish 3-4x per day usually cuts down on the nipping. But the downside is elevated nutrients and the problems that brings (cyano, GHA, etc.)

r-balljunkie · 10/04/2013, 02:11 AM

they're pretty reefsafe, by hit and miss on getting one to eat. ive caught a couple personally. i kept one for 2 years, but it mysteriously died when i was on vacation. it ate with wreckless abandonment. i got a new one, couldnt get it to eat for the world. kept it for a few weeks, let it go.

BrianB421 · 10/04/2013, 06:36 AM

The only one I've ever known personally loved brain coral and GSP. Beyond that, they aren't the easiest fish to keep. They also need a large tank with plenty of swimming space. The dentist's tank from Nemo was vastly overstocked.

mpderksen · 10/04/2013, 08:45 AM

At our LFS, I saw what looked much like a moorish idol, but the guy told me it was something else that was much easier to keep. Can't remember the name but I'll ask again.

Side note: I got to snorkel in Fiji when I was 18 and saw a pair on the reef. The dorsal fin on one was about a foot long. Prettiest thing I had ever seen. Inspired me to get scuba certified that fall.

petere1989 · 10/04/2013, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpderksen

At our LFS, I saw what looked much like a moorish idol, but the guy told me it was something else that was much easier to keep. Can't remember the name but I'll ask again.

Side note: I got to snorkel in Fiji when I was 18 and saw a pair on the reef. The dorsal fin on one was about a foot long. Prettiest thing I had ever seen. Inspired me to get scuba certified that fall.

was it a heniochus butterflyfish?
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...242&pcatid=242
I like idols a lot but keeping up with feeding is the hard part. They are beautiful fish though

mpderksen · 10/04/2013, 08:56 AM

Sure could be right. Though sadly still too big for my 75....

Calappidae · 10/04/2013, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylorarm

I've had one for more than 1.5yrs, but I wouldn't consider that long term. I have variety of mostly sps coral, but have some LPS, lots of zoas, and a large anem. I feed it a varied diet and a lot. Doesn't pick on any corals that i've noticed. Here's a picture:

Beautiful setup. Love the SPS growth

Akrueger93 · 03/06/2015, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylorarm

I've had one for more than 1.5yrs, but I wouldn't consider that long term. I have variety of mostly sps coral, but have some LPS, lots of zoas, and a large anem. I feed it a varied diet and a lot. Doesn't pick on any corals that i've noticed. Here's a picture:

What kind of angel is in your photo?

igot2gats · 03/06/2015, 12:07 PM

Here's some more reading on them, from the Fish Primer series:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=607477

iluvmyfishes · 06/28/2015, 04:00 PM

Has anyone kept a MI with a pinnatus batfish?

Reel North · 07/07/2016, 10:35 PM

Fish looks like a cherub angel. I have w tiny one. Beauty fish

Great tank btw

SeattleReefer · 07/08/2016, 12:03 AM

Cherub angel does not have a yellow tail. I think it may be a bicolor angel.

droth335 · 07/08/2016, 04:40 AM

We've had a MI in an SPS dominant tank along with other "reef safe with caution" inhabitants (regal, goldflake and blue face angels) with no issues other than the couple of zoa colonies in the tank were pretty much annihilated. It is my wife's favorite fish. Ours came from HI and we feed the tank NLS pellets 2x per day as well as frozen DIY food our local club makes - as you can see he is pretty fat and has grown at an amazing rate - pretty much doubled in size at about 7-8 months.

tonysi · 07/08/2016, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reel North

Fish looks like a cherub angel. I have w tiny one. Beauty fish

Great tank btw

It's a joculator angel

GimpyFin · 07/08/2016, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonysi

It's a joculator angel

+1, joculator.

01/07/2011, 08:14 PM	#1
Tanggirl Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1	Moorish Idol - reef safe? What is everyone opinions on the Moorish Idol being in a reef tank?

01/07/2011, 08:24 PM	#3
Patrick12 Crypt Assassin Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 761	If you get one, make sure it is in top condition. The hawaiian specimens seem to be the only idols folks have success with. They can and do eat coralline algae, but should not bother your corals. Please make sure you read up on them fully before wasting your time, money and the fish. Even if eating, they do not fair well without proper nutrition.....look into that. There is a pellet food that seems to allow them to last longterm. __________________ The enemy of good enough is BETTER!! Current Tank Info: 60 gallon reef and 150 reef

01/08/2011, 02:16 PM	#6
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	not reef safe or reccomended for most tanks. Most just don't have the ability to meet their dietary needs. Considered expert only __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

10/03/2013, 06:36 PM	#9
frankyrivera FUP&A Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 5,904	Tyloram never mind the fish your tank is sweet lol __________________ 180 gal RR w/90 gal sump/fuge, Bubble King skimmer w/red dragon pump, 2 MP40QD, ATI 60" Power module 8 bulb x 80w fixture w/2 reefbrite XHO, Apex Lite controller, Vectra L1 return, Tunze osmolator ATO Current Tank Info: 180 gallon reef ready w/ 90 gal sump

10/04/2013, 02:11 AM	#12
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059	they're pretty reefsafe, by hit and miss on getting one to eat. ive caught a couple personally. i kept one for 2 years, but it mysteriously died when i was on vacation. it ate with wreckless abandonment. i got a new one, couldnt get it to eat for the world. kept it for a few weeks, let it go. __________________ ▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀ 58G Oceanic Illuminata rimless with GH overflow , Mazarra LED x 3, Tunze 6095 x 2, Eheim 1260, BM-180 skimmer, TLF reactors, Apex LT .

01/07/2011, 08:16 PM	#2
nicfo25 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Montana Posts: 171	I have heard they are very hard to keep long term in any tank.

01/07/2011, 10:38 PM	#4
Fishamatank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,017	They have very specific dietary needs. Getting them to eat at all can be a challenge, and once they are eating you have to make sure their needs are met. They may nip at corals.

01/08/2011, 11:04 AM	#5
Postal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL Posts: 2,707	I had a Moorish Idol for a year. He behave well until I put some acan frags in the tank. Apparently they were as good as candy to him.

01/08/2011, 02:24 PM	#7
Verti Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 129	Not a reef-safe at all. The one I had eat any corals he could reach to... SPS, LPS, zeo, mushroms, etc. To success with this fish - * see it eats before buying it. * See that it has no "ammonia burns" on his face or fins. * It is recommanded not to mix with tangs. * Feed with Nori algea.

01/08/2011, 03:16 PM	#8
tylorarm Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 759	I've had one for more than 1.5yrs, but I wouldn't consider that long term. I have variety of mostly sps coral, but have some LPS, lots of zoas, and a large anem. I feed it a varied diet and a lot. Doesn't pick on any corals that i've noticed. Here's a picture:

10/03/2013, 06:58 PM	#11
HumbleFish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4,757	IME; they are about as reef safe as any Centropyge angel. So, hit or miss. MI have very high metabolisms and require multiple daily feedings. And IME, feeding any "with caution" reef compatible fish 3-4x per day usually cuts down on the nipping. But the downside is elevated nutrients and the problems that brings (cyano, GHA, etc.)

10/04/2013, 06:36 AM	#13
BrianB421 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 189	The only one I've ever known personally loved brain coral and GSP. Beyond that, they aren't the easiest fish to keep. They also need a large tank with plenty of swimming space. The dentist's tank from Nemo was vastly overstocked. __________________ Who knew small animals, salt water, and electricity could be so much fun? Current Tank Info: Tank Info:140gal glass bull nose peninsula/180lbs+ LR/Tao Tronics LEDs/Hydor wave maker/Reef Octopus PS and MR

10/04/2013, 08:45 AM	#14
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	At our LFS, I saw what looked much like a moorish idol, but the guy told me it was something else that was much easier to keep. Can't remember the name but I'll ask again. Side note: I got to snorkel in Fiji when I was 18 and saw a pair on the reef. The dorsal fin on one was about a foot long. Prettiest thing I had ever seen. Inspired me to get scuba certified that fall.

10/04/2013, 08:56 AM	#16
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	Sure could be right. Though sadly still too big for my 75....

03/06/2015, 12:07 PM	#19
igot2gats Deeeetroit Basketball! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,063	Here's some more reading on them, from the Fish Primer series: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=607477 __________________ Jeff Stop being lazy, and use the search function. Seriously. Current Tank Info: 75g DT / 20g sump / 20g QT - Eheim 1250, Tunze Osmolator 3155, GHL Profilux 3, 2 Tunze 6095, Tunze Wavebox, Aqua Illumination Hydra LEDs

06/28/2015, 04:00 PM	#20
iluvmyfishes Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 143	Has anyone kept a MI with a pinnatus batfish?

07/07/2016, 10:35 PM	#21
Reel North New King of Quarantine Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hammertown, Canada eh Posts: 1,175	Fish looks like a cherub angel. I have w tiny one. Beauty fish Great tank btw __________________ It takes a very rich man to buy cheap things Current Tank Info: frag tank. Lame

07/08/2016, 12:03 AM	#22
SeattleReefer Moved On Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 230	Cherub angel does not have a yellow tail. I think it may be a bicolor angel.

07/08/2016, 04:40 AM	#23
droth335 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 794	We've had a MI in an SPS dominant tank along with other "reef safe with caution" inhabitants (regal, goldflake and blue face angels) with no issues other than the couple of zoa colonies in the tank were pretty much annihilated. It is my wife's favorite fish. Ours came from HI and we feed the tank NLS pellets 2x per day as well as frozen DIY food our local club makes - as you can see he is pretty fat and has grown at an amazing rate - pretty much doubled in size at about 7-8 months. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 210 sps dominant reef: 40g sump, kalk,4 reefbreeder photon 32's ; 300DD mixed reef with 180 gallon sump, 4 Reefbreeder Photon 32's.

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