Will a well fed Moorish Idol still starve?

Oakie · 02/27/2006, 07:05 PM

I'm not sure if I'm helping this fish out that I got from someone who wasn't able to care for him.....all the reading talks to how difficult these guys are.

He is eating aggressively - mysis, flakes, nori, and pellets. I've picked up some marine angel food as well that is high in sponge and he's devouring that too. Fed him some diced scallops yesterday too and he ate them.

I know he can still starve to death though......correct?

xcreonx · 02/27/2006, 07:10 PM

I don't think he would starve to death if he's eating all of that food. Whether or not he's healthy enough to survive is the question. The best you can do is give him an easy environment to recover in and plenty of good nutritious food to eat. From what I've heard, getting them to eat is most of the battle. Good luck.

aural · 02/27/2006, 07:13 PM

several people have had success with these fish in larger aquariums. If he is eating, that is half the battle. As long as he has enough swimming room and doesnt have anyone picking on him, i'd imagine he will do okay.

Oakie · 02/27/2006, 07:16 PM

thanks for the encouragement. He's in a 240 but there's an emporer angel that chases him for a bit.....though that has calmed down a bit - they've been together for just over a week.

He's not shy though - an aggressive eater and a fast swimmer!

Avi · 02/27/2006, 07:47 PM

I recently read in one of the aquariam magazines, in an article about Moorish Idols, that the biggest reason for the demise of one is that it isn't fed often enough. It's been observed that they feed very frequently, throughout the day in the sea, and so just one good feeding a day may be sufficient for other fish, but not for them. So, throw a little food in, at least a few times a day...but watch the phosphates and nitrates carefully.

LOTUS50GOD · 02/27/2006, 07:49 PM

I feed my tank several times a day to keep the aggression of my sohol tang down to a minimum. I am sure if you feed more frequently that the angel will calm down a little too.

02/27/2006, 07:05 PM	#1
Oakie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 657	Will a well fed Moorish Idol still starve? I'm not sure if I'm helping this fish out that I got from someone who wasn't able to care for him.....all the reading talks to how difficult these guys are. He is eating aggressively - mysis, flakes, nori, and pellets. I've picked up some marine angel food as well that is high in sponge and he's devouring that too. Fed him some diced scallops yesterday too and he ate them. I know he can still starve to death though......correct?

02/27/2006, 07:10 PM	#2
xcreonx Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,362	I don't think he would starve to death if he's eating all of that food. Whether or not he's healthy enough to survive is the question. The best you can do is give him an easy environment to recover in and plenty of good nutritious food to eat. From what I've heard, getting them to eat is most of the battle. Good luck. __________________ Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them. -Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 90g shallow with H. Barbouri Seahorses

02/27/2006, 07:13 PM	#3
aural Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,214	several people have had success with these fish in larger aquariums. If he is eating, that is half the battle. As long as he has enough swimming room and doesnt have anyone picking on him, i'd imagine he will do okay. __________________ (¯`•._(¯`•._(-aural-)_.•´¯)_.•´¯) Current Tank Info: 20g Reef - 12g Nano-Cube - Another possible Nano in the works

02/27/2006, 07:47 PM	#5
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I recently read in one of the aquariam magazines, in an article about Moorish Idols, that the biggest reason for the demise of one is that it isn't fed often enough. It's been observed that they feed very frequently, throughout the day in the sea, and so just one good feeding a day may be sufficient for other fish, but not for them. So, throw a little food in, at least a few times a day...but watch the phosphates and nitrates carefully. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

02/27/2006, 07:49 PM	#6
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	I feed my tank several times a day to keep the aggression of my sohol tang down to a minimum. I am sure if you feed more frequently that the angel will calm down a little too. __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

02/27/2006, 07:16 PM	#4
Oakie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 657	thanks for the encouragement. He's in a 240 but there's an emporer angel that chases him for a bit.....though that has calmed down a bit - they've been together for just over a week. He's not shy though - an aggressive eater and a fast swimmer!