Moorish Idol Question.

trpigg · 01/02/2007, 09:52 PM

I have a 72g mixed reef and i know that it is not recomended to keep a moorish idol due to feeding requirements but i was wandering if any of you own or know someone that owns one and has been successful with it.
Also...what are the pro's and con's of the idea.

I can't believe how beatyful these guys are!!!

sir_dudeguy · 01/02/2007, 09:55 PM

i wouldnt even consider worrying about one in your tank. They need double your tank size anyways.

trpigg · 01/02/2007, 09:56 PM

They recomend 80 gallons at least.

davocean · 01/02/2007, 10:36 PM

Usually only successful in the kind of tank most of us just dream about!
Seriously, they need live sponge in their diet and are extremely difficult to keep.

sir_dudeguy · 01/02/2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

They recomend 80 gallons at least.

Who says that? That is not true. liveaquaria.com says they need 125, and they're the ones that say yellow tangs can be kept in a 50g tank, which is also NOT true. YT's need like 75, so for the sake of this thread, we'll say that by what they say the Idol needs and how they always lower the min. tank sizes on all fish, it is at least 20 or so gallons more than what they actually recommend. Not on ALL fish, but for the majority, yes they do this.

Morish idol will not do good in either a 80 gallon tank, nor a tank that is only 6 months old

and btw, liveaquaria lowers the tank size on the larger fish for the most part....not so much the little guys.

Jerry W · 01/02/2007, 11:24 PM

Tank sizes aside, these beautiful fish are a very poor choice and should be left in the ocean. Even many experienced hobbyists won't keep them. Some do well for what seems to be a long period of time and then simply die for no reason. Diet is a main problem, but there seem to be other factors that come into play. There are a few success stories but very few, and hopefully these will not encourage people to attempt this fish.

sir_dudeguy · 01/02/2007, 11:49 PM

Quote:

and hopefully these will not encourage people to attempt this fish

i agree all the way

This is why many people do this sort of thing.

dawnskaybug · 01/02/2007, 11:55 PM

My friend has one he caught in his 200g its doing good after 6 months. These fish are the easiest to catch besides puffers and maybe convict Tangs at night. He probably has 350#s of LR in his tank and more than sufficent lighting .
He has lost the other Idol in maybe a week but this one is still around

Jerry W · 01/03/2007, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dawnskaybug
My friend has one he caught in his 200g its doing good after 6 months.

Success with these fish isn't measured in months or even a year. Talk to someone who has kept one alive and healthy for a few years and ask them what the secret is.

kass03 · 01/03/2007, 02:29 AM

I only know of 1 person on this board that has kept one for a cpl years.
PaulB who has had more experience than me with saltwater and also dives all the time to get sponge and various other things for it's diet. He also has a bigger tank.

I wouldnt even attempt one. It's not right to take a fish that is known to die in captivity unles your highly experienced and can attempt to take care of it properly IMO.

kass

trpigg · 01/03/2007, 12:13 PM

I am definitly not planning on gettinga moorish idol but i just wanted to know more opinions on the subject. Sounds like a full time job to keep these guys alive and healthy.

Pygy88 · 01/03/2007, 08:19 PM

There's a guy on RC that has had his tank for 30 YEARS and he has a moorish idol in his tank... dang I can't remember his name. But it's pretty awesome, he has pics of it posted in his gallery, it's missing it's "banner" fin on the top though. If I find him I'll pass it on.

Paul B · 01/04/2007, 03:16 PM

I have never said this to anyone in my life But I don't feel that you should get a moorish Idol. Not until you've had another ten years experience and a much larger tank.
I think I am the guy with the 30 year old tank mentioned above (it's 36 years old but who's counting

)
My current Idol is almost 4 years old but it is the longest I ever had one and to my knowlege I know of no one with one older or who ever had one longer. I am sure they are out there, someone told me someone has a ten year old Idol but I can't confirm it. I went to a lot of trouble learning about these fish because as you said, they are the most beautiful fish. I went to the South Pacific (Tahiti, Bora Bora and Hawaii) to dive with them and hopefully learn their secret. I learned a lot about them from that and from keeping them for about 25 years. In the sea they eat mostly sponge, I feed mine sponge that I collect fresh and freeze. You need to feed them at least three times a day.
They should be in at least a 150 gallon tank, 200 is much better as they get about 7" long as mine is. I have a 100 gallon reef and it is much tooo small. I never really thought it would grow to this size. You really need to read the Moorish Idol Thread on here. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...t=moorish+Idol
It has all the information that you do not want to hear.
Good luck (don't get this fish)
Paul

Pygy88 · 01/04/2007, 10:31 PM

Paul B, yeah you are the person I was referring to in the above post

. I have to give you kudos on sticking it out so long in this hobby I understand the road can be long and tedious to even the most diligent of reef keepers. I think the moorish idols are best left to the reef "veterans", if you will, or to the local Aquarium (if they must be in captivity). Beautiful fish though..

Paul B · 01/05/2007, 04:41 AM

Pygy88, Ilove to swim with them but since I can't afford to stay in Tahiti too long I have to have one. When this one dies (hopefully not for a long time) I will not replace him in this tank which is much too small.
Paul

01/02/2007, 09:52 PM	#1
trpigg Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 193	Moorish Idol Question. I have a 72g mixed reef and i know that it is not recomended to keep a moorish idol due to feeding requirements but i was wandering if any of you own or know someone that owns one and has been successful with it. Also...what are the pro's and con's of the idea. I can't believe how beatyful these guys are!!! __________________ Reefing is the coolest thing since "sliced bread." Current Tank Info: 72 gal RR bow front, 25 gal sump/refugium, 105lbs Premium tonga deep water LR, 80 lbs LS, 760w metal halide retro lighting

01/02/2007, 09:55 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	i wouldnt even consider worrying about one in your tank. They need double your tank size anyways. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

01/02/2007, 09:56 PM	#3
trpigg Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 193	They recomend 80 gallons at least. __________________ Reefing is the coolest thing since "sliced bread." Current Tank Info: 72 gal RR bow front, 25 gal sump/refugium, 105lbs Premium tonga deep water LR, 80 lbs LS, 760w metal halide retro lighting

01/02/2007, 10:36 PM	#4
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Usually only successful in the kind of tank most of us just dream about! Seriously, they need live sponge in their diet and are extremely difficult to keep. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

01/02/2007, 11:24 PM	#6
Jerry W Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: PA. Posts: 2,873	Tank sizes aside, these beautiful fish are a very poor choice and should be left in the ocean. Even many experienced hobbyists won't keep them. Some do well for what seems to be a long period of time and then simply die for no reason. Diet is a main problem, but there seem to be other factors that come into play. There are a few success stories but very few, and hopefully these will not encourage people to attempt this fish. __________________ Americans sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Current Tank Info: 37 gal; pair of mocha clowns, ywg and tiger pistol shrimp

01/02/2007, 11:55 PM	#8
dawnskaybug Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Andesen AFB Guam Posts: 132	My friend has one he caught in his 200g its doing good after 6 months. These fish are the easiest to catch besides puffers and maybe convict Tangs at night. He probably has 350#s of LR in his tank and more than sufficent lighting . He has lost the other Idol in maybe a week but this one is still around

01/03/2007, 02:29 AM	#10
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	I only know of 1 person on this board that has kept one for a cpl years. PaulB who has had more experience than me with saltwater and also dives all the time to get sponge and various other things for it's diet. He also has a bigger tank. I wouldnt even attempt one. It's not right to take a fish that is known to die in captivity unles your highly experienced and can attempt to take care of it properly IMO. kass

01/03/2007, 12:13 PM	#11
trpigg Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 193	I am definitly not planning on gettinga moorish idol but i just wanted to know more opinions on the subject. Sounds like a full time job to keep these guys alive and healthy. __________________ Reefing is the coolest thing since "sliced bread." Current Tank Info: 72 gal RR bow front, 25 gal sump/refugium, 105lbs Premium tonga deep water LR, 80 lbs LS, 760w metal halide retro lighting

01/03/2007, 08:19 PM	#12
Pygy88 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: TEXAS Posts: 98	There's a guy on RC that has had his tank for 30 YEARS and he has a moorish idol in his tank... dang I can't remember his name. But it's pretty awesome, he has pics of it posted in his gallery, it's missing it's "banner" fin on the top though. If I find him I'll pass it on.

01/04/2007, 03:16 PM	#13
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	I have never said this to anyone in my life But I don't feel that you should get a moorish Idol. Not until you've had another ten years experience and a much larger tank. I think I am the guy with the 30 year old tank mentioned above (it's 36 years old but who's counting ) My current Idol is almost 4 years old but it is the longest I ever had one and to my knowlege I know of no one with one older or who ever had one longer. I am sure they are out there, someone told me someone has a ten year old Idol but I can't confirm it. I went to a lot of trouble learning about these fish because as you said, they are the most beautiful fish. I went to the South Pacific (Tahiti, Bora Bora and Hawaii) to dive with them and hopefully learn their secret. I learned a lot about them from that and from keeping them for about 25 years. In the sea they eat mostly sponge, I feed mine sponge that I collect fresh and freeze. You need to feed them at least three times a day. They should be in at least a 150 gallon tank, 200 is much better as they get about 7" long as mine is. I have a 100 gallon reef and it is much tooo small. I never really thought it would grow to this size. You really need to read the Moorish Idol Thread on here. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...t=moorish+Idol It has all the information that you do not want to hear. Good luck (don't get this fish) Paul

01/04/2007, 10:31 PM	#14
Pygy88 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: TEXAS Posts: 98	Paul B, yeah you are the person I was referring to in the above post . I have to give you kudos on sticking it out so long in this hobby I understand the road can be long and tedious to even the most diligent of reef keepers. I think the moorish idols are best left to the reef "veterans", if you will, or to the local Aquarium (if they must be in captivity). Beautiful fish though..

01/05/2007, 04:41 AM	#15
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	Pygy88, Ilove to swim with them but since I can't afford to stay in Tahiti too long I have to have one. When this one dies (hopefully not for a long time) I will not replace him in this tank which is much too small. Paul __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971