Moorish Idol and Emperor Angel

Bbentler · 02/21/2006, 04:33 PM

I have a 75 gallon aquarium right now with a juvenile emperor angel in it. I bought within the last two weeks and she is doing great. I have a problem though. Any fish that I add after her she picks on. I have an orange spotted goby that she picks on a lot, and now my biggest concern is that I have added a Moorish Idol and she won't leave it alone. Is there anything that I can do to get her to stop doing this? Would taking her out in a bag of salt water and removing her from the aquarium for an hour or so help? She doesn't pick on any of the fish that were in the tank previous to her! It is only the fish that I have added after her. Can you think of anything?? Please help! My moorish is eating mysis shrimp already, and I hate to give it up. Thanks!

Andrew · 02/21/2006, 04:40 PM

First off, remove the angel. Your shouldn't even have a large angel in a 75 gallon tank. They will reach well over 12'' in no time. Also, remove the morish idol. They are pretty much impossible to keep in a fish tank. Start researching fish before you buy them.

AllenFord_SC · 02/21/2006, 05:34 PM

While I agree with the post above I will try and be a little nicer about it. Those fish will suffer greatly by remaining in a tank that small. Angels can be very agressive towards fish that they compete with for the same types of food as well as fish with similar body shapes. You should definetly remove these two fish from your tank and go with a smaller angel, perhaps a Flame or Coral Beauty.

Bbentler · 02/21/2006, 06:30 PM

I appreciate your kindness in stating what you have to say. I find it very rude people who do not consider that some people can be new to the hobby. Just so everyone knows I have a good friend who has a 180 gallon and is willing take both of them or either of them depending on what happens as they get larger. I have no issues with studying up on fish and have had plenty of thought and guidance when deciding on the fish and their future. I would appreciate if anyone may answer the actual question if there is anyway to help an angel become a bit more friendlier toward new arrivals.

doody · 02/21/2006, 08:11 PM

Is that idol eating?

Bbentler · 02/21/2006, 10:36 PM

Yes. The Moorish eats tons of myisos shrimp.

Rob Martin · 02/22/2006, 07:30 AM

From my understanding,you need to plan what's going to be in your tank & introduce them slowly,with the least aggressive species first & any larger/more aggressive species in last,this is because fish establish territories & if you introduce aggressive species last they will tend to respect/leave the already established inhabitants alone. (although some species should never be kept together) Its all a matter of researching first IMO.

Cutiewitbooty · 02/22/2006, 09:02 AM

from what i have learned the morish idol will starve to death eating mysis, brine, ect.. They need tons of sponge in their diet, the best thing to feed them is frozen Angel Fomula, it has alot of sponge in it, unlike formula1 & 2

doody · 02/22/2006, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cutiewitbooty
from what i have learned the morish idol will starve to death eating mysis, brine, ect.. They need tons of sponge in their diet, the best thing to feed them is frozen Angel Fomula, it has alot of sponge in it, unlike formula1 & 2

Ditto.

doody · 02/22/2006, 09:13 AM

Aint it funny how only a female can get away with saying she's a Cutiewitbooty. It's just wrong for me to say I'm a Hunkwitmassivetrunk.

Cutiewitbooty · 02/22/2006, 09:34 AM

LMFAO, thats too funny

markandkristen · 02/27/2006, 08:22 AM

as far as things to do .. . thiers really nothing you can do.. the emperor is going to be king of the tank. each fish is different. i have had no success with moving rock around either...
i agree on the moorish idol . mine did fine for a month or so but then he just died. he was eating everday as well. i know everyone loves a challenge. but after being in saltwater over a year, i now understand why people make those comments about moorish idols.
thier are very very few people that have successfully kept them. even with tons of live rock, the best skimmers, weekly water changes. soaking food is zoe zoecon etc... so i am looking forward to your results ... and see if i can learn from what your doing so maybe later i can retry one

AfricaOffroad · 02/27/2006, 08:31 AM

The juvenile emporator should be fine for the next year or two.
Eventually it will outgrow the tank and then you can worry about who to give/sell it to.

Of course, experience shows you wont be able to add more fish to the tank during that time.

For now, best you move the Idol to another system where it will be properly cared for. These are quite finiky fish, best kept by experienced aquarists

Bbentler · 02/27/2006, 12:58 PM

I have gotten the Moorish now to calm down along with the angel by using mirrors as suggested by a good friend of mine who is a marine biologist who loves aquarium keeping. As far as diet, the moorish now eats everything from Nori to shrimp to Angel formulas. It also includes some of Julliane Stye (spelling) seaweed which it eats like crazy. However the food of choice for mine is Squid and lots of it. It gets that at least three times daily. Also the H2O wafers are working and I just purchased a tank to grow food for the Moorish which will include polyps, sponges, and caluerpa (spelling again?). I am thinking of getting a CO2 system for that aquarium, but dont know how the polyps would do. Also I need to find out polyps moorish's eat and which of those grow fast enough to use as a food. Any help on that would be awesome.

cfarrow2 · 02/27/2006, 01:36 PM

Has the angle calmed down now? If not, I would recommend moving aroud your LR. Sometimes it will make all the fish feel like they're in a new tank. OF course, I'm not sure if it would stress out your Moorish Idol too much. Sounds like you have good resources for advice, ask them what they think.

cfarrow2 · 02/27/2006, 01:40 PM

Cutie, do you have any starfish in your tank? I've got a Chocalate Chip and have been feeding him Krill, but I've read that they need sponges in their diet, or they might starve. Is that angel food frozen? Something I could feed him with a pair of tongs or a feeding stick? Or is it flake food?

cfarrow2 · 02/27/2006, 01:41 PM

never mind, just saw your post saying it was frozen. Would it stay together when melted?

Tat2d · 02/27/2006, 01:44 PM

AfricaOffRoad

To Reef Central

as for the topic, basically what they all said

Holmie_D_Klown · 02/27/2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bbentler
I have gotten the Moorish now to calm down along with the angel by using mirrors as suggested by a good friend of mine who is a marine biologist who loves aquarium keeping. As far as diet, the moorish now eats everything from Nori to shrimp to Angel formulas. It also includes some of Julliane Stye (spelling) seaweed which it eats like crazy. However the food of choice for mine is Squid and lots of it. It gets that at least three times daily. Also the H2O wafers are working and I just purchased a tank to grow food for the Moorish which will include polyps, sponges, and caluerpa (spelling again?). I am thinking of getting a CO2 system for that aquarium, but dont know how the polyps would do. Also I need to find out polyps moorish's eat and which of those grow fast enough to use as a food. Any help on that would be awesome.

Looks to me that you have been doing your homework. I like the idea about the mirrors, BTW. Your tank size may be an issue with both these fish though. I would recommend you give the emperor to your buddy with the 180g tank for now. Make any fish additions you need to make and put him back in at the end. Good luck

02/21/2006, 04:33 PM	#1
Bbentler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Coralville, IA Posts: 205	Moorish Idol and Emperor Angel I have a 75 gallon aquarium right now with a juvenile emperor angel in it. I bought within the last two weeks and she is doing great. I have a problem though. Any fish that I add after her she picks on. I have an orange spotted goby that she picks on a lot, and now my biggest concern is that I have added a Moorish Idol and she won't leave it alone. Is there anything that I can do to get her to stop doing this? Would taking her out in a bag of salt water and removing her from the aquarium for an hour or so help? She doesn't pick on any of the fish that were in the tank previous to her! It is only the fish that I have added after her. Can you think of anything?? Please help! My moorish is eating mysis shrimp already, and I hate to give it up. Thanks!

02/21/2006, 05:34 PM	#3
AllenFord_SC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ridgeland, SC Posts: 703	While I agree with the post above I will try and be a little nicer about it. Those fish will suffer greatly by remaining in a tank that small. Angels can be very agressive towards fish that they compete with for the same types of food as well as fish with similar body shapes. You should definetly remove these two fish from your tank and go with a smaller angel, perhaps a Flame or Coral Beauty. __________________ We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl..... Roger Waters, Pink Floyd Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Mixed, 55 Gallon sump, 35 gallon fuge

02/21/2006, 06:30 PM	#4
Bbentler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Coralville, IA Posts: 205	Thank you I appreciate your kindness in stating what you have to say. I find it very rude people who do not consider that some people can be new to the hobby. Just so everyone knows I have a good friend who has a 180 gallon and is willing take both of them or either of them depending on what happens as they get larger. I have no issues with studying up on fish and have had plenty of thought and guidance when deciding on the fish and their future. I would appreciate if anyone may answer the actual question if there is anyway to help an angel become a bit more friendlier toward new arrivals.

02/21/2006, 08:11 PM	#5
doody Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: youngstown,Ohio Posts: 1,880	Is that idol eating? __________________ Thanks, Robert Current Tank Info: 29g softie/lps tank, 125 in da worx

02/22/2006, 07:30 AM	#7
Rob Martin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South East England Posts: 120	From my understanding,you need to plan what's going to be in your tank & introduce them slowly,with the least aggressive species first & any larger/more aggressive species in last,this is because fish establish territories & if you introduce aggressive species last they will tend to respect/leave the already established inhabitants alone. (although some species should never be kept together) Its all a matter of researching first IMO. __________________ I'm a Prawn again Crustacean. Current Tank Info: 30kg live rock,coral gravel substrate.

02/21/2006, 04:40 PM	#2
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	First off, remove the angel. Your shouldn't even have a large angel in a 75 gallon tank. They will reach well over 12'' in no time. Also, remove the morish idol. They are pretty much impossible to keep in a fish tank. Start researching fish before you buy them.

02/21/2006, 10:36 PM	#6
Bbentler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Coralville, IA Posts: 205	Yes. The Moorish eats tons of myisos shrimp.

02/22/2006, 09:02 AM	#8
Cutiewitbooty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alaska For 18 Years, Now Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 2,795	from what i have learned the morish idol will starve to death eating mysis, brine, ect.. They need tons of sponge in their diet, the best thing to feed them is frozen Angel Fomula, it has alot of sponge in it, unlike formula1 & 2 __________________ WARNING: Taking my advice may result in personal injury and/or jail time. ~Amber~

02/22/2006, 09:13 AM	#10
doody Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: youngstown,Ohio Posts: 1,880	Aint it funny how only a female can get away with saying she's a Cutiewitbooty. It's just wrong for me to say I'm a Hunkwitmassivetrunk. __________________ Thanks, Robert Current Tank Info: 29g softie/lps tank, 125 in da worx

02/22/2006, 09:34 AM	#11
Cutiewitbooty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alaska For 18 Years, Now Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 2,795	LMFAO, thats too funny __________________ WARNING: Taking my advice may result in personal injury and/or jail time. ~Amber~

02/27/2006, 08:22 AM	#12
markandkristen Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Winterhaven, fl Posts: 4,081	as far as things to do .. . thiers really nothing you can do.. the emperor is going to be king of the tank. each fish is different. i have had no success with moving rock around either... i agree on the moorish idol . mine did fine for a month or so but then he just died. he was eating everday as well. i know everyone loves a challenge. but after being in saltwater over a year, i now understand why people make those comments about moorish idols. thier are very very few people that have successfully kept them. even with tons of live rock, the best skimmers, weekly water changes. soaking food is zoe zoecon etc... so i am looking forward to your results ... and see if i can learn from what your doing so maybe later i can retry one

02/27/2006, 08:31 AM	#13
AfricaOffroad Moved On Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Durban, South Africa Posts: 335	The juvenile emporator should be fine for the next year or two. Eventually it will outgrow the tank and then you can worry about who to give/sell it to. Of course, experience shows you wont be able to add more fish to the tank during that time. For now, best you move the Idol to another system where it will be properly cared for. These are quite finiky fish, best kept by experienced aquarists

02/27/2006, 12:58 PM	#14
Bbentler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Coralville, IA Posts: 205	I have gotten the Moorish now to calm down along with the angel by using mirrors as suggested by a good friend of mine who is a marine biologist who loves aquarium keeping. As far as diet, the moorish now eats everything from Nori to shrimp to Angel formulas. It also includes some of Julliane Stye (spelling) seaweed which it eats like crazy. However the food of choice for mine is Squid and lots of it. It gets that at least three times daily. Also the H2O wafers are working and I just purchased a tank to grow food for the Moorish which will include polyps, sponges, and caluerpa (spelling again?). I am thinking of getting a CO2 system for that aquarium, but dont know how the polyps would do. Also I need to find out polyps moorish's eat and which of those grow fast enough to use as a food. Any help on that would be awesome.

02/27/2006, 01:36 PM	#15
cfarrow2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 626	Has the angle calmed down now? If not, I would recommend moving aroud your LR. Sometimes it will make all the fish feel like they're in a new tank. OF course, I'm not sure if it would stress out your Moorish Idol too much. Sounds like you have good resources for advice, ask them what they think. __________________ Happiness is contagious. What are you spreading? Current Tank Info: 55 gal. 216 W. T5s. Wet/dry sump w/ Mag 5 return. Softies, 3 fish, shrimp, urchin. HA factory for the time being.

02/27/2006, 01:40 PM	#16
cfarrow2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 626	Cutie, do you have any starfish in your tank? I've got a Chocalate Chip and have been feeding him Krill, but I've read that they need sponges in their diet, or they might starve. Is that angel food frozen? Something I could feed him with a pair of tongs or a feeding stick? Or is it flake food? __________________ Happiness is contagious. What are you spreading? Current Tank Info: 55 gal. 216 W. T5s. Wet/dry sump w/ Mag 5 return. Softies, 3 fish, shrimp, urchin. HA factory for the time being.

02/27/2006, 01:41 PM	#17
cfarrow2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 626	never mind, just saw your post saying it was frozen. Would it stay together when melted? __________________ Happiness is contagious. What are you spreading? Current Tank Info: 55 gal. 216 W. T5s. Wet/dry sump w/ Mag 5 return. Softies, 3 fish, shrimp, urchin. HA factory for the time being.

02/27/2006, 01:44 PM	#18
Tat2d Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ft. Bragg NC Posts: 346	AfricaOffRoad *To Reef Central* as for the topic, basically what they all said __________________ Semper Fi Current Tank Info: 24g Aquapod, 10g Sump, 150watt 14k HQI