Morish Idol

[Bernardo]

Hi
I am getting a moorish Idol, I have heard that it is a hard fish to have. Any advise?

Thanks

 

[Rach101]

Uh.. other then dont.. No.. Their really really hard fish to keep, alot of professionals cant wing it, they perfer to be in schools i heard, and if damaged in anyway, during the transport they usually stop eating and slowly waste away
(( sorry cant help you, im sorta againsted keeping them))

 

[revhtree]

My advice would be to not get one. They have a very poor survival rate in the home aquarium or even a public aquarium for that matter.

 

[lando]

I am getting a moorish Idol, I have heard that it is a hard fish to have. Any advise?

You might as well walk into the LFS, give them $100 and leave without the fish. It will save you the trouble of taking it home, acclimenting it, and watching it die in your tank.
this is a fish that should NOT be available in the aquarium trade. As Rev mentioned, most public aquariums do not attempt to keep this fish, it is just too difficult. I know of one person who (the last I heard) had five. He has a 500gal tank with oever a half ton of LR and TONS of open swimming space. Not sure what he feeds. Bottom line...Don't waste your money. This fish will almost certainly die in your tank.

 

[Meredith]

what about the "poor man's moorish idol"? I read that they are easier to keep? Any one have experience with those?

 

[lando]

This is the heniochus bannerfish. Much easier to keep. Be careful, there is only species that is reef safe.

 

[Bernardo]

Weel to late it is here with me so i will kepp you guys posted on the evolution of my Morish Idol

 

[lando]

Best of luck, but I do not give it long.

 

[dianeww]

How's he doing?

 

[SkinnyPete]

Any update on the idol? Just curious

 

[haus]

What size tank do you have. Good luck with him.

 

[lando]

The original post is from early May. I do not think Bernardo is coming back. I am sure his fish has died by now.

 

[StripesTheEel]

when will people learn not to purchase idols..

 

[macman7010]

no doubt its dead - why dont people research these animals before putting submitting them into a long tortorous death!

 

[iservicebox]

i had a moorish idol once. i placed him in my tank with a unicorn tang, clown fish, coral beauty, and a ribbon eel. Along with a dinner plate sized anemone. everyone said they cannot be kept alive, but i tried anyway, and i was successfull. Very successful. i started out with a polyp coral costing around 35 dollars, then he eventually switched to frozen brine shrimp and i assure you they can eat. Unfortunately i had to get rid of him and ended up selling him for 150$ as a moorish idol that eats.

 

[StripesTheEel]

good to hear!! i only hope others are as successful as you were!!

 

[SkinnyPete]

How long did the ribbon eel last? Also a nightmare of an eater.