How hard is it to keep a Moorish idol?
Moorish Idols. Impossible to keep. Whether seen schooling in Hawaii or casted as “Gill”, the wise Moorish Idol from the beloved Disney Pixar film “Finding Nemo”, this fish is quite desirable in the hobby. Sadly, The vast majority of these fish do not survive past a few months in the home aquaria.
How big does a Moorish idol get?
Size: Adults usually reach a length of seven inches (18 cm) however, some have been reported reaching lengths of 9.1 inches (23 cm). Behavior: Moorish idols are diurnal (active during the day), spending nights on the bottom of the reef.
Do Moorish idols do well in captivity?
Moorish idols are notoriously difficult to maintain in captivity. They require large tanks, often exceeding 380 l (84 imp gal; 100 US gal), are voracious eaters, and can become destructive. Some aquarists prefer to keep substitute species that look very similar to the Moorish idol.
How much is a Moorish idol?
| Item # | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 002826 | Moorish Idol, Small: over 2-2.5″, Hawaii * Restriction On Guarantee | $149.99 |
| 002827 | Moorish Idol, Medium: over 2.5-4.5″, Hawaii * Restriction On Guarantee | $159.99 |
| 002828 | Moorish Idol, Large: over 4.5-6.5″, Hawaii * Restriction On Guarantee | $199.99 |
Is a Moorish idol an angelfish?
The Moorish idol, with orange on the jaw and a black tail, is usually found near the seafloor and reef. And, while the shape of the Moorish idol reminds folks of the familiar freshwater “angelfish” they have in their home aquarium, the two are not related.
Do Moorish idols eat corals?
Moorish Idols will often pick at large polypod stony corals and certain soft coral polyps. Although this fish primarily eats coralline algae and sponge in nature, this doesn’t mean that it might not pick at other types of sessile invertebrates, or maybe even motile crustaceans.
What are the Moorish idol predators?
Predators. Moorish idol is attacked by Moray Eals and large Tomato Clowns.
Is a Moorish idol reef safe?
Although in common with marine angelfish, they also feed on sponges, coral polyps, tunicates and other micro and macro invertebrates. Due to this behavior, a Moorish idol is certainly not considered reef safe.
Can I keep a Moorish idol?
It is a recommendation against keeping this fish, period. Based on the experience of the mere handful of aquarists who have kept specimens alive for more than a few months, chances are that any who try to keep Moorish idols will fail—even if the procedures herein are properly carried out.
Are Moorish idols Hardy?
Moorish Idols have about the poorest survival rate of any reef fish. They can eat like a pig and die an hour later. They are not reef safe either.
How much is a Pacific blue tang?
| Item # | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 034468 | Blue Tang , Tiny: up to 1″, Fiji | $89.99 |
| 034469 | Blue Tang , Small: over 1-1.5″, Fiji | $99.99 |
| 002629 | Blue Tang , Medium: over 1.5-3.5″, Fiji | $119.99 |
| 002631 | Blue Tang , Large: over 3.5-5.5″, Fiji | $199.99 |
Can you keep a Moorish idol in an aquarium?
The Moorish idol is a beautiful fish that tempts many aquarists to try keeping it in home aquariums, but as the author demonstrates, it’s still an impossible task Beginning a story at its conclusion is usually reserved for television crime dramas or Hollywood thrillers.
What kind of structure does a Moorish idol need?
Moorish idols are grazers in their wild state, and according to reports, they graze mostly on sponge. This means that there must be sufficient reef structure for the fish to graze upon. The structure itself should be very open, allowing plenty of room for a full-grown Moorish idol to easily swim through in several places.
Why is my Moorish idol not eating anymore?
Some can be attributed to failure to eat, others to the other fish in the tank being too aggressive for the newly introduced fish. One thing is almost always true: if a Moorish idol stops feeding, it probably will never feed again.
How did the Moorish idol fish get killed?
Although the pair of Moorish idols I obtained ate well and seemed to be doing okay, an unexpected temperature spike to almost 90°F (something almost all reef fish can easily withstand), followed by a nitrite spike about a week after their initial acquisition, rapidly did them in. Both were dead within three days of the initial temperature increase.