Moorish Idol reef safe ?

[eagleeyemike]

Does anyone have a Moorish Idol in a reef tank. Looking to add one but looks like they may not be reef safe. Also looks like they may be tough keepers. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mike

 

[smallblock]

talk to crf 500 and mapleredta, they are hard to feed. Very picky eaters as far as reef safe varies from fish to fish.

Edit: I've heard even ones that eat dont live exceptionally long

Edit: oh and gotta have a big tank too

 

[jmaneyapanda]

IMO, no. They usually start eating almost everything.

 

[miami dolfan]

Very fragile fish and defiitely not reef safe.

 

[gmpolan]

Hit or miss, ive had one for almost a year now. Mine likes the corals/LPS type tissue and will nip at acans, brains, etc but doesnt touch any zoas or anything else. Barrys will eat zoas for days but from what i know doesnt touch lps.....honestly tho, its a tough fish all around. Mine runs the tank and def determines what corals go in and which done. I spent months contiplating whether to get one but after seeing it eat week after week in the store i went for it and it has been one of the best additions. Eats any bristle worm it can find and all types sponges as well. Also needs plenty of space to hide and swim.

Mines in the 150 now but is going to a 250

 

[cr500_af]

Mine eats anything... but I would not call it reef safe. SPS only tank would be NO problem. He is prone to eating some zoas but not others, and so far no rhyme or reason as to which ones... for all I know it could be color. He tends to like the more expensive ones, so maybe he is a snob.
Also, if ANY LPS "slimes" it is dead meat. You don't think much about this until you try to put a new coral in without making it slime... harder than it sounds.

Finding a "good eater" isn't that easy, though. One sponsor got three in last year that were all eating well, and they were gone very fast. Some stores won't order them due to their mortality rate.

They can be bullies, too, though not as bad as some tangs etc. Mine is boss of the tank without a doubt.

 

[mapleredta]

Very sound advice/knowledge in here. The one that is in Barry's avatar was purchased originally by myself in July of 2010 (the 18th to be exact.) It a birthday present to myself. First off, what size tank are you wanting to put the idol in? What sort of fish will be his tank mates?

I fed mine at a MINIMUM of three times a day. He was a pig!!! Naturally with feeding the tank that much, I had a small issue with algae. You really need a monster of a skimmer and to really keep up your water changes. Hopefully you've read about how difficult they are too keep. There is a very large thread on reef central in the reef fish section with a dedicated thread with TONS of information for them.

Please just do your research prior to purchasing one of those beautiful fish!

 

[eagleeyemike]

mapleredta;637937 wrote: Very sound advice/knowledge in here. The one that is in Barry's avatar was purchased originally by myself in July of 2010 (the 18th to be exact.) It a birthday present to myself. First off, what size tank are you wanting to put the idol in? What sort of fish will be his tank mates?

I fed mine at a MINIMUM of three times a day. He was a pig!!! Naturally with feeding the tank that much, I had a small issue with algae. You really need a monster of a skimmer and to really keep up your water changes. Hopefully you've read about how difficult they are too keep. There is a very large thread on reef central in the reef fish section with a dedicated thread with TONS of information for them.

Please just do your research prior to purchasing one of those beautiful fish!

He would be goiong in a 120 for now.
Fish mates would be 5" Clown Tang, 4" Purple Tang, 5" Magnificent. Foxface, 3" Maroon Clown, 3"Lantern Basslet, 6 line wrasse

 

[gmpolan]

eagleeyemike;637941 wrote: He would be goiong in a 120 for now.
Fish mates would be 5" Clown Tang, 4" Purple Tang, 5" Magnificent. Foxface, 3" Maroon Clown, 3"Lantern Basslet, 6 line wrasse

Id prob advise adding him with that kind of livestock. Just alot of aggression in that group....esp the clown.


FWIW, in my 150, i have him, large naso, yellow tang, and a small purple.

 

[mapleredta]

gmpolan;637942 wrote: Id prob advise adding him with that kind of livestock. Just alot of aggression in that group....esp the clown.


FWIW, in my 150, i have him, large naso, yellow tang, and a small purple.

I concur. I purchased him last; however, I knew I was going to be getting one so I purchased peaceful fish. Pair of Ocellaris clowns and a baby hippo tang.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Amici;637961 wrote: Sounds like a heavy bioload as is. I would advise against adding any more fish really.

agreed 1000000000 %. I would guess that youre going to have some serious behavior issues with that stocklist in a short while.