Your Thoughts on a Moorish Idol

[JKLUSAF]

I've been researching the Moorish Idol and found good and bad about them. Their hard to keep and need a good size tank to mantain them. I would like some advice from those who've kept them, the good/bad in maintaining them and some recommendations. I also would like some info about to getting a Heniochus instead.

Thanks,
Justin

[brewercm]

I had one at one point for several months and loved the fish. My problem was that his basic diet was the raw mussels you can get at HEB, I'd just crack them open and throw them in and he'd pig out till it was gone. Unfortunately I also wanted to keep clams which would also become a main diet for the Moorish Idol. Not sure how much longer it survived to whoever got it from me and I don't even remember who it was.
Very hard to keep alive long term is what I've been told and getting them to eat was said to be tricky.

[Jonthefishguy]

In my honest opinion, Moorish Idol's should not be in the aquarium trade. Although we do sale them from time to time, we let our customers know that they are not a fish for the beginner and not so much for the advanced either. We educate them as much as we can on their feeding requirements and inform them of their extremely high mortality rate. After they understand what is required of them, we order them. We dont typically house them as even in our care, they will whither away.

As with anything there are always a few exceptions to the rule. However, the amount of aquarists that have managed to keep them alive for a significant amount of time is far and few between.

Most Moorish Idol's perish due to unsustainable food requirements.

[JKLUSAF]

hard to feed, was the main thing i've been reading about. i've also seen that they need a minimum of 125gal tank with lots of hiding places

[jc]

Considering how many die on their way to the pet trade I would say go with Heniochus instead. Everything I've read says these guys never live long anyway. By long I mean several years. Shouldn't we try to keep fish that have a decent chance at dieing of old age.

[msmith619]

I have never kept a moorish idol for the above reasons. I think they are beautifull and would to be able to keep one. Most aquarist cannot provide them with an adequate diet. They may also need sponge and coral polyps in addition to mussles to survive any length of time.
The henniochus, on the other hand, looks similar and is a hardy, easy to keep butterfly. They are plankovores, therefore will feed on most meaty foods and most will take flakes. They are iffy as being reef safe. While not a coral polyp eater, they may nips at clams and polyps between feedings. I have kept them with leathers and anemones with no problems but, as one poster above mentioned, there are individual differences and occasionally your fish does not conform to the norm. There are also several varieties of henniochus for color pattern choices.
Overall, a Henniochus is a great choice and hands down easier to keep than a Moorish Idol. I personally feel those fish should never be offered in the aquarium trade due to their poor track record.
Mike

[Jonthefishguy]

When it comes to Henniochus (banner fish) it is important to do research on them. The reason being is that there are VERY similiar color patterns in a couple of them however, one is reef safe and the other is not.

One is known to pick on polyps and the foot of anemones and the other is not.

[JKLUSAF]

well i was looking at the Heniochus black and white butterflyfish, which says they do well with Coral, but could be dominate, and they look the closest to a Moorish Idol

Justin

[brewercm]

I would never to an Idol again myself. This was one of those deals where I was at the shop and they received it in a shipment. Figured it would stand a better chance at my house than their so I took it home. It did eat but like the others have said, it may have been a total coincidence and may not have been receiving a full diet of what it would like. I also found that they would not eat if you removed the meat from the shell for them, they had to see it as a natural food for them to go after it.

Wasn't wanting you to get the wrong impression, just my experience with one.

[Kristy]

There are a few fish out there that fall in the category of those that should just be left on the reef. Having had the experience firsthand of watching a beautiful, healthy fish slowly starve to death in my care while I desperately did everything I could think of to keep it alive and entice it to eat, I will say that I would NEVER again bring home something that has those kinds of odds. And I would not wish that experience on anyone if it can possibly be avoided... it's really awful. (For the record, I thought I was getting a fish that had decent survival odds, but was misinformed about what species I was getting and the error was not clear until she colored up in my tank. It was not a moorish idol, by the way.)

[Ping]

At this time, the Moorish Idol should not be allowed in the Ornemental Fish Trade.

[JKLUSAF]

thanks for all the advice, so does anyone agree to get the Heniochus b/w butterflyfish which is simalliar in pattern? how about the plus/minus of the butterflyfish

Justin

[jlh81]

I would stay away if i were you. they are hard to keep i have had 2 and they both died, and all my other fish were fine