Moorish Idol

[sdunn90fowlr]

Call me crazy, but after having some success with one in the past, I was in Aquarium Design and found 3 of the beauties for sale and ended up with the school of them. 2 were eating frozen food and looked nice and healthy. After talking a bit, a deal was struck to buy 2 and get the third one. We both concluded that this was the best chance for survival for the odd one out since they are a schooling fish.

They are currently issolated and 2 are eating Nori from a veggie clip. Hopefully I can get the smaller one to turn the corner and eat. He is looking at the Nori, but not eating it. It is just day one, so I am not to concerned yet. The largest one even ate a couple of pellets of New Life Spectrum already. As I did before I will soak the food in Angelixer regularly. I may keep them separate for some time and get them eating well (if possible) before adding them in the display.

[SABOB]

"Crazy"...........sorry,had to do it


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[hobogato]

no kidding bob, what an accomplishment it would be to be successful with one, let alone three.

[Southern Flame]

That is awesome!! I want one but afraid to spend the money and have it not eat on me

[sdunn90fowlr]

This will absolutely put my experience to the test. I have only read about attempts at keeping them as a single specimen. After having the one for some time and knowing it's behavior patterns, I noticed yesterday that the fish acted different in a school. Time will tell now if this helps. Some researchers said that as they mature, they tend to be less tolerant toward each other. "If" I can get them to that point, I will gladly add another tank and separate them. I know that is a big "if".

Not that I am anyone special, but I saw them and thought how I would hate to see them end up with someone that was unaware of the level of commitment that these fish take, ending up in there demise in a few days. They are extremely difficult, but very rewarding and fun to watch if it acclimates and stays for a while.

[sdunn90fowlr]

No reason for celebrating yet, but all three of them are eating Mysis and Nori. Not eating aggressively yet, but eating none the less. Their color looks good and they do not appear to be losing weight, but again to soon to start cheering.

If this is still the case in a month from now, I will be happy.

The 2 larger ones are starting to display the same swimming behavior (like an underwater acrobat) that the one I had for 6-8 months did.

One very odd note is that I did release them into the display and the Powder Blue Tang seems to school with them. Very strange considering the normal aggression of Powder Blues. Just like always, no one can predict the behavior of a fish.

[sdunn90fowlr]

All 3 are eating pretty good and even eating NLS flake food. Instant Ocean Cyclop-eeze is there favorite. They eat this with aggressiveness. Even chasing off the Powder Blue Tang to get to it.

[sdunn90fowlr]

Glad to say at week 2 all three are doing pretty good. All eat well and their coloration is getting good. I thought the small guy of the bunch was a gonner for sure, but I guess being with the other 2 helped him. I am convinced that kept as a single specimen the litlle one would have died within a few days. ( He is still not looking perfectly healthy, but looking better). I will try and snap a pic later of all three and post it.

[cniles]

That's awesome and hope they stay healthy

[KING]

Nice..can't wait to see pics..

[sdunn90fowlr]

The little of the three guys just got snacked. Bummer. He was swimming slowly and the D*@m Calico Crab grabbed him. That crab will be gone! It killed him before I could get them apart.

[sdunn90fowlr]

The picture is a bit fuzzy cause I could not get them to stop moving around. If I get close to the tank, they all go into a frenzy thinking it's feeding time.

[Southern Flame]

im sorry to hear that :(

[Kristy]

Interesting thread. I always like to hear about what methods work getting finicky species to accept prepared foods, so if you have more description of how that went, I'd be interested. Hope your two stay healthy and eating.

Can you tell us about other livestock in the tank?

[sdunn90fowlr]

Interesting thread. I always like to hear about what methods work getting finicky species to accept prepared foods, so if you have more description of how that went, I'd be interested. Hope your two stay healthy and eating.

Can you tell us about other livestock in the tank?

In my experiences with finicky species, Instant Ocean Cyclop-Eze (gel) has been a food they could not resist. I also use food soaks that are appropriate for the species diet to try and make sure they get the proper nutrition. It seems that once you get them eating one food well, they accept other foods easily. I currently have them eating New Life Spectrum Flakes and pellets, various frozen varieties and nori. I soak the flakes and pellets in BA Angelixir.

As for the other livestock, I have the following:

Clarkii Clown
Green Bird Wrasse
Lunare Wrasse
Powder Blue Tang
Yellow Tang
Bicolor Angel
Swallowtail Angel
Zebra Moray
Annularis Angel
Volitan Lion

[sdunn90fowlr]

Just a little update! As of today, the one that got snagged by the Calico Crab of course is gone and the weaker of the 2 left, perished. The 1 remaining appears to be doing great for now. He is putting on a bit of weight and his streamer has grown about 2 inches and getting wider. There streamers grow a bit different than other fish I am used to. They start very thin, kind of thread like, and then get thicker. The one I had for many months before, would grow it's streamer and lose it at about 3 inches and it would never thicken up.

The remaining one seems to be stronger than the previous one. It is frustrating cause this species is so difficult to determine if it is truly healthy. I can only hope that I will find a way to meet his nutrition needs. As of now, he is eating Mysis, Brine, flake, pellet and Nori. Any food offered is consumed, but making sure sponge based part of it's diet is met is a challenge. (A guessing game if enough is provided) I do offer frozen food for Angelfish regularly. Through research, it appears that these guys kind of share the nutrition requirements of Angelfish and Tangs combined. Sounds easy, but trying to meet this need without putting excessive food in the system is difficult. I have also researched and found that some believe they consume Coraline Algae in the wild. If only there was an available food with Coraline in it's formula. If anyone nows of a food like this please let me know.

[kkiel02]

You are more than welcome to come over and scrape my coraline off. :)