My Idol

Y

yags

yags
Nov 8, 2006
8
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76
Hamilton On
On Saturday I purchased a Moorish Idol because it was feeding very well on romaine lettuce. I clipped a piece of romaine lettuce in my tank--the tangs went nuts also--they loved it. When they feed I noticed they break alot of the romaine off as little pieces(that they don't eat.)
I have been replacing the romaine once a day when it gets eaten down to the stalk. I kind of like this idea of the romaine clip because it keeps the Idol from eating the corraline algae and nipping at the star coral.
Is this a problem for any build up of ammonia etc. or will the cleanup crew and the protein skimmer keep the tank in check?
Thanks
Scott
 
Hopefully it's picking off your live rock as well. You might also try frozen foods like formula 1 and 2 and nori avail from oriental super markets, mysis , cyclpese etc. It's going to need a wide variety of foods to make it long term. Moorish Idols aren't easy to keep but,not impossible.
hth
Max
 
A Lesson Learned

First let me share a private message from another member which I am not embarrased to post because I joined this Forum to learn and appreciate his "shooting from the hip:"

I've been reading your posts and questions and all, and I admire your effort in aquiring the information involved with youre tank and its inhabitants so I hope what I'm about to say doesnt offend you in any way because we all started somewhere.

First thing you should do is take the moorish idol back to the LFS. I say this because I dont know if you are aware of the specific feeding requirements of this fish. Also this fish will outgrow your 110gal tank rather quickly. If youre prepared to buy the sea sponges required for this fish to eat and buy a 200 gal tank, then by all means have a go with it. I'm not blaming you on this purchase. The store you bought it from should never have sold it to you. If you didnt (and I assume you didnt because you now have this moorish idol) research ALL PURCHASES BECAUSE THEY WILL COST YOU MORE MONEY IN THE END.

You also said you've lost a few of your trank inhabitants. There MAYBE the possibility of a mantis shrimp in your tank. They will kill anything they can catch, and they can catch almost anything youve put into your tank. Keep an eye on your tank when lights are out. Use a flashlight to search the tank for a shrimp you dont recall puting in.

I'm sorry if I've come acrossed as a know it all, but I'm just trying to help if I can. That fish WILL DIE if you dont supply the sponges.....plain and simple. It may last a month maybe 3 months, butconsidering the fish lives 25 years in the wild......who are we???
Post Script
Talked to the fish manager "expert" the same day from receiving this post. He stated the fish was eating , the tank was big enough, the guys on the forum were bascially full of fish poop and I would have to talk to the manager of the store who was not in today.
Yesterday
The fish died.
Phoned the manager of the store who was unsympathetic--asked his 'expert to check the other fish in his tanks. There was nothing wrong with his fish so it had to be my tank. Further more I was to leave the dead fish in my tank so I would get an ammonia spike to help the cycling!
I maybe new to keeping reefs but I do have experience in biology and chemistry. I removed the dead fish immediately much to the dismay of my brittle star fish who was already salivating.
Since day one the chemistry of my tank has been right on. Why would want an ammonia spike---sure my other fish might survive but would I drink pond water--I would survive but it might be uncomfortable.
Lesson Learned:
It is not the fact that the manager(25years in business) would not refund my 30 bucks(this is the same guy that just sold me a complete new system, filtration system attinic/halide system, 160lbs live rock etc etc etc) but blatent misinformation so called experts tell you.
The true experts are the guys that contribute to this fish forum. I will be doing my homework from now on--and never dealing with that supplier again.
Sincerely,and appreciative of the straight shooters that gave me the heads up.
Scott
 
i absolutly agree with everything above
sorry about your fishie loss
when i first started this hobby and needed a lot of help, i found that even seemingly knowledgeable people who work at a LFS either know crap or will say anythign to sell you something. like the guy who told me a mandarin will be fine in my 29 gallon with about 15 pounds of lr even if i purchased everything that day. i did it. came back a few days later saying that wasnt true. and then he tried to tell me that i needed PC lighting to have pods because they are photosynthetic..... yeah...... okay.....
so i have found that although there are some people on all message boards who give a lot of advice even if it is horrible advice, a lot of the true "experts" are on places like these because they tell you something to help, and not to make a sale. Telling you to go buy something is no skin off their backs.
and the thing about moorish idols, even if they are eating like pigs in the store, almost ALL reports of them suddenly stop eating for no apparent reason. I have read a lot of articles online as to theories why this happened. one suggested it was because they were removed from their mate in the wild (this is why IF you are "dumb" enough to buy one, a juvinile would be your best bet...) They require a lot of live algae and spounges to feed that arent common in the home aquarium while still retaining healthy water parameters
also, one thing i woudl like to ask: you said your lfs suggested you leave it in there to help with the cycle?!!! how old is your tank?
 
how long was it thriving off of it? just wondering. because from all the reports i have read they all thrive off something and then suddenly stop eating :thud:
 
I have and always will read and learn things off this forum. The main thing is to learn from mistakes and not make them again. Dont let this get you down keep going and keep learning :)
 
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