Quote:
Originally Posted by Samw
Hehe. I don't want to participate in any arguments so I'll just post my thoughts in point form:
1. Needs highly oxygenated water, even more than angels. Power outages (without battery backup) of 1-2 hours probably is all that it takes to kill it in an average tank.
2. Needs lots of hiding places. Very easily stressed ; More easily stressed than any other fish I've kept. They probably do better in a reef tank due to more hiding places and fewer fish.
3. Will eat corals but does *NOT* need to eat corals to survive. Flakes was the main diet for my Idol before it outgrew my tank.
4. Probably does better alone than in pairs as they eventually stake out their territory once they have settled in and will kill other idols that can't get away (based on most accounts that I've read. most of the people who've kept them for years have just 1. I haven't read yet of anyone who has kept more than 1 idol for a long length of time in the same tank though I'm sure if someone has a tank the size of a pool, then it would be possible).
5. Not impossible to keep. But not tolerant of any mistakes made by the keeper.
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Sam, Very well said and great points! They do NEED highly oxygenated water, I think thats KEY to keeping these fish. I found that out when my skimmer crapped out, didn't realize. I looked at my idol and noticed he was huffing & puffing in the back corner, all concerned, I realized the skimmer died. After I corrected the problem, the idol was fine again. I always knew to look at the idol first to make sure nothing was wrong in the tank.
Sam, now that you mention it with the food. Even when mine picked on the LR, ate sponges, GSP, zoo's, nori, mysis, I still had to ask other Moorish Idol keepers what they fed, since my Idol (Chewie) was still skinny. I didn't notice Chewie, getting fatter till I added O.S.I Spirulina Flake Food. Which its thanks to Deb's advice, I believe was the same as what flakes MOO got fed. I believe those flakes made a big difference for growth.