Moorish Idols, real experience??

[naesco]

When they die in the LFS tanks instead of ours, the LFS will get the message and not get them in anymore.
Best left in the ocean.

[Samw]

Well, I just have to disagree. They are difficult yes, impossible no. I do see myself keeping more in the future when I get a bigger tank. They die more easily than other fish but its not diet related. They do go into shock very easily if you leave them out of the water too long (like mine did when I took it out of the water for over 2 minutes) and they will die if you don't aerate the tank (such as mine almost did when I unplugged my skimmer). The common theme has been oxygen deprivation. This explains why they don't ship well.

[BCOrchidGuy]

Well as I said, I don't want to buy a fish just to see it die, and I appreciate everyones comments. Sam, thank you as well for your input, I appreciate it.

Doug

I would have to agree with the need for high orp levels, they need to get shipped well, my shipper packs them in a bag large enough for a big naso or angel, not much water, lots of oxygen! In my opinion it is not so much luck, as it is proper shipping techniques for that individual fish, large bag, little water, lots of oxygen, black bag or newspaper wraped around it to keep the light out, and a small dosage of sedative to keep them calm. They are just like other animals, you can have a dog that jumps right in the car and looks around outside just thrilled to be going for a ride, another dog will be barking whining, peeing, and craping everywhere, getting so excited it may have a heart attack. The same goes with fish, some stress alot more than others. Yes I do agree with everyone that they are more touchy then alot of other fish, I only get them from a particular individual, because he packs them to my likeing and I have good shipping success that way. Then the matter about food, I try to get fresh fish, fish that havent been starved in holding tanks for sometimes weeks before shipping, once starved, fish are very hard to get eating. I know that they are not as receptive to prepared food as other fish, but I dont think it is too hard, it just takes some time and effort, refering to my methods mentioned in above post.... And about angels, alot of people tell me about how many angels they have had die on them, so they no longer will buy angels, then I ask them what they were feeding....its not too hard to figure out why most angels and other fish with special diets die. I find angels very easy to get eating, I have only had to force feed 2 in the last 2 years or so. I strongly recommend fresh frozen mysis and pacific plankton, as well as Hikari Mega Marine Angel. Sure I agree that some fish are touchy, but I feel if a hobbiest has some knowledge and time and dedication they are willing to put into a spectacular fish, go for it, I have even had good success with butterflys that were not ordered but they showed up anyway, coral eaters, some did die, but alot lived and are in display tanks eating prepared foods, I wouldnt recommend said butterflys though, I only got them by accident.

[Quinn]

Just out of interest, what kind of sedative would one use on a fish?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by teevee

Just out of interest, what kind of sedative would one use on a fish?

I would guess rum.

I have cleaned up after a "high roller" house party, rum puts them to sleep forever....

I use Tricaine-S
Its even FDA approved

[BCOrchidGuy]

Tricaine is also know as MS222, a common tranquilizer used for shipping and handling. For shipping a dose of 10mg/L of water and for anesthetizing fish for handling 50-100mg/L. One more sedative that's used is Quinaldine sulfate but it's very hard on fish so it's not recommended, (only reason I mention it is if you run into it avoid it, it's not the same as Tricaine).

Doug

Good point Doug, Tricaine-S or Tricaine Methanesulfonate, is basically a high grade version of MS-222, Tricaine-S is FDA approved and MS-222 is not. Im pretty sure thats right...lol