Moorish Idol - Take 2

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Samw

Its been a while since I mentioned it on the forum, but here goes. The Idol is the most highly oxygen demanding fish I've ever kept.

Interesting observation.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Myka

Interesting observation.

As Sam and I have discussed offline, I agree. This is what killed my MI and larger angels.

I also agree, based on the one I had, that the diet isn't something magical. It was healthy, fat, active and showed no fear. Ate anything offered, in double portions.

Mine is currently showing down on some PE mysis, and I'm about to add some banana. (Ya, I know....)

[Aquattro]

Banana not going over huge, but nibbling. He has started eating pellets though, so off to a good start.

[Samw]

Add some cheap brown zoas as a great treat that they can graze on all day without worry of polluting the tank with food decomposition. If they don't find it right away as a food source, they will eventually. Not needed but will be a good treat to give them something natural to graze on while waiting for their next meal.

[Aquattro]

Sam, the tank is full of brown zoas, no interest at all.

[Samw]

No worries, it took mine maybe 5 to 6 months to figure it out. Then they were gone in short time.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Samw

No worries, it took mine maybe 5 to 6 months to figure it out. Then they were gone in short time.

This guy won't be in this tank that long Not putting brown zoas in my DT

[gobytron]

My experiences with these fish were similar to that of the copperband butterfly...

Even when I could get them to eat, they would seem to slowly wither away.


I always assumed they had some specific specialized dietary needs that could not be met by mysis or LR foraging.

[Aquattro]

The long term one I had seemed to do fine on it's diet, I suspect that O2 content of the water plays a significant role. I guess diet is a popular theory on their poor success, so we'll see how it goes.

[gobytron]

My tanks are always open top with an open sump in a room that is vented outside.

I would never imagine I had low oxygen in my system.

Interesting theory.

I wonder if you could say the same for a copperband?