Moorish Idol

[Moorish_Idol]

I would love to buy a medium size moorish idol for my 55gal reef tank but im just concerned about the kind of food he has to eat...CORALS!!!! HE EATS CORALS!!!! isn't that to expensive just for feeding a fish??? is there something else i can give to him??

 

[vetter]

I am not sure about the diet of the moorish idol, but I know it is one of the most difficult fishes to keep, and is recomended for expert aquarists. It seems that you know what you are doing for you have had your tank for almost three years but I am not sure if a 55 gallon tank is big eneugh for a moorish idol for most sites and magazines recomend a tank that is over 100 gallons! These fish are very peaceful and can be placed in a reef aquarium but with caution. I have a magazine that has some info on the moorish idol and it states that the moorish idol eat algae and sponges

 

[skipm]

This is a fish that IMO is better left for public aquariums and shouldn't be offered in the hobby. They are obligate feeders meaning they have a very specialized diet that most of us cannot adequately meet. I would leave this one in the fishstore even though they are quite beautiful to look at.

 

[Moorish_Idol]

oh thats so bad, but thankyou for your help :sad: :mrgreen:

 

[harial]

you might think about the Longfin Bannerfish. They look a lot like the moorish idol but I believe they are much easier to keep. here is a link to some info:
http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/e_heniochus.php

hope this helps