reef Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Just ordered my dream fish. moorish idol.should arrive next week fantastic fish, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.L Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 That's a nice looking fish ! Bet it costs a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Nice, how much did that cost? About $400? Hope you can keep it alive, sounds like something like 99% die within a year even in very big, well run tanks. Here's my dream fish, probably even harder to keep alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted January 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 no problems, keepimg them alive, i ordered four. got a tank full of algae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Great fish, from what i've read they seem to be hard to keep, but then there are a lot of people who buy fish without the appropriate tank for them. Let me know how they do, i looked at getting one, but settled on the heniochus, but their not really the same. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 OK here I go. IRA thats a cuttlefish, they can get huge. Its really a squid. Cuttle fish are considered to be very intelligent, more intelligent than any other invert. I have seen dozens in the wild. I am sure their are different flaovors, many of the onnes I have seen have been over 3ft in length! Very pretty, changing colour several times in a second. Often pet shots sell cuttle fish for birds to nibble on, long white beak shaped things. Layton. Morish Idol is indeed a very pretty fish. One of the nicest fish for marine tanks, no doubt. I agree with your comments about not having a suitable tank to keep them in however they are considered difficult and picky feeders. May expamples of them feeding fine in one tank, being trasported just a few minutes away and never eating again. The banner fish are not as 'nice' as the Idols, but they are more hardy and many species are reef safe. The one in your tank looks great from the photos you posted. Understand though that they are NOT reef safe. They will without a doubt feed on coral polyps and consume soft corals. There are dozens of accounts of this on ultimatereef and reefcentral. Often smaller idols are find for several months, eating nori and hand feeding from their owners. Then one day they start on corals and thats the end of it, coral eaters for life. I have yet to read of anyone keeping one in a reef tank without coral predation. They will also consume the flesh from LPS corals. This is a picture of my partner Jane with a banner fish Here is a morish idol in the wild Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Yeah, I realize that they are corallivorous fish, I was going to setup a fish only tank, but they problems people had keeping them alive put me off. I think people often have trouble keeping cuttlefish too, they are very smart, they can use tools. You'd better make sure the tank had a lid which bolted down, cause they are strong too! Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Yes, I know what it is, Pies. Though, they technically aren't squid, they're an independent branch of cephalopods like octopii. I wouldn't want a Giant cuttlefish, I don't think(They're australian, yuck), I'd be happy with the more common ones that usually only get to around a foot. Just a dream, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Yep thats right but they ain't a fish. So you get too pick another animal for that. They do however taste like Squid I love the cuttle fish. Any dive in which a cuttle fish is present is a highlight, they are smart, often they will mimic your movements, swim right up to you but NEVER allow you to touch them. Very inquisitive. They change colour and pattern all the time too. Sometimes several times a second. Spellbinding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 29, 2004 Report Share Posted January 29, 2004 Well, yeah, it's not a fish, but in topics like this "Fish" has a broader definition to cover anything that swims, 'cause I say so. So pbpbpbttt. Been reading up on them in aquariums a bit. Looks like if you're in the US or europe it's not actually that hard to get and keep them, they're the easiest invert anyway. Average life span is only up around 2 years, but seems they're not too hard to breed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted February 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2004 well look what arrived last nigh. 4 great looking idols. after 6 hrs they started to pick on rocks, so lets hope they start to feed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.L Posted February 1, 2004 Report Share Posted February 1, 2004 Lovely looking fish. Goodluck with them ~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 1, 2004 Report Share Posted February 1, 2004 I understand these are tricky fish to keep but if anyone can do it I am sure you can! Good luck with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis Posted February 1, 2004 Report Share Posted February 1, 2004 will they go in your main tank reef? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted February 1, 2004 Report Share Posted February 1, 2004 Dennis, unfortunately these fish have a healthy apetite for coral polyps, so are not suitable for a reef tank. They will be an impressive addition to a fish only tank however... or a sump even Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted February 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 they are looking great, eating brine shrimps and nori, they are fat little buggers . their top fins are getting very long strimmers. will get some pics in a few days So far they are eating very well and look great. might be ready to put one in your tank pies. reef safe , not. saying that , they have not touched any leather corals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted April 21, 2004 Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 Well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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