My Morish Idol

[Powder Blue]

Dear Members

I was given a juvenile Morish a week ago caught on our local reef and I have had some pleasent experiences with him.

For starters I believe they are very difficult to keep in captivity. I had no idea and accepted him with thanks and added him in the usual manner. From the first day he has eaten very well and free of any obvious parasites. The interesting thing that has happened is he has grown an extention on his dorsal fin which extends past his tail in a matter of three days. It looks like a whip trailing behind. He is not an agressive eater but rather picks up left over scraps from the other fish at feeding times but does constantly roam the tank ripping at my green algea problem. He has cleaned all the green stuff of the glass and now is concentrating on the rocks. The strange thing is when my new LR went bad and rocketed my ammonia,nitirte level, he never showed any signs off stress and never stopped eating well. I did however do some very rapid water changes and removed the rock. Within 24hrs the levels stabilized

Is this there natural diet (algea)?
Is my experience an exception and not the general rule like my fat and healthy Cleaner Wrass which apparantly also die 9/10 in captivity??

I need to work out how to post of photo and will gladly show them.

Regards
Sam

[cubalz]

Wow, let me know how he progresses. As far as I have ever read in every book they are obligatory feeders and have an extremely low survival rate in capitvity- even in national aquariums. Best of luck and keep us informed, I would love to have one in my tank if I thought that he would live.

Dear Members

I was given a juvenile Morish a week ago caught on our local reef and I have had some pleasent experiences with him.

For starters I believe they are very difficult to keep in captivity. I had no idea and accepted him with thanks and added him in the usual manner. From the first day he has eaten very well and free of any obvious parasites. The interesting thing that has happened is he has grown an extention on his dorsal fin which extends past his tail in a matter of three days. It looks like a whip trailing behind. He is not an agressive eater but rather picks up left over scraps from the other fish at feeding times but does constantly roam the tank ripping at my green algea problem. He has cleaned all the green stuff of the glass and now is concentrating on the rocks. The strange thing is when my new LR went bad and rocketed my ammonia,nitirte level, he never showed any signs off stress and never stopped eating well. I did however do some very rapid water changes and removed the rock. Within 24hrs the levels stabilized

Is this there natural diet (algea)?
Is my experience an exception and not the general rule like my fat and healthy Cleaner Wrass which apparantly also die 9/10 in captivity??

I need to work out how to post of photo and will gladly show them.

Regards
Sam

[kevinpo]

What size tank do you have it in?

Regards,
Kevin

[Powder Blue]

I have him in my 4ft. I had an outbreak of white spot on the Regal and he has resisted any transfer of the parasite. I thought that was strange as they are supposed to be spot magnets. Many who I have spoken to say the Regal is more sensitive bacause of their fine scales and may not transfer the spot to others.

I have been told to wait a few days and see what happens. The Regal may build up a resistance and fight off the white spot. I have been waiting and I have seen the Regal go through 3 cycles of white spot at a temp of 33c. The other fish are clear. Last night he seemed to be clearing and I may be lucky. I have the QT tank ready for him at a moments notice should he need to be removed. The Morish and others are feeding very well and are very active chomping the algea so I will hang on another day. I hate removing my fish to the QT tank for 2 reasons. They are impossible to catch in the rocks and I have to disturb the layout and I think the animals stress more by bieng shoved into a new enviroment full of copper.

Sam

[Soccergk1987]

I have a few of them... they do good in groups

I put a live sponge in the tank for them to eat.. that is their main diet

Laura

I have him in my 4ft. I had an outbreak of white spot on the Regal and he has resisted any transfer of the parasite. I thought that was strange as they are supposed to be spot magnets. Many who I have spoken to say the Regal is more sensitive bacause of their fine scales and may not transfer the spot to others.

I have been told to wait a few days and see what happens. The Regal may build up a resistance and fight off the white spot. I have been waiting and I have seen the Regal go through 3 cycles of white spot at a temp of 33c. The other fish are clear. Last night he seemed to be clearing and I may be lucky. I have the QT tank ready for him at a moments notice should he need to be removed. The Morish and others are feeding very well and are very active chomping the algea so I will hang on another day. I hate removing my fish to the QT tank for 2 reasons. They are impossible to catch in the rocks and I have to disturb the layout and I think the animals stress more by bieng shoved into a new enviroment full of copper.

Sam