The Moorish Idol tends to be very peaceful. Due to its size, schooling nature, and need for swimming space, it requires a large aquarium of at least 125 gallons. As its beauty is most evident while swimming, giving it adequate room is well rewarded. It is compatible with most fish and larger invertebrates, but should not be kept with any polyps or corals, which it will eat. Small invertebrates may be threatened as well.

The Moorish Idol is a very difficult fish to feed. Live rock with large amounts of algae and sponges on which it can feed will help it acclimate. Then offer a varied diet of finely chopped meaty items, mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, Spirulina, and algae. It should be fed several times a day.

Perhaps the most graceful of all marine fish, for many hobbyists, it is also one of the most difficult fish to keep because it is so difficult to feed. For all but the most expert hobbyist, it is better admired in the ocean or in a public aquarium rather than in a home tank.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 3" to 3-1/2"; Medium: 3-1/2" to 4-1/2"; Large: 4-1/2" to 5-1/2"

Jonathon Seamon
Orlando, FL

One of the most beautiful and graceful fish available to aquarists; however it is also one of the most frustrating! Unless you're lucky enough to find one already feeding (as I did), this species is probably best left in the wild. If you must try one, use New Life Spectrum Marine Fish Formula. My Moorish Idol loves it (it got him through acclimation) and I've heard of four other Idols that have greedily adopted it as their food of choice. Once acclimated, these guys are bold, and spend most of their time in the front of the tank. They are also reef safe and rarely aggressive (though mine occasionally picks on my Percula Clown at feedings). You should have at least a 100-gallon tank with lots of swimming space!

Alan Gordon
Woodbridge, VA

I simply love this fish. I have 2 of them with Radiata Lions(they all get along too). What I did to get them to feed was I purchased 5lbs. of clams, froze them, took out 2 at first, when they were only 2" to 3", defrosted and broke them open and dropped them in the tank.They went to town on them. They even ate the tissue that connected the 2 shells together. Month after month they just got bigger and bigger. I highly recommend this fish for people with decked out systems and do what is required. Remember this is a valuable life.