Moorish Idol

[Minh Nguyen]

Wow. So 60 years is the concensus for lifespan? That's a long time. I know for a FACT that I won't be keeping ANY acanthurids successfully in my lifetime.

I am not sure about consensus, but for larger tangs, it seem reasonable that they can live at least 20-30 years. I know that there is a Majestic angel that lived 18 years in captivity and still living.

 

[dizzy]

Check out these longevity figures at the Nancy Aquarium in France

http://www.seacave.com/seascope.html

 

[esmithiii]

Wow! I learn something new every day. I had no idea that they had such long lives in cpativity.

I wonder what natural predation rates are for surgeonfish on the reef. How many and which natural predators do they have?

 

[Anonymous]

I would only disagree in that MOST tangs do not live 40-60 years in the wild. They may be able to, but most would become food for some predator way before that.
My guess is the AVERAGE lifespan of any given tang in the wild is less than 10 years.


John

I think that is a reasonable conclusion. I am not a fish biologist, preferring to keep my endeavors to the invetebrate kind, but that would me my guess from the studies I've seen.

However, John's point does lend credence to the fact that we should be keeping a fish alive for 40 years or so. Since they rarely live past 10 years in the wild because of predation and disease, removing these two largest stressors should mean that we are successful with these fish only if we can get them past 10 years of age.

The average box turtle lives to about 30 in the wild, but I've met one captive raised turtle that was 73, and heard of many others with similar fates. Removing something from the perils of the wild should increase it's longevity. It is a testament to the difficulty of keeping a species if we are removing it from captivity and still not having outlive it's life expectancy from the wild.

One study that supports these life expectancies is based on analysis of the ear bone in fish, the otolith. Growth leaves rings on the bone similar to a tree.

Here is the study.

Choat & Axe (1996) Growth and longevity in acanthurid fishes; an analysis of otolith increments. Marine Ecology Progress Series; Volume 134, Issue 1-3, Pages 15-26.

 

[john f]

I'm not sure I follow.
If we take from the wild a fish that would live on average 10 years IF it made it to spawning age ( That is a big if) and keep it for over 10 years in captivity, I think we have been succesfull.
Yes, we have no predators in our reef systems. We do however have many other hazards which a closed system presents. Cyptocaryon and equipment failures foremost among them.

While I appreciate the goal of keeping a tang alive for 50 years, I'm trying hard enough to keep MYSELF alive for 50 more years.

Back to the original subject,
A morrish Idol that is eating has passed but one hurdle in acclimation to captive condtions. Such a fish is possible to maintain for long periods IF placed into a mature reef tank of probably 6 feet in length or more and given a good, sponge rich diet.

Certainly NOT a fish for most of us, but for those with the proper environment and husbandry practices, I say why not?


John

 

[Minh Nguyen]

.....
Certainly NOT a fish for most of us, but for those with the proper environment and husbandry practices, I say why not?
.....

I certainly agree with this. I am sure most if not all the 'tang police officers' would too. (I am not one BTW) :lol:
Minh Nguyen

 

[caecosystems]

Let's all kiss and make up. :lol:

 

[samw]

I've been in this hobby (hobby? hell....lifestyle) for ten years professionally, maintenance companies, retail, wholesale, now a zoo. I have seen many moorish idols waste away and die. I know it must be tempting but don't egg on the store to think people should be keeping very difficult species that would be better left in the ocean.

How long does it usually take for them to waste away and die?

 

[caecosystems]

I have not messed with them in quite some time now. Over the years ...I had sold them to customers or had tried them myself...yes they do better from hawai'i. Shorter shipping. They would waste away from not accepting foods given to them and God knows what other reasons. What is the purpose of your question?

 

[samw]

What is the purpose of your question?

Trying to determine how long it takes for a Moorish Idol to waste away (average lifespan in captivity). I'll take it to Email.

 

[Anonymous]

I just have one quick question. You said earlier that you've had 3 moorish idols in the past 9 months. What happened to the first two?

Still waiting.

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Brian,

Why do you think that two of them died? I took it that he has 3 now.

GT, how many MI's do you have now in your tank?

Louey

 

[danmhippo]

Same question I posted in the other thread "GT's Tank". All the pics only show one MI at any point in time. Just need to know if his comment about MI being easy to keep is bogus or not.

We need pics to prove the above speculation is unfounded.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not trying to be that critical really.

I was just drawing an inference from the one pictured MI, plus the fact that he said he had 3 in nine months. I would've said "I've been keeping three for 9 months" instead.

 

[Garry thomas]

why oh why? all this disbelief again! All my live rock built up on 3 inch strips of glass with 3 inch gaps totally hollow behind, although u could'nt see 86 fish 29 differant species does that mean that i made that up ? just like the TANK, the mags big todger ect........What i don;t understand, i thought m/i's shoalers why is the 1 idol a loner? other's just dont want to bother+ my clown tang (arcanthurus liniatus) still picking on him?
GT s wales

 

[dizzy]

Garry,

I usually feed my fish when I want a group photo.

Mitch

 

[Minh Nguyen]

In a large tank, it is hard to get pictures that included all the larger fish. They just don't act natural when i set up for picture. When one have to borrow a camera, one just have to settle with whatever the session get. No second chance.
I got a 450 tank with 40+ fishes (only five 4+ inches plus two Marine Betta) and when I took picture of my tank, it seem like I only have two or three.

Minh Nguyen

 

[Garry thomas]

Hello minh how much do you pay for sps corals over the pond? They are very xpensive over here GT s wales


NICE TANK MATE! what are the dimensions?

 

[Minh Nguyen]

My entire SPS collection are from trading. All are tank raised. I got started with 30 something frags from a friend for 300 dollars. All my SPS started with frags, most started with frags less than 1 inch in longest dimention. I did not ahve to pay for them except shipping
Minh Nguyen

 

[Garry thomas]

Over here about £15 for a frag, and between £45 and £100 for a fist sized piece GT s wales