Zanclus

Zanclus cornutus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Moorish Idol

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Rapa and Ducie Islands, north to Southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, and south to Lord Howe Island. Eastern Pacific Ocean: Gulf of California to Peru.

Size: 9 inches (22 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits inner lagoons, reef flats and seaward rocky and coral reefs, often in shallow boulder areas rich in algae, sponges, and benthic invertebrates and usually found at depths between 15 – 600 feet (5 - 180 m) where it feeds on corals, sponges, tunicates, and other benthic invertebrates. They form pairs and mate for life.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, having a vertically flattened/disk shaped body with black, yellow and white vertical bands, long extended tubular snout, and a very long white filament on the dorsal.

Can be maintained in either reef or fish-only aquariums, which should be environmentally constructed to house this species, i.e., each having rocky crevices to graze in search for small crustaceans, algae, including coralline, and sponges that normally inhabit small reef openings and crevices in the wild. The aquarium should also have wide-open swimming areas.

As to diet, they are bottom feeders and require copious amounts of sponge and mussel in their diet, along with enriched squid, clams, scallop, shrimp and a plentiful supply of algae and should be fed several times daily.

Aquarium Suitability: Fish-only aquarium, or one with soft corals

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Acanthuroidei

Family: Zanclidae

Genus: Zanclus

FYI: Placing the preferred foodstuffs on a clam or mussel shell, is a good way to get new specimens feeding. Making pastes of different foodstuffs with some added trace and vitamin additives and applying it to a mussel shell is an ideal feeding method.

May eat small ornamental crustaceans and fanworms, and may pick on Tridacna clams.

One per aquarium unless a small group of different size specimens are added at the same time and where a pecking order should develop that would provide them social structure along with security.

Usually referred to as a difficult fish to maintain in the closed system. Requires sufficient space, with long tanks a better choice.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)