Moorish Idol

These fishes belong in the "Order Perciformes" and "Suborder Acanthuroidei" as members of the "Family Zanclidae" (Moorish Idol) consisting of 1 genus and only 1 species.

Idols are related to angelfishes and tangs. They are found in small schools in the wild, usually over hard rubble bottom areas in inner lagoons and outer reef areas. Usually referred as a difficult fish to maintain in the closed system. Requires sufficient space, with long tanks a better choice. They are bottom feeders and especially require sponge and mussel in their diet, along with squid, clams, scallop, shrimp and a plentiful supply of algae. 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.

Those coming from Hawaii seem to be more sturdy than those from other areas, possibly due to their collecting and holding methods, and associated long shipping distances. It's recommended they be kept in small groups of 3 - 5, as them seem to have a pecking order that provides them social structure along with security.