moorish idols

Quick questions on them...

Are they reef safe?
Are they hardy or not?
What family of fish are they in?
Do they get along with tangs, clowns, etc?

 

Reef Safe Not really. Will pick at polyps, lps and clams and other small inverts

Hardy. By no means at all. Very fragile fish.

Zanclus I believe, they are their own family lol only one in it to, cousin to the surgeon fish however... (Tangs and Rabbitfish)

Tangs ... Probably not unless they are added 1st and established.

 

+1 to Redgambit's post and would like to add that getting one to eat can be a very big challenge and they should be placed in at least 125 gallons. Or so I've read.

 

for reef safe question, not really. I've seen them in reef tanks successfully but they have to be kept well fed which is hard with the way they eat


they require multi time a day feedings and are pretty hard to keep long term.


they are family Zanclidae which is closely related to a tangs. and are peaceful fish

 

no,
no,
zanclidae, but closely related to tangs, idols are the only member of their genus which is a rarity.

They will get along with tangs and other fish, that is the one good point about them . Well that and they are beautiful.

 

also worth noting they only ones I've ever seen kept successfully were in tanks over 200g.

 

That is a very big point. Even then they are tricky, and usually will eat prized LPS.