We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Aquatic

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Moorish Idol?

By Lumara Lee
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 6,509
Share

A Moorish idol is a saltwater tropical fish that commonly inhabits the shallow waters in reefs and lagoons. This fish can be found in the oceans between Australia and Hawaii, and between the western coast of Central America and the African coast. Moorish idols were given their name by the African Moors who believed that these fish bring happiness. The Moorish idol averages a length of around 7 inches (17.78 cm), with some mature specimens attaining a length of 8 - 9 inches (20.32 - 22.86 cm). These fish are often confused with bannerfish and butterflyfish, but are the only members of the Zanclidae family.

Frequently seen alone, Moorish idols occasionally swim around in pairs and sometimes form small schools, especially when young. They are a diurnal species, staying at the bottom of the lagoon or reef at night, and fading to a dull coloration. During the day, they display distinctive, vertical bands of white, black, and yellow. Their bodies are tall, round, and slim, with a long, trailing dorsal fin. The striking coloration makes them attractive to aquarists, but they usually do poorly in captivity.

If a person does decide to try keeping this colorful fish in an aquarium, the Moorish idol requires an absolute minimum of a 125 gallon tank, and a 200 gallon tank is preferred. This fish frightens easily, so the aquarium should provide plenty of cover where it can hide. Generally a peaceful fish, mature idols can become aggressive towards other members of their species, so it is recommended that only one of these fish or a mated pair be kept in an aquarium with other non-aggressive fish. At times, smaller idols will get along well in a group, but occasionally one Moorish idol in the school will become aggressive and attack the other fish. Due to the difficulties most encounter when trying to maintain Moorish idols in an aquarium, some hobbyists choose to keep fish that resemble the idols instead, such as the pennant coral fish and false Moorish idol.

In its natural habitat, the Moorish idol is an herbivore that mainly eats the algae and sponges found among coral reefs. Moorish idols kept in an aquarium are omnivores that will eat algae, small crustaceans, and finely-chopped portions of fresh and frozen marine foods such as clams, shrimp, and squid. The Moorish idol gained its popularity from the character Gill in the movie Finding Nemo, but those who subsequently tried to add this beautiful fish to their aquariums quickly learned that the Moorish idol does best among the reefs and lagoons of its tropical home.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-is-a-moorish-idol.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.