Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)

Moorish Idol (Southern Asia, 5–6")

Moorish Idols should be housed in aquariums with ample rockwork for grazing and hiding, along with plenty of open space for swimming. They can be challenging to maintain in a home aquarium, as they are voracious feeders with specialized diets. In the wild, Moorish Idols consume sponges, coral polyps, coralline algae, tunicates, and other benthic invertebrates. In captivity, provide a varied diet of meaty marine foods and algae-based offerings, fed multiple times daily. If feeding becomes difficult, try introducing live rock rich in coralline algae or sponge to encourage eating.

These fish are also known for their unique pairing behavior, often mating for life, and do best when kept with other peaceful tank mates.

Moorish Idols are only occasionally seen in the aquarium trade and are prized for their striking pattern of vertical black, white, and yellow stripes. They can reach sizes of just over 9".

We recommend a minimum aquarium size of 125 gallons or larger for this species.

Water Conditions: Salinity 1.020–1.025 · Temp 72–78°F · pH 8.1–8.4 · Alkalinity 8–12 dKH