Care guide at a glance
Zanclus cornutus
Description
Perhaps the most beautiful reef fish in the world: bold black, white and yellow bands with a long trailing dorsal filament. Also one of the hardest of all marine fish to keep alive.
Feeding
A specialist feeder on sponge and encrusting invertebrates. In captivity it must be weaned onto sponge-based frozen preparations, mysis, clam and nori, offered several times daily. Many specimens never feed properly.
Compatibility
Peaceful and generally reef safe, though it will pick at sponges and some soft corals. Needs calm tankmates and a large, mature system.
Behaviour and personality
Moves gracefully and constantly, picking at rockwork. Shy on arrival and slow to settle.
Before you buy
This must be said plainly: the majority of Moorish idols die within months in home aquaria, usually of starvation. It is a fish for a very large, very mature system and an experienced keeper prepared to feed several times daily. Hawaiian specimens ship better than most, but the odds remain poor.
DX courier delivery is £20 per livestock order.
Delivery is scheduled for your selected delivery date and typically arrives before 1pm.
There is no minimum or maximum order value.
Additional information:
- In-stock livestock orders will be processed and dispatched for delivery on the date selected on the cart/basket page.
- Available delivery days are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
- If any stock issues affect your chosen delivery date, we will contact you as soon as possible by email or telephone.
- Shipping for dry goods is charged separately from livestock delivery. Dry goods are dispatched according to our standard delivery policy.
- All livestock remains covered by our 7-day guarantee.