Moorish idol

Photo: erythro07 · CC BY-NC

Moorish idols are among the most striking reef fish in the Indian Ocean, their bold black, white and yellow banding and elongated dorsal filament making them instantly recognisable. Stone Town Reefs host permanent small groups that pick sponges and tunicates from coral surfaces. Despite being widely sold for aquariums, they are notoriously difficult to maintain in captivity and almost never survive long-term — wild encounters are therefore the only realistic way to spend time with this species.