Review and images by JimoAi; edited by bmathison1972
When it comes to reef fish, no species is as distinct and instantly recognizable as the Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus). They are included on almost every ocean-related merchandise and media out there: from towels, utensils, coins and one even was a character in the 2003 Disney/Pixar movie Finding Nemo. They have s widespread range in the Indo-Pacific which spans from Hawaii to Australia. They inhabit tropical and subtropical reefs and lagoons where they feed on algae, sponges, and other small invertebrates. They belong in the family Zanclidae, which they are the only members of. Despite looking similar, they are unrelated to the bannerfishes of the Heniochus genus. They are considered aquarium fish but due to their finicky diets, about a large number of them don’t survive past a week.
About the figure: this figure is part of the Yujin Saltwater Fish in Colour Part 1, which includes fish that are common to tropical reefs; it is obvious that most species included were also in a certain Disney movie. The figure is 4 cm long from snout to tail, which puts it at around 1:4.5 to 1:6.25 in scale for the largest Moorish idols. It is attached by a clear plastic rod on a sandy base with a little rock like most of the figures in the line.
The figure is made out of a flexible PVC material that doesn’t break easily like the Shrimp and Crabs series Yujin produced. The colour is simple yet striking: a black underside for the lower jaw and a yellow band highlighted in black in the snout which is used to pick up tiny organisms. On the head, a large black stripe goes all the way to the translucent black pectoral fins and they eye is a dark brown with a black pipe and some white markings.
The body is white, accompanied by a yellow wash on the back half of the fish along with another black stripe. And it’s not a Moorish idol unless we talk about the famous whip, which makes it and the bannerfish look somewhat similar. It is long and the yellow stops at where the whip starts. The tail is black with a white highlight on both ends and the end of the tail is translucent. Overall a solid figure, easily among the best, if not the best representation of a Moorish idol in plastic form.
Unfortunately, this figure, along with the entire Yujin Saltwater Fish in Colour collection has been retired for about 10 years and the figures are quite rare and expensive, especially the secrets like the Napoleon wrasse, moray eel, and the blue damselfish. The Moorish idol isn’t as hard nor as expensive as most figures and still can be purchased from sites like Taobao and eBay for a moderate price point. And I am salty that reef fishes no longer get gashapon sets like what Yujin and Kaiyodo did, maybe in the future. Highly recommended this fella if you are willing to pay a little steep for him or really steep for him and the whole set. If not, you can consider it’s brother from the Colorata Coral Reef Fish set, for which the entire set costs less that Yujin’s but means you won’t be getting a ‘Dory’. a.k.a. a palette surgeonfish.
Wonderful first review, JimoAi! Hope this is the first of more to come!
One of my favorite fish! It’s a beautiful and very elegant fish and this figure captured that well.
I once had a MI in my reef tank and had him for over a year until a power outage killed him and almost all my fish.