Hi Lepperchan! I have 2 Black Moors, a baby and, what I suspect, is an old guy. I learned that they turn bronze on the body when they're older, and my first is definitely bronzed, fat, and covered with (what I think is) tail and fin rot. He has been isolated, treated with Pimafix and Super Sulfa. He seems healthy and hungry, but he is still covered with an awful white film. I have to keep him quarantined for everyone's sake.
The only info I know about BM's is anecdotal, to date. A friend said they are susceptible to disease. But they are like puppies, friendly and sociable. He is so cute and will come to the side and press face with me. I see why you love them! So he has his own 10 G tank now.
As for designing a tank, they have a bit of trouble at first with obstacles and I worry about them hurting their eyes, so I'd keep anything pointy out of their tank. Why invite danger? It took them a while to get used to the layout (him and a calico telescope. I have a baby Black Moor whose eyes haven't really "popped" who does great.) They like their food against the tank so they can get at it by smell and isolate it ( a feeder ring would work well for them, or I make them a corner between my algae magnet and the corner where other fish can't get at them). They're also great at sucking up stuff on the bottom, so I'd give them a little sinking food to keep them occupied, but not enough to mess the tank.
My big guy likes to nibble plants, and if you don't have too many BM's
. plants would be good for them. I think they'd like small bits of lettuce that were slightly blanched. The main things for these guys is to make their tank safe, not sharp; they seem pretty adaptable. One of mine likes to go in a cave 'cuz he's little and the other tank fish are big (up to 10"), but he holds his own in chowing down. I just worry so I feed him in a corner on the other end of the feeding frenzy so he gets enough and is not "inhaled" in a feeding frenzy of Koi. He learned "his" feeding place quickly. The others don't try to go to his end or take his food.
My calico telescope doesn't take anybody's trash. She's 3". She just swoops in and takes a whole Koi pellet in her mouth and takes off with it. She's amazing. Looks like she's smoking a cigar. Probably can't see a thing in front of her, but they have a nose like a wolf!
But, as usual, it's clean water, filtration, and plenty of aeration that will make your Black Moors happy.
