Bandit Angel Opinions...Already Feeding In Captivity

[tanglovers]

Hi,

I need some information on Bandit Angels. I have the opportunity to possibly get a Bandit Angel. It has been in captivity for a little over 4 months now and is feeding on assorted prepared foods already and doing very well.

Do these have any track record of doing well for a period of time then quickly going down hill?

How hardy are they once we get them eating?

How is their overall personalities, this one seems very social which from my reading seemed off....read they were shy. Are they easily bullied or do they become aggressive...read they do not but would like some other opinions.

Also any ideas of longevity for them? This one is about 4.5 inches long and WC from Hawaii.

How prone are tehy to picking on corals, this one so far has not been picking at anything.

Any opinions are welcome. He would be going in a 220 gallon SPS reef with a few LPS (brains/frogspawn).

 

[zemuron114]

Good find The only reason they have a bad track record is they are very hard to feed initially. Most waste away before they begin to feed on prepared foods. Since the one you are looking at is already eating, then you will be fine. Get him eating as many different kinds of foods as possible.

They should do fine long term as long as they are receiving healthy/varied diet.

They are from deeper waters where corals are not normally found (atleast most we keep in our tanks). You SHOULD be fine, however it is an angel! I know a few people with them, and they say it nips once and a while, but never decimates or spends a lot of time on one colony or piece. Pecks, and moves on and doesn't really go back... If he finds a taste he likes you will notice it right away...

good luck. Beautiful angel!

 

[alikatoes]

Diet is key. Try feeding whole clams. Just crack them open and watch them go. They are usually quite friendly. I have had them swim right up to me in the wild. They are quite curious by nature, but they may be more timid in high lighting.

 

[rmougey]

I've only see one do well in captivity. It was a store mascot for about 5 years. That's not to say that there aren't others that survive in captivity, but I think most perish before they learn to accept prepared foods.

I'd say you had a good shot if this one is eating well now. Reef safe? It's a crap shoot. I kept a large angel in my reef for a long time, decided I liked the Chrysuras better than the polyps and zoas he liked to eat. Never bothered LPS, GSP, Yuma or most softies.... unless it was a specific shade of green.... he really liked that color.

-Rob

 

[Vili_Shark]

What is the longest time a hobbyst kept a Bandit alive?

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8325193#post8325193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rmougey
I've only see one do well in captivity. It was a store mascot for about 5 years.

What happened to it?

 

[rmougey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8326767#post8326767 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
What happened to it?

It died one day for no apparent reason. But it did survive for about 5 years, with little apparent growth. The store staff surmised it was nutritionally related, but no way to know for sure. It spent many years on it's own in a display tank at Aquaria, a store that is no longer in business.

The fish came from a picker in LA, Dennis at Aqua Marines.

-Rob

 

[Vili_Shark]

Anybody else knows about a long living Bandit?

Im asking cause I see them in Hong Kong quite often, 99% of the cases they are way too large to make it, and already looks like they're gonna die in the shop, sometimes they do.

I cant understand why people are up to spend big bucks for a fish who dont stand a chance from the first place...but I might be wrong, that's why Im asking.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8338218#post8338218 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rmougey
It died one day for no apparent reason. But it did survive for about 5 years, with little apparent growth. The store staff surmised it was nutritionally related, but no way to know for sure. It spent many years on it's own in a display tank at Aquaria, a store that is no longer in business.

The fish came from a picker in LA, Dennis at Aqua Marines.

-Rob

Hmmm..yes, this is why I asked. Too many people here are so quick to say that if it's eating, it'll do well. But frankly, I really haven't heard of long term success with this fish. So I'm not sure why anyone would buy this fish and just hope they happen to be that 1 in what, a 1000, 10,000, ??

 

[RGBMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8142677#post8142677 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
They are from deeper waters where corals are not normally found (atleast most we keep in our tanks).

This is not true at all. Bandit angels can be found in very shallow water - I've seen them as shallow at 18' on Oahu. Meanwhile, scleractinian corals can be found to depths of 400' or so. Big overlap!

I've never kept corals in my aquarium, but I have kept a small bandit angel. Like most angels, it would pick at everything in the tank, but it never really focussed on anything in particular so your corals will probably survive.

In my experience they're great where other fish are concerned. They'll fight with other bandits, but seem to ignore everything else. I've even kept one with a similar size pygmy angel and they got along fine.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8341296#post8341296 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RGBMatt
This is not true at all. Bandit angels can be found in very shallow water - I've seen them as shallow at 18' on Oahu. Meanwhile, scleractinian corals can be found to depths of 400' or so. Big overlap!

I snapped a pic of a bandit while snorkling off Kauai. And those disposable underwater cameras don't even work past 10-12 feet.

 

[RGBMatt]

Most disposable cameras will work much deeper than it says on the box - I've used one at 60' and I've known guys who have taken them to 100'. However, past 30' or so the light is too dim for the film and the pictures look awful.

On Kauai and further north, bandits are common in very shallow water. Many of Hawaii's "deep water" species can be found very shallow further up the island chain. Unfortunately, this is something that very few people will be able to see thanks to the NWHI national monument proclamation.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8349309#post8349309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RGBMatt
Most disposable cameras will work much deeper than it says on the box - I've used one at 60' and I've known guys who have taken them to 100'.

Unfortunately mine wasn't one of those. Took it when I went SCUBA, and it wouldn't work. The botton simply wouldn't depress. Too bad too, I wasn't very deep, and saw sooooo many cool fish that I never saw while snorkling

 

[LargeAngels]

So, who has or knows of any with long term success?

 

[joetbs]

I had one eating for a few months and it crapped out. Didn't touch any corals though other than 1 acro frag.

joe