Bandit Angel

[luckyk0505]

I had chance to acquire 6 inch bandit angel which placed in my QT.

I did some research, and i found that it is very diffcult fish to keep.

I like to get some more information on this fish, especially how to get him

to eat. I know smaller species are easier to get to eat. If I can QT

succesfully, he will be going into my display tank

my current stock is

Emperor, blueface, powderblue, Blond naso and blue tang

my tank is 84x30x30

 

[Stumped]

Haven't kept one, but they are a deep water fish that requires cooler temperatures. So if you're running your tank at 78-80 degrees you should consider if its feasible to keep it toward the 75 degree (or lower) range for a better chance at longterm survival. I'm sure someone else will post with more advice. Also good luck! Bandits are quite the subtle beauties.

 

[ccampbell57]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but a 6" bandit is among the swimming dead. They are one of the few fish that I believe should never be collected. Even if your fish takes to prepared food your nutrition is going to be 180 degrees from it's natural diet on what it came up to 6" over the couple years at 180-250 feet.

Not only does the fish have an almost impossible hill to climb to acclimate to prepared foods but your tank needs to be around 70-73 degrees for long term health.

I wish u the best of luck but I know this will not end with a smile.

 

[LKGRenegade22]

Seriously asking here what is their normal diet at the depths they come from? A LFS around here has a smaller bandit (probably 3.5-4") in their reef and have had him for over a year and he looks healthy as can be.

I've always thought about getting one but after reading this I won't. I couldn't imagine much being harder than a regal.

 

[stunreefer]

Per fishbase: "Feeds mainly on sponges (Ref. 47838); stomach content of some specimens also had algae, traces of hydroids and unidentified eggs." (in nature)

The reason these prove harder to keep then regal angels is due to collection issues, mainly decompression. They're found much deeper than regals, and improper collection techniques have given these guys a "tough to keep" rep, which for the most part, is very true.

I keep mine between 68-70° F. She loves Mysis, NLS pellets, Nori and ON Angel Formual (and anything else really). Key is to get a good sized, well collected specimen, and get food in it quickly.

 

[Jacob D]

Nice bandit you have there Austin. Do you keep her in a reef?

 

[michael_cb_125]

Sad to say that I agree with Chris. Adult bandit angels are so set in their ways (diet, environment, etc.) that it is very difficult to adjust them to captive diets and environments.

But I can say that if a properly collected juvenile bandit is obtained, they can do VERY well.

I have a pair of juvenile Bandits (2" and 2.5") that are in a reef tank. They will eat anything and are super personable.

Good luck with your new fish.

~Michael

 

[stunreefer]

Nice bandit you have there Austin. Do you keep her in a reef?

Thanks Jacob, and yep!

They will eat anything and are super personable.

:thumbsup:

 

[alprazo]

Never tried coaxing a bandit to eat but I have had great success in past with other difficult angels and many other fish over the past 20+ years using fish roe (usually shad) and the season is around now though I haven't seen any yet. Live cracked oyster - though maybe not for the bandit. And my favorite Amphipods. You can catch them off filter socks, or bioballs or do a batch culture. If desperate they can easily be caught in freshwater ponds or off jetties and driftwood at the beach. Mosquito larvae has also helped, but the season is off in my neck of the woods.

I wish you luck.

 

[John Dawe]

Bandit Angels

Bandit Angels

I was told "hydroids" is what they eat by a guy who collects fish in the "twilight zone" ( Rich Pyle). So you may want to try Zoo's, espically the rare and exspensive one. I feed mostly flake food. If you can get it to eat, consider yourself very lucky. I have heard of bigger ones adapting, so it is possible. As far as temps, cool is much better. My tanks get into the low 60's in the winter. If you try one again in the future, get a small one that was decompress and not needled.

 

[jd474]

Isn't Hawaii putting them on their "Do not collect" list?

 

[luckyk0505]

Still very fat, healthy and active but refused to eat flakes or pellet.

I'm going to try some frozen and live food.

 

[flameangel88]

Still very fat, healthy and active but refused to eat flakes or pellet.

I'm going to try some frozen and live food.

At this stage it's not important what it eats but more importantly getting it to associate food it has been used to. I would start out with live clam on half shell and once your Bandit eats it then I would start weaning it to frozen mysis, angel & butterfly diet and then pe mysis. After your Bandit eats consistently with the above then I would try pellets and flakes.

I got my 5.5" male last Nov 19th and it was only eating live clam in the beginning and didn't eat frozen till Jan 26th. Even now he's still a bit reluctant to eat pellets. It's much easier to wean juvie to prepared food than adults.

My Bandit went through a round of Prazi, a round of Cupramine and 2 rounds of Maracyn 2 (due to infection) and didn't even nip live clam till 12/18. I've documented some of the info on RHS forum:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1787913

Be patient and give your Bandit time to settle in and highly recommend that getting your Bandit to eat consistently before introducing to the DT especially with the PBT and Emp in there.

Best of luck with your new angel.

Kevin