creepereefer
In Memoriam
Little feed back on a Bandit Angelwhat do you guys and gals think another one of those rare fish I love may be getting one next week if everythibg work out told they cold be difficult to keep
Bandit Angel
- Thread starter creepereefer
- Start date
marrone
New member
I have seen one once and not really that crazy about it. I think there are a # of other angels that look a lot better than it and for the price I don't think it's worth it. Also I'm not sure how hardy it is, as it strickly eats sponges and it maybe hard to get to switch over to other food.
Kahuna Tuna
Active member
Could be the hardest angel to keep alive long term, they are very expensive and they die. They are a beautiful fish but I would pass on this one if i was you.
Bandit angels (known locally as "holos") have a reputation for being really hard to keep. Supposedly, they don't adjust well to captivity and refuse to eat.
However, my own experience hasn't reflected this. I had a very small (less than 2") bandit angel in my aquarium several months ago that I caught myself. Practically instantly, it was comfortable in the tank and was eating in less than a week. For the entire time I had it, it was eating well, looked comfortable, and got along great with the other fish. Unfortunately, it died in an ich outbreak that wiped out nearly all of my fish, so I can't say much about their long-term hardiness.
Also, a friend of mine often catches holos and makes sure they're eating before he ships them. Most of his fish have begun eating fairly quickly and reacted well to tank life.
IMO there are a few factors with holos that limit their suitability as aquarium fish, but they can do quite well if you're careful:
- Decompression. Holos are deepwater fish, generally found at more than 100'. Like many angelfish, they decompress poorly and will be injured if brought up too fast. A good collector will either bring the fish up slowly over several hours, or pin it underwater to vent the swim bladder. IMO the latter method is better for the fish. Unfortunately, there's no real way to know how your particular fish was treated.
- Size. Smaller fish respond better to decompression and acclimation. Holos larger than about 5" are unlikely to survive.
- Diet. Holos feed mostly on sponges in the wild, so a sponge-rich diet is a must. They'll eat other things in captivity but will probably require sponge-based angelfish food in the long run.
Holos are beautiful fish, and can be great pets if you get a healthy fish and can take care of it properly. Your best bet is to look for a small specimen and make sure it's eating well at the shop before you take it home.
However, my own experience hasn't reflected this. I had a very small (less than 2") bandit angel in my aquarium several months ago that I caught myself. Practically instantly, it was comfortable in the tank and was eating in less than a week. For the entire time I had it, it was eating well, looked comfortable, and got along great with the other fish. Unfortunately, it died in an ich outbreak that wiped out nearly all of my fish, so I can't say much about their long-term hardiness.
Also, a friend of mine often catches holos and makes sure they're eating before he ships them. Most of his fish have begun eating fairly quickly and reacted well to tank life.
IMO there are a few factors with holos that limit their suitability as aquarium fish, but they can do quite well if you're careful:
- Decompression. Holos are deepwater fish, generally found at more than 100'. Like many angelfish, they decompress poorly and will be injured if brought up too fast. A good collector will either bring the fish up slowly over several hours, or pin it underwater to vent the swim bladder. IMO the latter method is better for the fish. Unfortunately, there's no real way to know how your particular fish was treated.
- Size. Smaller fish respond better to decompression and acclimation. Holos larger than about 5" are unlikely to survive.
- Diet. Holos feed mostly on sponges in the wild, so a sponge-rich diet is a must. They'll eat other things in captivity but will probably require sponge-based angelfish food in the long run.
Holos are beautiful fish, and can be great pets if you get a healthy fish and can take care of it properly. Your best bet is to look for a small specimen and make sure it's eating well at the shop before you take it home.
bandedangel
New member
Just got one that's 4" 3-4 weeks ago. eats well, pellets, mysis, spirulina flake, nori, and love mussels!! It's a little pinched in the belly, but I love this fish. Mine will even eat out of hand.
bandedangel
New member
thanks RGB, I'm alreday on it. It was fat prior to shipping and wasn't fed for a few days prior to shipping so it's going to take awhile too fatten up. I think they have a high motabalism?
