bandit angel
- Thread starter hwntunda
- Start date
- Tagged users None
What I found on it;
Characteristics and Compatibility:
Due to inhabiting deep ocean waters, when this fish is collected it may encounter decompression sickness. Some fish collectors use a procedure called "needling", which is a process of piercing a small hole in the fish's air bladder with a syringe needle to release the trapped air. Unless a person is well experienced in this procedure, it can lead to complications with internal infections.
If you buy this fish be sure to check it out thoroughly. It should be flying level, not struggling at a vertical position, and its abdomen should is not puffed out. These are usual signs of a possible internal bladder infection or residual effects of decompression sickness. Bandit Angels are quite aggressive and territorial. In the wild you will find this fish swimming singly or in small groups of three or four, which most likely is a male with several females.
Diet and Feeding:
Relying on sponges as its sole source of food, this fish can easily starve in captivity. If you are interested in keeping one, it wise to wait for a larger juvenile or sub-adult specimen. In most cases these specimens will adapt to tank fed foods more readily than very small juveniles or large adults. Should be fed frozen preparations especially for angels that contains sponge as a main ingredient, such as Ocean Nutrition and San Francisco Bay Brand frozen formulas.
Characteristics and Compatibility:
Due to inhabiting deep ocean waters, when this fish is collected it may encounter decompression sickness. Some fish collectors use a procedure called "needling", which is a process of piercing a small hole in the fish's air bladder with a syringe needle to release the trapped air. Unless a person is well experienced in this procedure, it can lead to complications with internal infections.
If you buy this fish be sure to check it out thoroughly. It should be flying level, not struggling at a vertical position, and its abdomen should is not puffed out. These are usual signs of a possible internal bladder infection or residual effects of decompression sickness. Bandit Angels are quite aggressive and territorial. In the wild you will find this fish swimming singly or in small groups of three or four, which most likely is a male with several females.
Diet and Feeding:
Relying on sponges as its sole source of food, this fish can easily starve in captivity. If you are interested in keeping one, it wise to wait for a larger juvenile or sub-adult specimen. In most cases these specimens will adapt to tank fed foods more readily than very small juveniles or large adults. Should be fed frozen preparations especially for angels that contains sponge as a main ingredient, such as Ocean Nutrition and San Francisco Bay Brand frozen formulas.
secretreefer
**MAD PHANTOM SCIENTIST**
cuzin, angels are hit and miss. rite now i got a flame and bellus (reefsafe) that are doing great. flame eats pellets and picks algae but never saw it pick anything else.
Mobile Aquatic
New Member
Collection and diet of this particular fish aren't the same problems as in the past. Most of these fish that make it into the retail market are collected by experienced divers who know how to decompress them properly. Of course, it's always a good idea to confirm that the fish was decompressed rather than needled. Bandits in captivity, once acclimated, will take to different foods readily. They will pretty much eat anything, from pellets to frozen to nori.
The most critical aspect when considering this fish is the water temperature of your tank. If you can't keep the temp in the low 70's, the long term survival of this fish will suffer. Keep in mind that there are always exceptions as someone will tell you that these fish have been successfully kept in the mid to upper 70's long term. There are no absolutes. Having a lower overall temp will only help.
The most critical aspect when considering this fish is the water temperature of your tank. If you can't keep the temp in the low 70's, the long term survival of this fish will suffer. Keep in mind that there are always exceptions as someone will tell you that these fish have been successfully kept in the mid to upper 70's long term. There are no absolutes. Having a lower overall temp will only help.
Id shoot 72. I couldnt agree more with Mobile, that temp is far and away the biggest killer of bandits. People INSIST on keeping tham at 78. That will do them in, even if they are healthy and eating.
Mobile Aquatic
New Member
I agree with 72 or lower as a long term goal. If your tank shoots into the mid 70's periodically during the hot months, it wouldn't have detrimental effects, as long as it's not maintained at those temps for long periods.
Growth may be SLIGHTLY slowed, but there will be no negative effect.
Mobile Aquatic
New Member
Don't lose hope just yet. We are looking into the possibility of acquiring bandits that are caught from the Kauai waters as opposed to Oahu. We still need to research this a lot more before anything is done. The current info on the Kauai bandits are that they are caught in much shallower waters, therefore translating into a slightly warmer temp range. Bandits caught from Oahu are typically from 200+ feet, whereas the Kauai bandit are often caught at less than 100 feet. Nothing concrete yet, but definitely something to think about.
Brad Syphus
Valuable Member
Setting out the bait aren't you Frank. LOL Well you got me hooked. I'll be waiting to hear more.:wink:
Aquatouch has some bandits they claim are from Kauai. However, Im not convinced that they can be kept in warmer waters long term. I understand they would be collected in these shallower, warmer waters, but the species, as a whole, seems to do MUCH better when cooler. Id be interested to see the info.
