Well, I'm going to try a black-banded angel...

[Anonymous]

Getting a juvenile, and hopefully I can rear it on prepared foods instead of the mostly sponge-diet it would get in the wild.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Ooh nice! I can't recall anything about their ease of care, but those suckers are pretty pricey aren't they?

I think it is a very attractive fish.

 

[Anonymous]

Ooh nice! I can't recall anything about their ease of care, but those suckers are pretty pricey aren't they?

I think it is a very attractive fish.

Me too, and worth a try. I'll be pouring all my effort into finding out what this guy likes, and making sure he's fat & happy.

They supposedly don't do well because of decompression issues during aquisition, but I've been assured that it's been done correctly on this fish. It's a deeper-water species from Hawaii. Apparently once they begin eating, they're a hardy fish. We'll see how true that is.

I've seen retail prices as high as $400 for them.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

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They supposedly don't do well because of decompression issues during aquisition, but I've been assured that it's been done correctly on this fish. It's a deeper-water species from Hawaii. Apparently once they begin eating, they're a hardy fish. We'll see how true that is.

Ah, that's what I was thinking of with this fish, I saw him in my "angelfishes and butterflies" book and remember thinking what a lovely fish, but that it was sad I would probably never see one due to the depth issue.

Please do give us updates, I am a big fan of the small angels!

 

[Anonymous]

A LFS had one of these a while back and intended on keeping it as a display. They put it in their 360 reef, and it only lived a few months. These guys know what they're doing too. Sad, but hopefully you have a better experience. Good luck.

 

[Len]

Yep. If you can get it to feed, you're in good shape. Unfortunately, the two I've seen in captivity wouldn't eat :? Getting a juvenile might help though. Let us know how it fares.

 

[Anonymous]

A major snag was hit even before the fish left the bag and entered the holding tank. I was told I'd be getting a juvenile, and what showed up was a monster 7.5" fish (I measured the thing myself), with a severely nicked-up back fin, and some hemorrhaging near the base of the tail (about a 1/2" long red blotch). I'm not happy at all, but will try my best to get this fish healthy and eating.

Progress reports will follow...I'm heading to the shop today and tomorrow on my lunch breaks (I don't work a shift again until Saturday) and will work with him then.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Arch01]

Sorry to hear about the set back. I hope it turns out okay. Good luck!
_________________
causes of economic recession

 

[Unarce]

Just a minor setback, Chip. His Midi-Chlorians could be low.

I'm sure you'll guide him well. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, 7 and a half inches! For some reason I was under the impression they were not very large angels.

Hopefully he does well for you!

I don't know if you name your fish (I do occasionally) but you should call him "Bandito."

 

[Anonymous]

Dwarf or pygmy is a relative term.

As for its sponge diet, maybe you could get an idea as to what sponges it eats and get some stock going in a live rock system or something like that. I remember that Coralshrimp's tank had buttloads of sponge growing all over the place, but it appeared to be one species only. Also, may I ask who collected this angel? While in Bali David and I met a young couple who collect there, but sell only to small, quality retail establishments (they spurn the large wholesalers.. wholesalers at all, actually).

 

[HClH2OFish]

What a gorgeous fish! But 7.5"??!??! Wow....
IIRC, I *think* I've seen some prepared foods out there that have sponges as one of the components....time to google

Hope he works out for you

 

[Anonymous]

I thought Oceanic or someone similar made a formula specifically for angelfishes, but I don't know if it's a variety of sponge species, or just one.

 

[Anonymous]

Good Luck Chip! When you get time, how about posing some pics?

 

[GSchiemer]

IMO, the "Angel Formula" food by Ocean Nutrition that includes "sponge" isn't very useful. Typically sponge-eating fish, such as the Bandit Angel, eat a single species of sponge or a very limited variety. Also, in the case of the Bandit Angel, sponge comprises 70% of its diet. The other large component are tunicates. The "Angel Formula" food has very little sponge in it, and it's unlikely to be the same species of sponge that the Bandit Angel requires. I wouldn't go crazy looking for this "special food." I suggest trying Ocean Nutrition's Seaweed Selects Red Macroalgae. Roll this tighting around a rock and keep it in place with a rubberband. You might also try a food called Pro V by Pro Salt. It has the consistency of sponge when it defrosts and is attractive to sponge-eating fish.

Greg

 

[Anonymous]

Shoot man, after a heater malfunction tank meltdown, and two moves this summer, I have more sponges in my tank than corals!

 

[Anonymous]

I was wondering how he was doing? Did he pull through from his shipping stress?

 

[Anonymous]

I was wondering how he was doing? Did he pull through from his shipping stress?

No, he never ate, and one morning was on the bottom of the tank.

17 different things I tried to get him to eat, both by my hand and by leaving in the tank where he would find it. He was very friendly, but never was interested in anything. For some of the meatier foods, he'd react to their presence in the water, but he'd always avoid actually eating them.

The fish was from one of the major wholesalers, BTW.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

That's too bad. Thanks for the update, I had been wondering about him.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that, Chip...that really sucks.