Bandit angelfish

Care at a glance

Overview

This is a demanding, expensive angel for experienced keepers, needing a mature 340 litre or larger tank with cooler, dim conditions around 23 to 26 C. Coax it onto sponge-based angelfish foods, mysis and varied meaty items, since wild sponge feeders can be slow to adapt. It nips clam mantles and stony and soft corals, so keep reef safety as caution or use a FOWLR setup. House one per tank in a calm, established system.

In the wild

The bandit angelfish wears a bold black stripe through the eye and along the body on a pale grey ground. It lives on deep Hawaiian reef slopes and drop-offs, often below normal diving depth. Wild fish feed heavily on sponges. Its Hawaiian endemic status and deep habitat make it rare and costly.

Good to know

Apolemichthys arcuatus reaches about 18 cm and is endemic to Hawaii and Johnston Atoll, with Desmoholacanthus arcuatus recorded as a synonym. It comes from deeper water than most collected angels. Specialist breeders have reared it in small numbers.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Red Sea angelfish

  Apolemichthys xanthotis

  7.9 in (20 cm) · 125 gal (475 L)

  7.9 in (20 cm)125 gal (475 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

• 

  Goldflake angelfish

  Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus

  9.8 in (25 cm) · 125 gal (475 L)

  9.8 in (25 cm)125 gal (475 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Tiger angelfish

  Apolemichthys kingi

  9.8 in (25 cm) · 151 gal (570 L)

  9.8 in (25 cm)151 gal (570 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Flagfin angelfish

  Apolemichthys trimaculatus

  10.2 in (26 cm) · 100 gal (380 L)

  10.2 in (26 cm)100 gal (380 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Swallowtail angelfish

  Genicanthus melanospilos

  7.1 in (18 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)

  7.1 in (18 cm)106 gal (400 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Vermiculated angelfish

  Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus

  7.1 in (18 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)

  7.1 in (18 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)