Bandit Angelfish

The Bandit Angelfish is a strikingly elegant Hawaiian endemic that stands apart from most angelfish with its understated yet dramatic coloration. Its pearly white to light gray body is bisected by a bold black diagonal band that runs from the dorsal fin through the eye and down to the lower jaw, giving it the bandit mask appearance that inspires its common name. The dorsal and caudal fins are edged in black, and the overall effect is a clean, graphic pattern unlike any other angelfish species.

As a Hawaiian endemic, the Bandit Angelfish is found primarily around the main Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll. It inhabits deep reef slopes, caves, and ledges, typically at depths of 20 to 150 meters, though it is most commonly encountered between 40 and 80 meters. The combination of deepwater habitat and strict Hawaiian collection regulations has historically limited supply. However, captive breeding programs have successfully propagated this species, making captive-bred juveniles available to aquarists.

The Bandit Angelfish adapts reasonably well to aquarium life and is considered one of the more robust members of the Apolemichthys genus. It requires a spacious aquarium of at least 125 gallons with plenty of live rock caves and overhangs that replicate its natural deepwater habitat. While not reef safe due to its tendency to nip at sponges, tunicates, and occasionally soft corals, it makes an outstanding centerpiece in a fish-only or fish-only-with-live-rock system.