Profile: Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)

Common Name: Yellow Tang

Scientific Name: Zebrasoma flavescens

Family: Acanthuridae

Max Size: 8"

Min Tank Size: 75 gallon

My yellow tang: Flav

Distribution: Found in the Pacific; principally the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the number one tropical marine fish export. Also found in the western Pacific; Ryukyu, Mariana, Marshall Islands, Marcus and Wake.

Selection: Picking a healthy yellow tang comes down to consideration of three criteria: 1) Index of fitness, 2) Behavior, 3) Color. Healthy specimens are full-bodied, in particular in the head area above the eyes should not have a pinched-in appearance. They are also curious and should be checking out their surroundings. Finally they should be a deep golden yellow colour. Be wary of tangs with red markings as they may have been mishandled in collection.

Foods/Feeding: All tangs are herbivorous to a degree. They ingest principally micro-algae, secondarily macro-algae, and that the bulk of the rest is material (associated invertebrates, fish eggs) taken incidental to these. In the aquarium environment they require regular offerings of 'greens'. The best being dried and fresh algae from the oriental sections of human food stores. They also can consume vegetable flake, pellet and frozen prepared foods.

Compatibility: Yellow tangs are almost ideal tankmates. Except for other flavescens tangs about the same size they get along very well with most all other fishes. The acanthus or thorny spine at the yellow tangs caudal peduncle is a formidable weapon, which they can and will use. But, they will not bother smaller or larger fishes unless provoked. Even then their antics are mainly for show rather than slash.

Environment: Yellow tangs need vigorous water flow as they are messy fish that do not tollerate poor conditions. They readily adapt to aquarium life and will be seen searching for food all day long. If you keep a health tank you can keep a health yellow tang.