Yellow Tang
From ReefPedia
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[edit] Yellow Tang[IMG] Scientific Name Zebrasoma flavescens Max. Size: About 8" Tank Size: Bare minimum 50 gallons with at least 48" of lateral swim room. Aggression: Very peacful amongst most fish, however, yellow tangs can become agressive when placed in a tank with other tangs. Introducing all of your tangs into the tank at the same time can dramaticaly reduce the amount of agression between them. They are also agressive to new fish, but should straighten out within a couple of hours. Hardiness: Very hardy, one of the less difficult tangs to keep Reef-Safe: Most reefkeepers will say yes. Available as captive-bred: No. |
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Physical Description
Solid Yellow body with pointed nose and white stripe on dorsal fin.This stripe is used as a defense, or possibly an aggression mechanism, the fish will approach other fish, then arch its body, the "stripe" is a actually a hook.
Distribution
pacific, hawaii waters, found in groups of 5-25 feeding on hair algae and turtles shells. A sybiotic relationship.
Taxonomic Stuff you know you Care About
- Family: Acanthuridae
- Genus: Zebrasoma
- Species: Flavescens
Behavior
- Needs plenty of lateral swimming area.
- May be aggressive toward other tangs but can be kept with others in a large aquarium.
- Will readily devour macroalgae or prepared seaweed products.
- This fish spooks easily, and feels most comfortable in large groups.
Feeding
Herbivores; Appreciate daily feedings of dried seaweed or macro algae. Should be kept in tank with enough algae to support their constant grazing. Foods that contain Spirulina are also a good choice. Dried sheets of plain, unsalted seaweed (Sushi Nori) will also keep your tang happy.
Most yellow tangs will also accept meaty foods such as frozen formulas, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, etc. Meaty foods will support growth in younger tangs, however, this should not be considered an appropriate substitute for algae, which is considered to be the staple of their diet in the wild.
Breeding
Yellow tangs have not succesfully been bred in captivity.
Social Structure
Aggressive toward some tang species, especially those closely related to the Zebrasoma genus.
One of the few Zebrasoma tangs that can be feasibly kept with members of its own kind in large enough aquaria.
Current Views
One of the hardiest and most commonly-available tangs, the Yellow Tang is a welcome inhabitant to appropriate tanks and a long-lived member of the community provided adequate feeding and care.
Additional Notes
Tangs are notoriously prone to the parasite cryptocaryon irritans or saltwater ich. It is highly advised that this fish, and all subsequent fish, are put into a quarantine tank for at least six weeks before being added to the display tank to avoid the spread of ich.
Apparently, the yellow tang is very susceptible to large shifts in ph and alkalinity. Some have reported that when using phosphate removing product called Phosbuster pro, which reduces alkalinity, will kill the yellow tang. Just a note of caution!
Tangs also appreciate oxygen rich water. Aquarists with good aeration and systems with sumps and/or skimmers usually need not worry about oxygen levels in their tank.
If you are planning on getting that awesome Yellow Tang, please make sure it was imported from Hawaii. This is not vital, but it can often help because Hawaii's reefs are well protected and policed and Yellow Tangs caught there will sometimes be of better stock and general health. The Hawaiian reefs also support massive populations of yellow tangs as well.
Categories: Fish | Tangs
