Paul Burton
05-07-04, 11:59
Family: Acanthuridae
Common Name: Yellow Tang
Latin Name: Zebrasoma flavescens
Other Common Members: Paracanthurus hepatus, Zebrasoma desjardini, Naso lituratus, Ctenochaetus strigosus
Habitat: Found throughout the indo-pacific but well known along the coastline of Hawaii. Found grazing pretty much constantly on reefs, rocky out crops and lagoons, found singly or in loose groups.
Breeding: Not reported to have been successfully bred in captivity as yet. Wild pairs are broadcast spawners who rise to the top of the water column where they distribute eggs and sperm into tidal currents.
Feeding: As with Tangs in general, Yellow Tangs are herbivors, in the wild feeding on a multitude of macro algae. In an aquarium, Yellow Tangs will accept frozen, flake or pellet food, a large part of their diet must be made up of vegetable matter, it is common to use the dried seaweed used to wrap sushi (Nori).
Captive Care:
Moderate
A minimum of a 4ft tank required, though 6ft+ is best
Needs at the very least a 50 gallon tank (with good swimming space)
Grows to 8” in captivity
Placid, herbivore, easy to feed
Behaviour: A very active fish who will generally cruise gently around the aquarium grazing on rockwork. Tangs in general enjoy lots of open swimming space and Yellow’s are no exception. Generally speaking very reef safe, will not pester other tank mates be they invertebrate or other fish. The exception to this is other tangs or fish of a similar shape, colour or appearance (for example Copper Band Butterfly fish), depending on the order fish are added to the aquarium, Yellow Tangs can become very aggressive to others of the same species or similar looking fish.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Yellow-Tang1.jpg
My skinny, timid looking Yella, when I first got him!
Common Name: Yellow Tang
Latin Name: Zebrasoma flavescens
Other Common Members: Paracanthurus hepatus, Zebrasoma desjardini, Naso lituratus, Ctenochaetus strigosus
Habitat: Found throughout the indo-pacific but well known along the coastline of Hawaii. Found grazing pretty much constantly on reefs, rocky out crops and lagoons, found singly or in loose groups.
Breeding: Not reported to have been successfully bred in captivity as yet. Wild pairs are broadcast spawners who rise to the top of the water column where they distribute eggs and sperm into tidal currents.
Feeding: As with Tangs in general, Yellow Tangs are herbivors, in the wild feeding on a multitude of macro algae. In an aquarium, Yellow Tangs will accept frozen, flake or pellet food, a large part of their diet must be made up of vegetable matter, it is common to use the dried seaweed used to wrap sushi (Nori).
Captive Care:
Moderate
A minimum of a 4ft tank required, though 6ft+ is best
Needs at the very least a 50 gallon tank (with good swimming space)
Grows to 8” in captivity
Placid, herbivore, easy to feed
Behaviour: A very active fish who will generally cruise gently around the aquarium grazing on rockwork. Tangs in general enjoy lots of open swimming space and Yellow’s are no exception. Generally speaking very reef safe, will not pester other tank mates be they invertebrate or other fish. The exception to this is other tangs or fish of a similar shape, colour or appearance (for example Copper Band Butterfly fish), depending on the order fish are added to the aquarium, Yellow Tangs can become very aggressive to others of the same species or similar looking fish.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Yellow-Tang1.jpg
My skinny, timid looking Yella, when I first got him!