Share Your Photos
Your profile will be tagged on all media you contribute
Share Your Photos
Add your photos to help others
Suggested Tank
100+ gallons
Max Size
8 inches
Difficulty
Temperament
Description
A disc-shaped, uniformly bright-yellow surgeonfish with an extended snout for grazing filamentous algae and a white, scalpel-like spine at the caudal peduncle used in defense. Active and constantly swimming, it is generally peaceful toward unrelated tankmates but territorial toward other tangs and similarly shaped fish, so add it last or introduce multiple tangs together. Give it a long tank with open swimming lanes, plenty of live rock for grazing and refuge, strong oxygenation and flow, and daily nori or algae-based foods to prevent HLLE and weight loss.
Reef Safe
Yes
Environment
Yellow Tangs thrive in a well-lit tank with plenty of hiding spots and live rock for grazing. The tank should have a strong water flow to mimic their natural habitat.
Behavior
Yellow Tangs are active swimmers and need plenty of open space. They are generally peaceful but can be territorial and aggressive to their own kind or similar species. They are known to use their sharp caudal spine in fights for dominance and territorial disputes.
Information might not be complete or accurate. Help the community by suggesting corrections.
Owner Reviews
Lauren
@LaurenBys
A great tang with loads of personality. Mine unfortunately injured itself on a rock due to stress (had low oxygen in the tank) and did not recover. They’re also fairly bossy around the tank, and with other tangs there can be some sliced fins. However that may be less of a problem in a larger system with more territory. If you get one from Biota you’ll be surprised how fast they grow and how quickly they color up. Like with all tangs feed them nori daily and they’ll be massive and fat in no time.
Deleted User
@deleted
Great fish. Biota here. Definitely tries to fluff his stuff against a 2x larger gem. Bullies my tommei a bit. Overall would get another if anything happened.
Karam
@Karam86552
One of the most popular tangs in the hobby. Very vibrant in color is very active and eats mostly anything. If you ever get a chance to keep one tank raised or wild they are a gem as once they are comfortable with you they allow you to pet them. A good 4ft tank will allow this fish to have swim space. They eat and graze on algea all the time. Reef safe. The yellow tang will be aggressive towards other tangs once it has established and especially towards its own family and the powder family. Be very careful but once established and went through proper qt they are wonderful additions!
Jared
@Babado
A beautiful addition to any reef tank
For Sale
Yellow Tang in the Community
Questions, photos and advice about Yellow Tang from ReefBay members
-
The diamond goby got a hold of some Nori and refuses to share with the...
@frjpsreefbay · 9 replies
-
🌊📚🐠 Nothing beats winding down with my favorite book, a warm cup of...
@KillerREEF · 8 replies
-
Over growth
@Bpones · 5 replies
-
Any idea why this fish swim like this?
@danip · 4 replies
-
New addition to the display!
@MalEficent · 3 replies
-
Happy Friday from the Poo Tang Reefs family to yours!
@PooTangReefs · 3 replies
Similar Fish
Other medium fish you might like
Write a Review
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
