Yellow Tang - Detailed A - Z Breeding Guide
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Yellow Tang is also known as yellow tang, a marine aquarium fish with an impressive appearance with bright lemon yellow color and spikes on the tail.
The Yellow Tang, also known as the Golden Tang, is one of the most vibrant and colorful marine aquarium fish with a uniform lemon yellow color. This fish not only has an impressive appearance but also has a pleasant temperament, is easy to raise, easy to adapt, and is suitable for even inexperienced breeders.
In the article below, let 's learn about yellow tang nice fish in detail from A to Z to confidently try your hand at this impressive ornamental fish!
Yellow Tang Information :
Scientific name | Zebrasoma flavescens |
Common name | Yellow tang, yellow tang, |
Class | Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes |
Set | Acanthuriformes |
Surname | Acanthuridae - Surgeonfish |
Spend | Zebrasoma |
Source | Western and North Pacific Ocean |
Size | 12 - 20 cm |
Lifespan | About 30 years |
Origin of Yellow Tang
The Golden Surgeonfish is a colorful marine aquarium fish.
Yellow Tang, also known as Zebrasoma flavescens, is a marine ornamental fish widely distributed in the Pacific Ocean, especially in some areas such as:
- Hawaiian Islands.
- Marshall Islands, Micronesia
- Guam, Palau....
They often live in shallow coral reefs with depths of 2 - 45 meters, where there is plenty of food and shelter.
Previously, due to the difficulty of breeding in captivity, the source of ornamental yellow tangs was 100% naturally exploited, especially in Hawaii. However, from 2020 - 2021, a ban on exploiting this fish species was issued in Hawaii, and researchers have successfully bred Yellow Tangs in artificial conditions.
This is a significant scientific achievement because it not only provides a source of healthy, purebred fish for the ornamental fish industry but also contributes to protecting this fish population in the wild.
Yellow Tang Appearance
The yellow tang has a striking bright yellow color and a spike on its tail.
The Yellow Tang has a colorful appearance with an eye-catching bright yellow color. Let's learn more about the appearance of this fish.
- Outstanding color : The whole body of the fish is bright lemon yellow, very easy to distinguish from other fish species.
- Size : Average 12 - 20 cm in adult fish.
- Body shape : Flat oval, thin, swimming in a gliding style.
- Mouth : Small, forward facing.
- Dorsal & anal fins : Long, running along the body, yellow in color.
- Caudal fin : Fan-shaped, also yellow like the body.
- Spike : There is a spike at the end of the tail, used for defense.
Yellow Tang Behavior
A yellow threadfin snips at algae on the coral.
Yellow Tang is a beautiful and intelligent fish, let's learn more about its typical habits.
Active, love swimming
Yellow tangs are extremely active, spending their days swimming back and forth and exploring every nook and cranny of the tank, especially the middle and bottom levels.
They also enjoy hanging around crevices, coral reefs, or aquarium decorations.
Like to pick algae
People also consider the golden threadfin a real cleaning expert because it loves to eat algae, often nibbling on algae, moss, and moss that cling to rocks and glass surfaces. This not only helps them "fill their bellies" but also cleans the fish tank, stabilizing the ecosystem in nature.
Change color while sleeping
The yellow tang has a rather interesting and unique habit: at night, when they sleep, the lemon yellow color of their body will fade and white streaks will appear across their body. This is also a natural defense mechanism when sleeping, helping the fish to hide safely.
Slightly territorial
Yellow tangs are moderately territorial, especially when kept with other surgeonfish or fish of similar size and shape.
However, if the tank is large enough and has many hiding places, this fish can live peacefully with other species such as Nemo fish (clown fish), small angel fish,...
How to raise Yellow Tang fish from A to Z
Yellow tangs need a spacious, comfortable living environment.
Among the marine ornamental fish, yellow tang is quite easy to raise and friendly, so it is often the first choice of everyone. However, for the fish to grow well and have beautiful colors, you need to take care of them properly and create a suitable breeding environment. Please refer to the following instructions.
Preparing a tank for yellow tang fish
Golden threadfins like a spacious, airy environment with lots of live rock to satisfy their "passion" for nibbling on algae. So when designing a fish tank, please note the following:
- Tank capacity : Minimum 200 - 250 liters for one fish. Length over 90 cm, saltwater tank, spacious. If kept in groups, with many corals, the capacity is from 300 - 500 liters.
- Filtration System : Choose overflow or external filtration to maintain flow and remove waste.
- Protein skimmer : Required to remove organic waste.
- Wave Generator : Required to simulate natural ocean currents.
- LED lighting system : Use white and yellow lights to help fish color well.
- Aquarium decoration : Decorate with lots of live rocks, caves, and crevices in the back of the tank, leaving plenty of space in the front for fish to swim.
Seawater system setup
Surgeons are marine fish, so the water environment you prepare must have similar conditions to the seawater where they live. Please note the following basic parameters:
- Salinity : SG 1.020 - 1.025
- Temperature : Stable at 24 - 27 degrees Celsius.
- pH : 8.1 - 8.4
- Alkaline : 7 - 12 dKH.
- Nitrate : < 10 ppm.
- Filtering : The tank needs to be filtered + live rock for at least 4 weeks before releasing fish to have the most stable microflora.
What do yellow tangs eat?
Yellow Tang is a fish that mainly eats plants, so when kept in an artificial tank, you can feed them the following foods:
- Dried seaweed (nori) Should be tied or clamped to ice to let the fish eat slowly.
- Frozen food but must be rich in Spirulina algae.
- Herbivore fish pellets.
- Occasionally you can add fresh seaweed, spinach,...
Disease prevention and regular care of yellow tang fish
To help your yellowtail fish stay healthy, in addition to regularly observing the fish to detect abnormalities, you need to know how to effectively prevent disease.
Disease prevention in Yellow Tang fish :
- Newly purchased fish need to be quarantined for 2 - 3 weeks before being released into the tank.
- Observe the fish's breathing, color, and activity every day.
- Maintain stable water quality, change water every week from 20 - 30%
- Add vitamin C and fresh garlic to fish food.
Common diseases in yellow tang fish :
Here are some common diseases in this fish species, please refer to them to know how to treat and handle them promptly.
Disease name | Reason | Token | How to handle |
White spot disease |
The environment changes suddenly. Newly purchased fish that have not been properly quarantined carry pathogens. |
The fish has many tiny white spots like salt grains on its body, skin, fins,... Fish are itchy and often rub themselves against rocks and corals. Fish stop eating, lose color, lethargic |
Isolate sick fish Use specialized drugs to treat Ich such as Chloroquine, copper,... Strong aeration, change tank water. |
Head and Lateral Line Erosion |
Malnutrition, vitamin C deficiency. Long-term water pollution. Fish exposed to poor quality activated carbon in filtration systems |
Fish have dents and ulcers on the head, eyes and sides of the body. Pale, lethargic, unhealthy fish |
Add garlic and vitamin C to your food. Change tank water regularly to ensure optimal water quality is maintained. |
Infection, ulcer |
Fish injured by biting each other. Dirty water, contaminated water. |
Fish with torn fins and ulcers. Fish stopped eating, lethargic, pus on the wound |
Isolate sick fish and use antibiotics. Change tank water, increase filtration and aeration. |
Yellow Tang Price List
Although the yellow tang is a popular and very popular marine aquarium fish, in general, its price is high and fluctuates greatly depending on its origin, size, and store of purchase. Below is a price list of yellow tang fish compiled from many reputable aquarium stores. Please refer to it to see if your finances are suitable for raising this fish.
Yellow tang | Source | Reference price (VND/child) |
Imported Yellow Tang fish size 6 - 8 cm | Hawaii, Indonesia | 2,500,000 - 3,500,000 |
Purebred Yellow Tang fish size 10 - 12 cm | Hawaii, Asia | 3,500,000 - 5,500,000 |
Yellow Tang Breeding | 6,500,000 - 8,000,000 |
Note :
If you are new to fish farming and do not have much experience, you should choose the type of individual fish. Although it has the highest price, in return, the fish will be suitable for captivity, have good health, and are easy to adapt.
Beautiful Yellow Tang Pictures
If you want to admire the brilliant beauty of yellow tang fish, don't miss the super beautiful pictures of Yellow Tang fish that we have compiled below.
The yellow threadfin scorpion fish is swimming happily among the coral reef.
A school of yellow threadfin scorpions is swimming in the sea.
Yellow tang, Nemo and Dory.
A yellow tang tank with super nice decoration.
Thus, through the above article, nicefish.net has shared details about the Yellow Tang , which is not only a super beautiful marine aquarium fish but also has many interesting habits, is easy to adapt and care for. If you want to find more highlights for your aquarium, the Yellow Tang is not a bad suggestion.
If you want to know about many other beautiful, unique or rare aquarium fish in the aquatic world, please read other articles in our Blog section.