Description
Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
Zebrasoma flavescens is hard to mistake for any other species. Its elegant body shape and, of course, bright yellow coloration have for long strongly appealed to marine aquarists. However, captive bred yellow tangs have only recently become available. These make for excellent reef aquarium fish, as they are entirely reef-safe and help to control undesirable algae by their continuous grazing.
Size and Care Requirements:
- Purchase Size: ~2 +” (length)
- Max Size: 8″ (length)
- Water Parameters:~78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.0-8.4, s.g. 1.021-1.023
- Color: Yellow (fades at night)
- Reef-Safe: Yes
- Feeding: Herbivorous
Yellow Tang Species Information
Zebrasoma flavescens is distributed across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Hawaii. It prefers shallow coral reef environments (2-46 meters), where it sometimes forms rather large aggregations. These highly active grazers spend most of the daylight hours nibbling on whatever bits of turf algae they find growing on the reef.
In captivity, it appreciates lots of swimming space as well as an algae-based diet.
Benefits of Aquacultured Marine Aquarium Livestock
Aquacultured fishes offer a huge advantage over wild-caught specimens. For example, when bred and raised under captive conditions, they adjust more easily to aquarium life. They are also less likely to carry disease. Even more, aquacultured yellow tang specimens can better tolerate shipping stress. Most significantly, by purchasing aquacultured livestock you support the aquaculture of marine organisms and help to make our hobby more sustainable!
100% Alive on Arrival (AoA) Guarantee
We guarantee that every yellow tang we sell will be Alive On Arrival and in good health. Should it arrive in any other state, we will either replace it free of charge (including shipping) or issue store credit if the total livestock loss is less than $40. For more information, please also visit our 100% Alive On Arrival Guarantee page.
oscar tester (verified owner) –
I would have given this a 5 stars but the fish came in with a slight case of HLLE. It is eating well and that should start to clear up with a healthy diet. It is really nice to have this species offered in its captive bred form.
Sean Tadjeran –
Hi Oscar,
Thank you for your feedback. We did not notice any HLLE here. We have been fattening them up with feeding multiple times per day and keeping the tank well stocked with various macroalgae like sea lettuce and red ogo. We will keep an eye on future batches to try and prevent this from occurring in the future!
parallel.loud.13370 (verified owner) –
I received her about two weeks ago and I could not be happier. She arrived in great health and soon got acclimated to my tank and made a few pals (two premium snowflake nemos and one chrom). She loves darting around the liverock and pecking at the hair algae. Great addition to my tank and I will be a returning customer.
greg.chernoff –
Please throw some pictures up on Instagram or FB and let us see! We love keeping tabs on our fish!
Nick (verified owner) –
Every hear about under promise and over deliver? This is algaebarn 100%. We ordered our yellow tang for delivery on Dec 31st. Got an email that it was shipped out and delivered on the 29th. Fish that was ordered was a 1-1.5 inch fish. Upon opening the package was super pumped that it wasn’t a little guy. The fish was more around the 2.5-3 inch size. Color was pale but came back within 24 hours. Still a little skittish and hides in the qt but I few he will warm up quickly.