Saltwater
Yellow tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
Acanthuridae, Acanthurinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 20 cm
- Body shape
- Deep-bodied
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 300 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
Native
Lives wild in China, France, Guam, Hong Kong SAR China, Japan, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, and 5 more countries.
Introduced to United States.
More about the species
Description
Adults inhabit coral-rich areas of lagoon and seaward reefs from below the surge zone to about 46 m. Benthopelagic over rock at 1-81 m. They occur singly or in loose groups. Mainly herbivorous, browsing on filamentous algae. Group spawning and pair-spawning by territorial males that court passing females were observed. Spawning activity occurs around the full moon indicating lunar periodicity. Spawn in batches throughout the year. Presence of a venom gland could not be determined despite the presence of distinct anterolateral grooves; this may be due to the loss of venom glands in adults. A popular aquarium fish and the top marine fish export from Hawaii.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Acanthurus flavescens
In other languages
- Gul kirurg
- Gul kirurgfisk
- Keltavälskäri
- Lemon sailfin, Somber surgeonfish, Yellow sailfin tang
Articles
All articles
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.
From freshwater to saltwater3 min read
What is different in a saltwater aquarium: salt, refractometer, live rock and corals. An introduction for anyone thinking of giving it a try.