Yellow tang
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[Photo] Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens). Source: Fred Hsu, February 2000.
The yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), also called Pacific tang, is a saltwater fish species of the family Acanthuridae. It is one of the most popular aquarium fish.
Appearance
Yellow tang are in the surgeonfish family, and are therefore significantly laterally compressed. Adult fish can grow to 18 centimeters in length, and 1 to 2 centimeters (< 1 inch) in thickness. Males tend to be slightly larger than females. All individuals of this species and are bright yellow in color. During the night, a prominent brownish patch develops in the middle of both sides with a horizontal white band. They rapidly resume their all-over sulphur-yellow color with daylight.
They have an arrow-like shape due to their dorsal and ventral fins being almost an extension to their bodies, and a long snout-like mouth used (as with other tangs) to eat the algae off rocks and coral. They are almost fully herbivores, and have become a popular fish in the marine fish hobby. They also have a sharp spine located near their tail.
Food
Wild grasses, algae, lettuce, and other plant life in general. The yellow tang can also be found eating shrimp and other smaller animals.
Distribution and habitats
It is commonly found in shallow reefs, from 2 to 46 m deep, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, west of Hawaii and east of Japan.
In the Aquarium
The yellow tang is a very commonly kept saltwater fish. They can grow up to 10", although 6" is more common in captivity. They require an aquarium of at least 80 gallons, while 100+ gallons is even better. They are herbivores, and are relatively easy to feed. They are usually very hardy, although, like all Tangs, are quite susceptible to Ich and other common saltwater diseases. They are semi-aggressive fish. They normally get along fine with other semi-aggressive fish close to their own size, but cannot be kept with other yellow tangs (or any other tangs of similar shape/size) - the only exception is if you have lots of them together, like 6 or 7 of them together. Possible tankmates include fish like cardinalfish, large clownfish, lionfish, eels, or other different-looking Tangs like the blue tang or Achilles tang. They are reef-safe, and can be kept with any invertebrates in a reef aquarium.
Trivia
In the film Finding Nemo the character Bubbles is a yellow tang.
Yellow tangs are Hawaii's largest marine fish export, and one of the most popular fish in the U.S.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_tang
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