About Yellow Tang
An iconic, brilliantly yellow surgeonfish. Active, grazing, and a centerpiece of medium-to-large reef tanks.
The Yellow Tang is one of the most recognizable reef fish in the hobby. They are active grazers that benefit from steady access to algae — most keepers clip nori sheets daily. They need swimming room: 75 gallons is a hard minimum, and 100+ gallons is much better long-term. Susceptible to ich during stressful periods; proper quarantine before introduction is strongly recommended.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Brilliant uniform yellow body with a white spine near the tail base. Adult size ~8 inches. One of the most recognizable reef fish in any hobby publication.
In your tank. Active grazer that benefits from steady access to algae. Most keepers clip nori sheets to a clip on the rockwork daily. Susceptible to ich during stressful periods; proper acclimation and quarantine are essential.
Care notes. 75 gallons is a hard minimum; 100+ is much better long-term. Aggressive toward similar-shaped tangs in tanks under 125 gallons. Reef-safe and beautifully behaved among non-conspecific tankmates.
Sourcing and feeding. Captive-bred specimens (Biota, ORA) are commercially available and dramatically more reef-friendly than wild-caught Hawaiian specimens. Hawaii collection has been largely suspended since 2017. Herbivore — nori daily, prepared herbivore foods, supplemental algae.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
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Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 219683).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) Lexi Amico, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).