# Yellow Tang (*Zebrasoma flavescens*) The Yellow Tang is a bright yellow fish that is very popular in aquariums. It has a friendly personality and loves to eat seaweed. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Coral reefs - **Also known as:** Flavescent Surgeonfish, Yellow Surgeonfish ![Yellow Tang](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426814/objects/4765.jpg) ## Appearance The Yellow Tang is a striking, disc-shaped fish with a vibrant, uniform yellow body. It has a small, pointed snout, a prominent dorsal fin, and a sharp, retractable scalpel-like spine on each side of its tail base, making it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Acanthuridae - **Genus:** Zebrasoma ## Interesting facts - At night, the Yellow Tang's vibrant yellow fades slightly, sometimes showing a brownish patch! - They use their small, specialized mouths like tiny vacuum cleaners to scrape algae off rocks! - Though usually yellow, some tangs can temporarily display a darker, mottled pattern when stressed! - Wild Yellow Tangs play a vital role in keeping coral reefs clean and growing strong! ## Special abilities - **Razor-Sharp Tail Scalpel:** Yellow Tang has a sharp, retractable scalpel on its tail that helps them defend against predators. - **Coral Reef Navigator:** Yellow Tang can flatten its body to expertly maneuver through tight coral reef spaces, avoiding predators. - **Algae Cleaner:** Yellow Tang can graze on algae with its small mouth because it helps keep coral reefs healthy and clean. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-0.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Swim Speed:** 5 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 60 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding Yellow Tangs are herbivores, happily munching on algae to keep coral reefs clean and healthy. - **Primary Foods:** filamentous algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria, macroalgae - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Giant Trevally (*Caranx ignobilis*) — a common predator of smaller reef fish. - **Eaten by:** Leopard Coralgrouper (*Plectropomus leopardus*) — ambushes them from coral crevices. - **Depends on:** Yellow Porites Coral (*Porites lutea*) — shelters within its branches and feeds on nearby algae. - **Eats:** Coral Alga (*Halimeda opuntia*) — grazes on various types of algae that grow on rocks. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Yellow Tang? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Yellow Tang? 10-20 cm ### How much does Yellow Tang weigh? 0.1-0.2 kg ### How long does Yellow Tang live? 5-10 years ### What does Yellow Tang eat? Yellow Tangs are herbivores, happily munching on algae to keep coral reefs clean and healthy. ### How fast can Yellow Tang swim? 5 km/h ### Where is Yellow Tang usually found? Coral reefs ### How does Yellow Tang hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amy-b-h-greenwell-ethnobotanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Kahaluu Bay](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kahaluu-bay) — Hawaii, US · Historic District - [Waikiki Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/waikiki-aquarium) — Hawaii, US · Zoo - [Koko Crater Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/koko-crater-botanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Lapakahi State Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lapakahi-state-historical-park) — Hawaii, US · Historic District - [Maui Ocean Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/maui-ocean-center) — Hawaii, US · Zoo [View all places to see Yellow Tang](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/yellow-tang) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Yellow Tang: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-tang)