Yellow Tang thread

[Gary Majchrzak]

Common, fairly easy to maintain and a freak of the animal world...a bright yellow fish. Taken for granted by most marine aquarists. Shunned by many aquarists in the USA and prized by those in Europe. Zebrasoma flavescens remains one of my all time favorites species of fish and my aquarium seemed to be begging for one.. or two or three

Now these guys aren't the easiest to keep in multiples. I know there's a few of you out there that chuckled at me when I mentioned adding a trio to my reef aquarium. Between Gary G and myself I think we have a YT derby going on. Let's see how long these last. Gary G has more YT's than me but I don't think he has the added headaches a Powder Blue, big Bristletooth and Achilles can provide for these yellow guys.
What beautiful fish. These pix were taken after they fattened up for a week in my aquarium.

 

[MarkKlier]

Actually the key to your set up (from my point of view) Is the achilles. Mine started out small, but now must be the boss! That keeps the yellows in line even with multiples. Plus he think he is seeing triples

 

[gary greguire]

Funny I was watching my tangs today thinking I have to PM you and tell you how I think you should definitely add them to your tank.

 

[cardiffgiant]

They are so common in the US hobby, but are one of my favorite fish. YT's an perculas are what come to most peoples minds when they think of salt water fish.

I've had mine for about 6 years. I'd love to have a tank that was suitable for several.

 

[Henry Colf]

One of my first fish. I remember paying 14.99 for him at cf back in 1995. I tried putting one in my system about a year ago and the Hippo tang and coral beauty angel beat the hell out of it. It died a day later. Def love the yellow tangs lots of personality and just a beautiful fish.

 

[block head]

Ha, ha, gary . I'm guilty of talking trash when i saw you buying them. It takes stones to dump yt's in tank like yours. A lot of people do them poorly. Some how you'll come out smelling like roses.

 

[GMaquarium]

Yellow tangs are hands down the most popular tang in US. Not sure why they are shunned. In Europe they are harder to get and are more valuable. With all the stuff going on in Hawaii it may be the case here too one day.

They are some of the best tangs and easy fish to keep. Yellow tang (mr. Lemon) out of my first reef tank is still around after at least 16 years, in a customer's tank for 5 years now. Having done a number of tanks containing multiple yellows I would have to say not many fish look this good in groups or schools.

 

[Haffs09]

Man, you're tempting me to try a bunch in my tank! They look great!

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Man, you're tempting me to try a bunch in my tank! They look great!

Same here!

Despite their huge popularity I've never kept one. Their propensity for being ich magnets makes me nervous, though I suppose a thorough QT can alleviate that problem.

 

[Haffs09]

I have always had a yellow tang in my tank. Unfortunately, my current one did not fair well during a coppersafe treatment. It did not show any signs of ich, but I had to treat it with all the other fish after failed attempts at hyposalinity. I never saw the yellow tang with any visible signs of ich while others (hippo, powder blue and achilles) were loaded with it. In my experience, I wouldn't consider them ich magnets like some of the acanthurus tangs.

If I get brave enough, I would try 5 in my tank. Gary G., how many are in your tank and what size is it?

 

[tent boy]

I think every tank should have a yellow tang. However my yellow tang is the gate keeper. He influences everything I buy. He is the aggressor with every new introduction. Even so, 3 of them would be really cool.

 

[IronMan72]

One of my first fish. I remember paying 14.99 for him at cf back in 1995. I tried putting one in my system about a year ago and the Hippo tang and coral beauty angel beat the hell out of it. It died a day later. Def love the yellow tangs lots of personality and just a beautiful fish.

How big was the system you tried to put one into last year? I have a Hippo and a Coral Beauty in a 180G and have planned to add 1 or 3 Yellow Tangs but was waiting to add last. This might cause me to rethink this plan.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Great shots!

Was that around feeding time, or do they just follow Junior around because he's so cool?

 

[Capt_Cully]

Awesome pics. Any adverse effects noted with additional added bio load? (chromis/YT)

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

no adverse effects noted and the fish associate seeing me with food so they follow me around. (Great photo op.)

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Is Junior really THAT big or is there some sort of random perspective/depth of field trick in all those photos?

 

[Jacwil]

Oh he's that big Nate...had the pleasure of finally meeting him a cpl weekends ago!

 

[Henry Colf]

How big was the system you tried to put one into last year? I have a Hippo and a Coral Beauty in a 180G and have planned to add 1 or 3 Yellow Tangs but was waiting to add last. This might cause me to rethink this plan.

it's a 90 gallon

 

[1Sik1500]

In the Tampa aquarium in Florida. They have 1 Cylinder tank that has roughly 20-30 Yellow tangs, along with a mix of Perculas, PBT, Foxfaces and more. The tank is prolly 200 gallons and 12' tall while only being 3' in dia. I was very shocked to see it. But extremely shocked to see how fat and happy they were. I think i even have a pic.