Yellow tang

The yellow tang is a marine surgeonfish in the family Acanthuridae, found on reefs of the central and western Pacific, most abundantly around Hawaii. Its entire body is a vivid, uniform yellow, and it bears a white scalpel-like spine at the tail base that flashes into view when the fish is threatened. It is an active, diurnal grazer that spends the day cropping filamentous algae from rock and coral. It needs a large marine aquarium with plenty of open swimming space and live rock for grazing. Its diet should be predominantly marine algae and vegetable matter, with occasional meaty foods. It is generally peaceful but can be territorial toward other tangs, especially those of similar shape or color. Reef-safe and hardy once established, it is a popular choice for intermediate marine keepers with adequate tank size.