How to Feed Yellow Tangs

Yellow tangs are bright yellow saltwater fish of the species Zebrasoma flavescens. In the wild, yellow tangs are herbivores who scavenge rocks and corals for algae. In marine aquariums, yellow tangs eat dried, processed aquarium foods such as flakes or pellets. They also need a variety of vegetables such as dried seaweed, lettuces and leafy greens. How much a yellow tang eats depends on its size and age, and the tank's conditions. Give your yellow tang only what it will eat in a short amount of time. (Extra food can clog a tank's filter.) Most aquarists recommend feeding yellow tangs twice a day for 5 minutes, and providing lettuce, leafy greens, or nori in a lettuce clip.

Things You'll Need

  • Lettuce clip
  • Unflavored, unsalted green or red nori
  • Lettuce (romaine, green, or other variety)
  • Flake food
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Instructions

  1. Nori, Lettuces, &Leafy Greens

    • 1

      Tear off a small portion of the sheet or leaf. Use 1/4 sheet of the green or red nori, a few leaves for large-leafed spinach, half a leaf of romaine or green lettuces, or 1/4 leaf of kale or other large greens. Clip the leaf into the lettuce clip.

    • 2

      Secure the lettuce clip's suction cup to the side of the fish tank, about halfway down.

    • 3

      Remove the nori or leaf after 24 hours and replace with fresh nori or leaf. Alternate the type of leaf to add variety to the fish's diet.

    Flake &Other Processed Aquarium Foods

    • 4

      Sprinkle a pinch of the food onto the surface of the tank's water. Wait for the fish to eat all of it. Once the fish finishes, sprinkle another pinch onto the water.

    • 5

      Repeat for 5 minutes. Allow the fish to eat as much as it wants. If the fish loses interest, stop adding food.

    • 6

      Scoop up any remaining food after 5 minutes. Repeat twice a day.