How related are they?
Same family, Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes and tangs): close cousins
They split at the genus level: the Yellow Tang belongs to Zebrasoma (Sailfin tangs), the Blue Hippo Tang to Paracanthurus (Palette tangs).
Find the Yellow Tang on the tree · Find the Blue Hippo Tang on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | Yellow Tang | Blue Hippo Tang |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Chordata Chordates | |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata Vertebrates | |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata jawed vertebrates | |
| Parvphylum | Osteichthyes bony fishes | |
| Gigaclass | Actinopterygii ray-finned fishes | |
| Superclass | Actinopteri | |
| Class | Teleostei Teleost fishes | |
| Order | Acanthuriformes Surgeonfishes, angelfishes and kin | |
| Family | Acanthuridae Surgeonfishes and tangs | |
| Genus split | Zebrasoma Sailfin tangs | Paracanthurus Palette tangs |
| Species | Zebrasoma flavescens Yellow Tang | Paracanthurus hepatus Blue Hippo Tang |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Yellow Tang | Blue Hippo Tang |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Tang | Fish · Tang |
| Care level | Moderate | Moderate |
| Reef safe | Yes | Yes |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Diet | Herbivore | Omnivore |
| Favorite foods | Dried marine seaweed sheets (nori, red, green and brown algae) on a clip, Spirulina and algae-based pellets and flakes, Frozen herbivore formulas | Frozen mysis shrimp and other plankton-type frozen foods, Dried marine seaweed sheets (nori, red and green algae) on a clip, Spirulina and algae-based pellets and flakes |
| Max size | 8 in (20 cm) | 12 in (31 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 125 gal | 180 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.020–1.025 | 1.020–1.025 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Nitrate | 0–30 ppm | 0–30 ppm |
| Lifespan | Very long-lived for an aquarium fish: wild yellow tangs in Hawaii have been aged at up to 41 years from growth rings in their ear stones (otoliths). With good care, aquarium specimens can live well over a decade, but solid published data on captive lifespan are limited. | More than 30 years in the wild. In aquariums usually 8-20 years, with an average of about 12-14 years according to Animal Diversity Web; disease shortens many captive lives. |
| Breeding | Very hard | Very hard |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |