Zebrasoma flavescens - yellow Hawaiian doctor fish

Zebrasoma flavescens - yellow Hawaiian doctor fish information

Zebrasoma flavescens has many names in the German-speaking world. It is often called Hawaii surgeonfish, yellow sail fin doctor or lemon fin doctor fish. Because of its intense yellow color under daylight this surgeonfish is often used in saltwater aquariums. Depending on the mood of the Zebrasoma flavescens the eye is coloured differently. If Zebrasoma flavescens is aggressive, the otherwise bright eye turns dark. Like most surgeonfish, Zebrasoma flavescens eats algae and therefore likes to swim around and requires a lot of swimming space.

Habitat and origin

Zebrasoma flavescens occurs particularly often in the area of the Hawaii Islands, from which one of its German names Hawaii surgeonfish is derived. However, it also occurs in other regions of the Pacific Ocean, mainly north of the equator, and is also native to Australia on the Great Barrier Reef. Hawaii surgeonfish live in coastal coral reefs and lagoons with little current and swell, as they like to eat algae growth. In particular algae growth, can be found - in an abundant supply - in rather low waters and between corals.

Species

Zebrasoma flavescens belongs to the genus Zebrasoma, which is also called sail fin doctor fish in the German speaking countries.

Socialization and maintenance of yellow fin surgeonfish

The yellow fin doctor needs a lot of swimming space like all doctor fish. This behaviour is due to the constant search for food in nature. The yellow finned doctor fish is a loner at a young age. Only with increasing age does it socialize with others of its kind, but does not form shoals. Depending on the size of the tank, less yellow fin doctors should be used in the aquarium. Only from 2.000l we recommend more than two yellow fin doctors. When buying yellow fin doctor fish, you should always make sure that the size of the tank and the equipment corresponds to the habitat of the fish. Often, especially juveniles are used in too small aquariums and with full size of up to 20cm, there are then posture problems due to a too small habitat. We recommend at least 600l for keeping in pairs. In very large aquariums of well over 2,000l, more than two fish can be kept. You should also be very careful when putting in the yellow fin doctor fish. The scalpel on the tail fin can quickly cause injuries in narrow tanks. Furthermore, the demands of doctor fishes on water quality are high and should be as constant as possible. Diseases and parasites can spread quickly under stress due to fluctuating water values or if the bacterial load is too high. The yellow fin doctor is a bit more fantastic than other doctor fish, but a UV system for germ reduction is still recommended. With the necessary maintenance of the water quality and a sufficiently large tank of at least 600l for a pair, yellow sail fin doctor fish in the aquarium can give you pleasure for a long time.

Hawaii Surgeonfish Food

In nature, adult Hawaiian surgeonfish eat algae growth after the larval stage, which should not be missing from the daily menu in the aquarium. After a certain amount of acclimatisation, Hawaii Surgeonfish can also be introduced to other vegetable food and even frozen food.

Lemon fins Buy surgeonfish

We attach great importance to quality! Therefore, every lemon fin doctor fish undergoes a strict quality control before we pack the aquarium fish and send it to you. If your ordered lemon fin doctorfish are ready for transport, the transport company we use guarantees delivery of the fish you buy by 12:00h. So you can plan better and make sure that someone can take the fish directly to the reception. We ship the lemon fin doctor fish with a transport company that specialises in the shipping of live fish. In the cold season we add heat packs. In case of very bad weather conditions we reserve the right to send the fish later. You also have the possibility with additional costs to choose a delivery on weekends or holidays.

©Photo: Randall/Fishbase

Size: very small

Occurrence:

• Guam
• Hawaii
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Johnston Atoll
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Ogasawara Islands
• Palau
• Philippines
• Ryukyu Islands
• Taiwan
• Vietnam
• Wake Atoll

Nutrition:

• Algae
• Artemia
• adult (salt water crabs)
• Banana
• Flake food
• Frozen food (large varieties)
• Krill (Euphausiidae)
• Dandelion
• Mysis (floating shrimp)
• Nori seaweed
• Salad

Maximum body height: 20 cm

basin size: 600 L

Temperature: 23 - 27 °C

Carbonate hardness: 7.6-8.4