Can Angelfish Live With Yellow Tang?
Incompatible pH. Angelfish needs 6.0–7.5, Yellow Tang needs 8.1–8.4.
Parameter Comparison
| Parameter | Angelfish | Yellow Tang | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 76–84°F | 75–82°F | 76–82°F ✓ |
| pH Range | 6–7.5 | 8.1–8.4 | No overlap ✗ |
| Temperament | semi-aggressive | semi-aggressive | Monitor ⚠ |
| Max Size | 6" | 8" | Similar ✓ |
| Min Tank Size | 30 gal | 75 gal | 75 gal minimum together |
| Diet | Omnivore | Herbivore | — |
| Care Level | intermediate | intermediate | — |
Species Profiles
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
Freshwater angelfish are elegant, tall-bodied cichlids that are a centerpiece in many community aquariums. They come in many color varieties including silver, marble, koi, and black. While generally peaceful, they become territorial when breeding and will eat small fish like neon tetras.
Full care guide →Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
The yellow tang is the most iconic reef tank fish — a solid lemon-yellow disc that constantly grazes algae across the rock work. They are active, hardy, and excellent algae controllers for reef tanks. However, they need large tanks (75+ gallons minimum), can be aggressive toward similar-shaped fish, and have become significantly more expensive following collection bans in Hawaii.
Full care guide →