Description
Lipstick Tang (Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis / Ctenochaetus sp.)
A striking and moderately active marine species, the Lipstick Tang is named for its bright red-orange “lip” and contrasting blue-green body, making it a colourful highlight in larger reef aquariums. Known for its algae-grazing behaviour, it is both beautiful and functional in keeping tanks clean.
Compatibility:
Semi-aggressive. Best housed with other robust species such as tangs, angelfish, and wrasse. Avoid housing with small or timid fish that may be stressed by its activity. Territorial disputes can occur if multiple tangs are kept in a confined space.
Reef Compatibility:
Reef-safe. Does not harm corals or invertebrates and is ideal for reef setups, especially as an effective algae grazer.
Diet:
Herbivore – primarily feeds on algae. Offer a diet of marine algae, spirulina flakes or pellets, and occasional frozen or dried vegetable matter. Feeding multiple times per day promotes healthy growth and maintains bright coloration.
Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 24–27°C
- Salinity: 1.023–1.026 SG
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Minimum Tank Size: 300L
Care Level:
Moderate – hardy if provided with a mature aquarium, stable water parameters, and sufficient grazing surfaces.
Top Tip:
Provide plenty of live rock for grazing and hiding. Introducing it into an established aquarium with ample swimming space reduces territorial aggression and encourages natural behaviour.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery from £15 - £30
- Range 0-25 miles from store
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DX Express: 1 working day, same-day dispatch before noon 0-75kg
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days 75-500kg
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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