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Scientific name: Cyphotilapia frontosa (Kigoma)
Common name: 7-Stripe Frontosa
Region: Lake Tanganyika (Deep Rocky Habitat)
Size: max 15 inches (37 centimetres). Males are larger, with a more pronounced hump on the forehead.
Color: black and white striped (7 black bands), blue fins and mouth
Water Chemistry: pH: 8.6, hard water
Temperature: 75-77
Aggression: mildly aggressive
Compatibility: Any other fish that enjoys a high protein diet, is not too hyper, and is not small enough to become a meal for the frontosa will make a good tankmate. Some good aquarium friends: C. Moori (blue dolphin), P. Phenochilus, in fact most of the Lake Malawi Haplochromines will do well with frontosa. From Lake Tanganyika, larger A. Calvus and A. Compressiceps also due quite well due to their slow movement and defensive nature. They are not good with Tropheus species
Diet: Piscivorous. There are plenty of good foods: brine shrimp, black worms, glassworms, silversides, all make good supplements. Give your fish some variety.
How to breed: Apparently frontosa are not extremely difficult to breed. Simply put, the more females you have to males, the more fry you may produce. Frontosa are polygamous spawners and are not pair-forming.
General: I've always loved keeping Frontosas. They are beautiful and graceful aquarium fish. I used to have a male that was 11 inches long. When he'd feed, he'd stick his head out of the water and I'd pet him. I haven't yet bred them though, maybe in the future! |