..................................Frontosa
Other names:...........none Origin:......................Africa - Lake Tanganyika Max size:..................15" PH:............-..............7.5-8.5 Temperature:...........75-79 F. Min tank size:..........65 gallons Food:.........................live foods, beef heart, worms, pellets |
The Frontosa is one of the more popular cichlids that come from Lake Tanganyika. This boldly striped fish is usually found at a depth of 60-100 feet in its natural habitat. It is an African cichlid and like many cichlids, including most Central American cichlids, develop a large fatty growth on the top of the head, known as the nuchal hump.
The Frontosa is a fairly peacfull fish, however it is territorial. It should be kept with other fish of the same temperment. This fish rarely burrows and generally won't harm plants. Keep the Frontosa in hard and clean water. To maintain this fish successfully, you must replicate the conditions of Lake Tanganyika. It appreciates rocky structures with fissures and caves for hiding. It will accept a bottom of fine sand and plants are not essential.
As this fish matures, it changes quite considerably. The black bars thicken until the fish is almost more black than white. The nachal hump on its head grows larger with age, and the fins lengthen and develop long ray extensions.
The Frontosa is a bottom dweller, and should be fed some type of sinking food. Flake food, fish, prawns, and frozen bloodworms are also appreciated.
There is little advance warning before spawning occurs. The Frontosa is a mouthbrooder and given the right water quality and water changes, there is a good chance that a pair will spawn. When a pair does decide to spawn, the male may decide that he doesn't like others in the selected area, and may become aggressive towards any other fishes in the tank. The eggs are quickly laid, ferilized, and scooped up by the female in her mouth. The number of eggs can range from just a few, to more than thirty, but it mostly depends on the size of the female. The eggs hatch after five to six weeks, and the fry may still live in the female's mouth for the next week. It is advised to provide the fry with rocks for hiding places.
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