Has anyone kept Fronts with any mbuna? I know the Fronts are timid sometimes and may not compete for food. I have seen the Fronts mixed in with other lake malawi cichlids at LFS and they seem to get along.
No, Nobody here has done it because it's a bad idea, and we like our fish more than that. Saying they need width over length is like saying it's ok to keep them in a 75 for life, as long as they have enough room to turn around. The longer the tank, the more room to set up a territory. I take it that you have never had fronts, otherwise you wouldn't be saying that. Even with mbuna, length is more important than width. a 40 breeder would only be good for about 6 months, because a 75 is enough room for a year. Fronts can actually get as big as 14 inches. I'm not going to say I am a pro at keeping fronts, but I have had them for a while now, and pitbull knows his tangs better than anyone else here. If you still believe Bluegrass aquatics more than the members here, go to a forum that specializes in frontosa and ask your question.Okay.....so no one has tried this? Yes manafel I know they're Tangs and having to have a 125 gal. tank is just not true. Since they max out around 12" tank width is more important. You can start comfortably with a 40 grow out because they grow slowly.
So far I know of 3 ppl that haven't tried it.No, Nobody here has done it because it's a bad idea, and we like our fish more than that. Saying they need width over length is like saying it's ok to keep them in a 75 for life, as long as they have enough room to turn around. The longer the tank, the more room to set up a territory. I take it that you have never had fronts, otherwise you wouldn't be saying that. Even with mbuna, length is more important than width. a 40 breeder would only be good for about 6 months, because a 75 is enough room for a year. Fronts can actually get as big as 14 inches. I'm not going to say I am a pro at keeping fronts, but I have had them for a while now, and pitbull knows his tangs better than anyone else here. If you still believe Bluegrass aquatics more than the members here, go to a forum that specializes in frontosa and ask your question.
In the wild, frontosa live in large groups called colonies. In the aquarium, they should also be kept in larger groups, although they can be kept successfully in groups as small as four individuals (1 male:3 females). You'll have the best luck keeping only one adult male, and if your colony is larger, a second, subdominant male who will eventually replace the alpha-male. If you're growing your Fronts up, the "best" method is to acquire 12-15 individuals (all unrelated and from the same race) and put them in a tank of their own.
Yes, you CAN keep only few individuals...but if you think keeping four 12-14" fish in a 75g is ok then be my guest. I would venture to guess most serious Front keepers would recommend getting a colony and giving them the appropriate space.40 gallons will work well as a grow-out tank. For a colony of 10 adults, a 125-gallon tank or bigger is recommended.