Frontosa
Cyphotilapia frontosa
Cichlidae
About
The frontosa is a stately, slow-growing giant cichlid endemic to the deep rocky drop-offs of Lake Tanganyika, where it hovers in loose colonies over sand and boulders. Adults develop a pronounced nuchal hump on the forehead and carry striking vertical bars of blue-white and black. Calm and almost regal in the water, it is nonetheless a night-hunting predator that will pick off any tankmate small enough to fit in its mouth. Long-lived and undemanding once its needs are met, it rewards patience with decades of presence but requires a very large, deep aquarium and rock-solid hard, alkaline water.
Care
Keep a colony of one male with several females in a big, deep tank of 450 L or more (180 cm length ideal) with sand, heavy rockwork and hard, alkaline water at pH 8.2-8.6. Slow, peaceful and long-lived, but a predator: never mix with fish small enough to be eaten.
Diet
Carnivorous ambush hunter of fish, snails and crustaceans. Feed carnivore pellets plus frozen mysis, krill and shellfish; avoid rich mammalian meats to reduce bloat risk.
Tankmate compatibility
Avoid (271)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Frontosa need?
- A Frontosa needs an aquarium of at least 450 litres (118.9 US gallons) with a footprint at least 180 cm (70.9 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Frontosa need?
- Frontosa does best at 23–27 °C (73.4–80.6 °F), pH 7.8–9 and a general hardness of 10–25 °dGH.
- What group size does a Frontosa need?
- Frontosa is a social species — keep a group of at least 5 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Frontosa suitable for beginners?
- Frontosa is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.