Frontosa cichlid
Cyphotilapia frontosa
FishFreshwater
Cyphotilapia frontosa, or frontosa, is an iconic cichlid from Lake Tanganyika. Males develop a characteristic forehead hump with age and display vertical dark blue and white stripes. Females are smaller and less marked. It can reach 30 cm. In the wild, it lives in groups in deep areas (20-50 m) and feeds on small fish and invertebrates. In the aquarium, it requires a large volume and very alkaline water.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–27 |
| pH | 8–9 |
| GH | 10–20 |
| KH | 10–15 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 30 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.5 |
Care
Difficulty3/5
Dietcarnivore
Min. tank400 L
Min. group4
Adult size30 cm
Lifespan10 ans
Temperamentsemi-aggressive
Care notes
Very hard alkaline water (pH 8.0-9.0, GH 10-20, KH 10-15) at 24-27°C. A minimum 400-liter tank is required, with rocks and open spaces. Perform 30% weekly water changes. Feed with carnivore cichlid pellets, shrimp, and whole fish. Avoid very small tankmates. Keep a group of one male with several females.