{"product_id":"frontosa-cichlid-cyphotilapia-frontosa","title":"Frontosa Cichlid | Cyphotilapia frontosa","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Frontosa is the king of Lake Tanganyika — a towering, deep-bodied cichlid in blue-and-white bars, crowned by a noble nuchal hump in mature males. Reaching around 25–35 cm and living for decades, it is a slow-growing, surprisingly peaceful showpiece best kept as a colony in a large, stable tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEndemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, where it lives in deep rocky habitat, often well below the reach of most other cichlids. The lake is hard, highly alkaline and remarkably stable, and reproducing those conditions closely is essential for long-term health.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA tall, laterally compressed body with five to seven broad dark bars over a pale blue-white base, flowing fins and the distinctive forehead hump that grows with age and dominance. Colour intensity and hump size increase in mature, high-ranking males.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMild for its size, but a nocturnal predator that will eat any fish small enough to swallow. Keep it as a colony of one male with several females, alongside other large, robust Tanganyikans. Its calm, deliberate nature means it dislikes boisterous or aggressive tankmates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carnivore that ambushes smaller fish in the wild. Feed a quality cichlid pellet with meaty frozen foods such as mysis, krill and prawn. Avoid mammalian meats and excessive protein, which can trigger bloat in Rift Lake cichlids.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a large, deep tank with generous rockwork, open swimming space, a sandy floor and hard, alkaline, scrupulously clean water. Strong filtration and consistent maintenance suit this long-lived fish. Above all, keep conditions stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA maternal mouthbrooder. The female carries the fertilised eggs in her mouth for around four to six weeks and releases large, well-formed fry. Frontosa mature slowly, but a settled colony spawns dependably in good water.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCyphotilapia frontosa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFrontosa (Humphead Cichlid)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLake Tanganyika, East Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25–35 cm (males occasionally larger)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–25 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMild for size, but predatory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e450 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e750+ litres (colony)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0–9.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12–20 dGH (hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge Lake Tanganyika colony aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGenerally (Tanganyikan tanks are usually rock-and-sand)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther large Lake Tanganyika cichlids such as Altolamprologus, larger Julidochromis, and robust Tanganyikan species that share its hard, alkaline water and even temperament.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmall fish that will be eaten, soft-water species, and fast or aggressive cichlids that will out-compete this slow, deliberate feeder.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232785973539,"sku":"AA6300-S","price":130.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232786006307,"sku":"AA6300-M","price":150.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232786039075,"sku":"AA6300-L","price":175.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-35cm)","offer_id":55351958438179,"sku":"AA6300-XL","price":200.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/frontosa-cichlid-cyphotilapi-43880398422307.webp?v=1790305826","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/frontosa-cichlid-cyphotilapia-frontosa","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}