What is this guy?

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

Well I made an impulse decision. I found some cichlids for free and thought this guy was kinda cool so I grabbed him. Does anyone know the species and/or care requirements? I’ll see if I can get some more pics.

 

[Sinister-Kisses]

That's an unhealthy Cyphotilapia frontosa. African cichlid from Lake Tanganyika. VASTLY different requirements for care than South or Central American cichlids, so if that's what you've placed him with, either rehome him or get him a tank of his own.

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

That's an unhealthy Cyphotilapia frontosa. African cichlid from Lake Tanganyika. VASTLY different requirements for care than South or Central American cichlids, so if that's what you've placed him with, either rehome him or get him a tank of his own.

Thank you for the quick response. My guess was frontosa so that just confirms that. I can try to rehome him. I just wanted to get him out of the small tank he was in. I have a predator hap tank would he be ok in there?

 

[PhishMon84]

That's an unhealthy Cyphotilapia frontosa. African cichlid from Lake Tanganyika. VASTLY different requirements for care than South or Central American cichlids, so if that's what you've placed him with, either rehome him or get him a tank of his own.

I've found a single Frontosa works wells in a CA cichlid tank, provided you're not keeping the heavy hitters like parachromis or amphilophus

 

[Sinister-Kisses]

I've found a single Frontosa works wells in a CA cichlid tank, provided you're not keeping the heavy hitters like parachromis or amphilophus

Yeah if you completely overlook the fact that they have very different needs from each other, sure Survives maybe. "Works well", no.

Yes, he would be better off in a hap tank. Still not ideal, but better.

 

[PhishMon84]

Yeah if you completely overlook the fact that they have very different needs from each other, sure Survives maybe. "Works well", no.

Yes, he would be better off in a hap tank. Still not ideal, but better.

Pretty myopic viewpoint you hold, you do you.

I’ve done this many times. It works just fine. Most of these come in CB anyways. They both require hard water, are pushy- you can even decorate the tanks the same way

Do you keep angelfish in black water setups? Do you account for wet seasons?

How about that Frankenstein fish you just got? What environment are you raising that in-
Interesting hill to stand your ground on

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

I've found a single Frontosa works wells in a CA cichlid tank, provided you're not keeping the heavy hitters like parachromis or amphilophus

I’ve got 2 Central Americans, a Jack Dempsey, EBJD, and a blood parrot in there but it’s mostly a bichir tank. PH is on the slightly higher side around my area, closer to 8.

 

[Sinister-Kisses]

My angelfish are kept in the correct water parameters for their species, 100%.

My "frankenfish" - which I deliberately purchased knowing it was a hybrid so I'm cool with - is kept at the parameters most common for the species used in the mix. He will 100% live solo his entire life because he's not compatible with others, simple as that.

There are a lot of other factors that SHOULD be considered when housing fish other than simple basics like pH, gH, and kH. African cichlids have an entirely different way of communicating/interacting with each other, often different diet requirements, so on and so forth than American cichlids. They very often have different natural environments - plants and driftwood vs wide open rocky environments, etc.

Some people are very strict about keeping regionally accurate tanks. I've never been that specific with my tanks, but they are at least from the same general area and COMPATIBLE.

Cramming fish together in grossly unnatural environments is never the best option for the fish. Obviously, fish in aquariums is not natural. But the aim should be to strive for as close to natural as possible. Throwing frontosa in with American cichlids is certainly not that. Again I say - surviving is not thriving. Surviving is not the same as happy and healthy. You do you. I'm going to aim for the best for MY fish.

 

[PhishMon84]

I’ve got 2 Central Americans, a Jack Dempsey, EBJD, and a blood parrot in there but it’s mostly a bichir tank. PH is on the slightly higher side around my area, closer to 8.

my only concern would be that you have mostly blue cichlids which may be perceived as a threat. I kept a big male front with a big male JD for 5+ years before i decided to shuffle things around. he also lived with a 8" female festae, 18" ornate poly, bolt catfish, silver dollars and other over the years i kept this fish.
I originally had a front colony with smaller tangs in with it but i found it to be a boring species when kept that way. they are hardy, long lived and beautiful fish.

If you've heard of Jeff Rapps (legend) his keeping of this fish was my inspiration to mix w/new world. I also think they look particularly good when paired with red spotted gold severums.

hopefully you get this guy/gal back into tip top shape and enjoy it for may years to come!

 

[danotaylor]

First bar is thru the eye, last bar on caudal peduncle, 5 bars in between…so it’s a 7 bar Kigoma frontosa to be exact…most likely a female by the looks…but you have only shown us the left side view…if there is only 6 bars on the right side of the fish, then it’s a hybrid frontosa crossed between a 6 bar, likely Burundi, and a 7 bar Kigoma.

It does have cloudy eye on the left. If the right eye is the same you should probably give it some salt baths. If only on the left eye then possibly trauma from tank decor or being netted. Then I’d add 1tbsp salt per 5gal and replace with water changes for a few weeks.

It was nice of you to give it a better life. PH 8 is a suitable pH for Tanganyika fish, just like CA cichlids. As for the other opinions expressed here, each to his/her own.