Frontosa

[Seebs]

Hello to everyone,
New to the site. Looking for any and all information on keeping some Fronts other than all the information found online. Lots of opinions out there. Looking for info from other keepers of fronts. I have plenty of background in keeping fish and my success has always been getting the correct information on proper care of the species. So what I have for the tank is 125 gallon ( as I read on it may be to small for what i want to do), standard heater, proper substrate, decor, water parameters, and running 2 fx6 with seachem pond matrix. Water is being diffused as not to create any strong direct current situations. So with knowing the background on the aquarium I was wanting to keep 5 fronts. I know I will most likely need to purchase more than 5 to finally end up with the correct male to female ratio. All information will be greatly appreciated. Or the tank is simply to small and I need to rethink my stocking options. Thank you for your time.

 

[Cfremont23]

Well I'm not an expert on these guys but I have had mine for 9 months and it is with my oscar and starry night and it doesn't usually pick any fights. I do have to note that they will not come up to the top of the tank to feed I have to bring the food down to him or use sinking pellet. I doubt this is very helpful but that's all I got

 

[Seebs]

Not exactly what I am looking for but I do appreciate your reply. Starry Night....those are very cool. Never owned one...had plenty of Oscar's. Oscar's are always entertaining. Thanks again!

 

[Milingu]

Cyphotilapia will need a bigger tank in long term. Depending on how small you get them you can keep them for maybe two years in a 125. When they sexually mature there can be quite some intraspecific aggression.
When that time will come also depends on the character of the alpha male. Some are quite mellow and other chase their females and/or other males all the time. Which will lead to casualties in a small tank sooner or later.

 

[Seebs]

Thank you for your reply. I knew the 125 was on the smaller side for what I wanted to do. I have just physically seen so many 125 to 180 with frontosa in them with higher numbers of adult fish in the aquarium then I intend to keep. Never really asked the owners much on keeping them as this was many years back. Thanks again for your input. Need to rethink my stocking options for this aquarium I believe.

 

[Seebs]

Well with the idea of keeping fronts off the table anyone have any stocking ideas for a 125? Would like something different not sure what exactly??

 

[A201]

I keep a mixed African community in a 120. Of the three groups, my favorites are the Haps.
Look at the Livingstoni, Fusco, Super Red Empress, Tiawan Reef, Borleyi, Zebra Obliquidens, Yellow Rock Kribs
Virginalis, just to name a few.
There are so many possibilities.
IMO, Frontosas are awsome Cichlids, but are a lot like Discus, beautiful boredom.

 

[duanes]

I found the Frontosa I kept to be quite timid, and slow moving, and easily bullied by new world cichlids, or more aggressive, fast moving African types.
One of my favorite tanks though, was with fronts mixed with a shoal of Cyprichromis.
Since they originate in deeper waters (100ft depth) other species of cichlids are more rare in that area, that depth is slightly cooler than shallower areas of the lake, so their temp preference seems to be closer to the low end of Tanganyika scale @75'F.

 

[Seebs]

Just took down my 75 mix peacock/haps tank. I liked them but I have had them so many times I decide to try something new. So my 75 received a makeover and is home to some geophagus tapajos and some "electric" blue angelfish. With that said no more pecoks/haps but I definitely appreciate the idea. They are amazing fish and the colors were stunning. So again thanks to all for your replies. Any ideas all information are greatly appreciated. I'm an old diehard saltwater guy that decided to switch it all to fresh water now. So my choice for stocking the 125 needs to be something awesome. Which is why I initially wanted to do some fronts. So the search continues. Thanks again everyone!

 

[punman]

If the 125 gallon tank is 6 feet, it could work. I have kept frontosas on three occasions for a total of 8.5 years. They have been in either a 6 foot 135 gallon or 6 foot 180 gallon (the 180 gallon just a bit wider). When adult size, I kept usually 5 or 6 in the group, much of the time, wild caught.

I sold my last wild caught breeding group but kept juveniles from three different spawns and now have 10 sub adults ranging from 3 to 6 inches in my 135. Most are in the 3 to 4 inch range. I do not know the genders but once breeding activity starts, the numbers will have to be pared down I would think.

I don't see a 4 foot or 5 foot tank working for adult frontosas.