Cyphotilapia frontosa cichlid are generally found in Lake Tanganyika with depths of about 100 feet. They are considered large cichlids with male size of 14 to 16 inches and females growing up to 9 – 12 inches long.
Preferably, Frontosa lives in hard and alkaline water conditions with a water temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and a pH value of 7.8.
Providing them with variations of diet is important to keep them healthy and may promote breeding. A high-quality cichlid pellet may be used as a base food and then supplemented with live foods. Frontosas in the wild eat live small fish but it is not very favorable to give them a feeder fish since it can be the source of a disease in the aquarium. However, cultivating your own meaty live food is favorable to your cichlid.
Although they are considered not easy to breed, however breeders claimed to have been successful in breeding them in aquariums many times than expected. If aiming to breed this variety it is advantageous to prepare a huge aquarium for that. Frontosa can grow as much as 35 centimeters even when kept in a tank. What’s good about these species is that they are calm and peaceful and tolerant of both conspecifics and heterospecifics. They also mingle well with 3 – 4 females in a 200 – 400 liter or 50 – 100 gallon aquarium. A sufficient number of decorations such as rocks, caves, or pipes may be provided for as hiding places.
Breeding frontosa cichlid is best done when owners help create a small “spawning area” for the pair in order to feel comfortable and secure. For instance, stones may be used to confine a particular area that would display as such and that a separate area was prepared for them in safety when breeding.
When the female frontosa’s body starts to show noticeable change with rounded belly and male frontosa begins giving her attention it is time to perform a major water change to induce spawning. Not for long that the female will start showing her breeding tube and with a shorter wait spawning will begin to take place.
Frontosa is a mouth brooding cichlid which means that the female will pick up the eggs and guard them inside her mouth until ready for a free swim. Nonetheless, as the breeder, be vigilant to keep an eye of the mother because sometimes they forget to care for the eggs but instead devour them. If this happens regularly it is best to strip the eggs out of her mouth and incubate it yourself in a separate aquarium. Do not forget to turn off the lights in the spawning aquarium and in the rest of the room. Give it 30 – 60 minutes to keep her calm. Fill a small container with water and use a net to catch the fish and gently open her mouth forcing her to spit the eggs out with your fingers into the container and return Frontosa Cichlid back immediately to the aquarium.
