Frontosa Cichlids: Bringing Interest to the Darker Areas of Your Aquarium

The Frontosa Cichlid is an African Cichlid variety that is available to aquarists as both captive bred and wild caught options. Because wild caught specimens hail from only one location, Lake Tanganyika in east Africa, it is less common than its aquacultured counterpart. In addition, this species is considered a delicacy in its homeland, further reducing its numbers.

A special consideration with wild caught Frontosa Cichlids is that they live in the deep water, as much as one hundred and eighty feet. When lifted to the surface for collection, they need to undergo a decompression process to avoid their swim bladder from inflating, as this can cause their intestines to be expelled. The water they live in is dark and has minimal vegetation. It spends most of its time in the deep ocean and will surface for food. They prefer darker areas of the aquarium and though not classified as nocturnal, they are most active when lights are dim or off. It is highly sought after in the aquarium industry.

Its scientific name Cyphotilapia frontosa describes its distinctive humped forehead. "Cypho" means "hump" in Greek, "tilapia" means “fish” in the African Tswana language, and “frontosa” means “with a big forehead” in Latin. Another name this Cichlid is known by is the Humphead Cichlid.

A hardy fish, the Frontosa Cichlid makes a big statement in freshwater aquariums for several reasons. A large freshwater fish that can grow up to fifteen inches, it is generally not aggressive, leaning more toward a gentle temperament. Instead of claiming a specific territory in the aquarium, they form hierarchies that dictate their behavior. Another reason for popularity is that some owners say these Cichlids can be tamed to eat out of their hands.

Frontosa Cichlids are susceptible to disease, namely Swim Bladder Disease, Cotton Wool Disease, Malawi Bloat, and Freshwater Ich. It is important to observe your fish to detect issues and conduct research to learn the most effective ways to treat them. LiveAquaria® has several articles on disease prevention that can be easily accessed any time of day or night.

This member of the Cichlidae family has many different color varieties, depending on the depth of the water in Lake Tanganyika from which it was collected. The captive-bred variety offered by LiveAquaria® has a body that exhibits distinct alternating deep blue and white bands, accompanied by two lateral lines and a subtle fluorescent blue sheen. It has well-developed pectoral fins, elongated filamentous ventral fins, and a rounded caudal fin. The mouth is moderately protrusible and relatively large, though not highly robust, with fine, laterally compressed teeth. A prominent nuchal hump is one of its distinct features.

The Frontosa Cichlid requires an aquarium of seventy gallons or larger with plenty of rocks and caves for hiding that are secured in place, along with a sandy substrate. If plants are kept in the aquarium, they may be uprooted. The Frontosa Cichlid requires dim lighting and clean, stable water with plenty of room to swim. Water parameters for this freshwater fish are as follows: temperature maintained between 72-82° F, 10-20 KH, and a pH range of 7.8-9.0. Weekly water changes are encouraged to maintain the correct water parameters, as even small changes can be detrimental. When considering tankmates, look for larger fish that will not be looked at as prey. Consult the LiveAquaria® Freshwater Compatibility Chart for compatible tankmates.

The lifespan of the Frontosa Cichlid is about fifteen years in the wild, and as high as twenty-five years for captive bred varieties kept in an aquarium environment.

Since juveniles are hard to sex, it is difficult to distinguish between males and females until they reach adulthood. It is important to note that this species requires approximately three to four years to reach sexual maturity, necessitating patience for anyone wanting to breed them. When mature, males tend to have a larger nuchal hump and more pronounced dorsal and anal fins than females.

Frontosa Cichlids are mouth breeders and females should be fed a high protein diet when breeding. During the spawning period, males exhibit vibrant blue coloration, particularly around the head.

Frontosa Cichlids do not engage in an elaborate courtship display. Instead, the male selects a suitable spawning site, which he defends while attempting to attract a female. This site may be a moderately secluded area in the tank, a cave, or even a large, overturned flowerpot. Once a female is engaged, both fish work together to clean the spawning site. The male then swims slowly around the area with his fins folded releasing milt, which is believed to stimulate the female to lay her eggs.

The female then moves over the site, releasing an egg into the milt-filled water before quickly retrieving it into her mouth. This process repeats multiple times, with the male occasionally releasing additional milt, until the female has collected twenty to fifty large eggs in her mouth. She incubates the eggs for an extended period of five to seven weeks. Once hatched, the fry remain inside her buccal cavity, feeding on inhaled food particles until they are ready to emerge.

In nature, Frontosa Cichlids usually feed at dawn and thrive on small fish and shellfish. The captive-bred Frontosa African Cichlid offered by LiveAquaria® is a carnivore that prefers a diet of flaked and pellet foods and freeze-dried ocean plankton or krill. A variety of foods will help them to display their optimal coloration, maintain their health, and promote longevity.

Frontosa Cichlids are attractive freshwater fish that will create interest in the darker areas of your aquarium, increasing the visual appeal of your tank. With a commitment to maintaining proper water quality and meeting their other care requirements, you, too, can be a satisfied keeper of a Frontosa Cichlid.