Not just another fishy website!
Here at Frontosa Fanatics.com we are devoted to the Frontosa and Gibberosa Cyphotilapia species variants and their respective collection points. These “gentle giants” have inhabited the deepest parts of Lake Tanganyika and only within the last few decades are they now inhabiting our freshwater aquariums and becoming “tank bred” and being called by some the “Kings and Queens” of the Aquarium.
In the Wild
Frontosa can live at depths between 65 and 100 feet in Lake Tanganyika, which makes them a difficult fish to collect. Today many are bred in captivity, but they still command a fairly high price. Frontosa are majestic and have a commanding presence, pronounced coloration and a large size, easily up to 12 inches (30 centimeters)!
The Frontosa’s body has six or seven black stripes on a white background.The male & female develop a cranial hump on the forehead however this hump is larger for the male.
In general they are a tolerant community fish with no trouble, but they will defend a territory once established.
Frontosa in the Aquarium
Frontosa are best kept in groups of 6-8-(or)10 with a minimum of a 125 gallon aquarium unless they are small fry that you are raising up, in which case you could keep them in a 55 gallon or 75 gallon for up to a year. Larger colonies will need 150-200 gallon aquariums, depending on how large the colony and size of fish. Consider using a pebbled or sandy bottom with rock structures creating caves for sheltering the male frontosa. Alternatively you can use large PVC elbows or terra cotta pots and they’re easy to keep clean and the frontosa like them just the same.
Water Changes
When it comes to Water changes….they are an essential part of maintaining the quality of the captive environment. Nitrates are not as toxic as ammonia or nitrites but they are harmful and will stress your frontosa at possibly dangerous levels. The best way to remove the nitrates is through a partial water change. Ideally you want to have test kit readings of less than 20 ppm in your frontosa tank. Nitrate is the leading cause of slow fish growth. To reach the full potential for rate of growth, keep the nitrates at a minimum. Without water changes,foods and waste both would accumulate in the substrate, additional pollutants such as phosphate and dissolved organic acids would increase to unhealthy levels, and the pH and alkalinity of the eco-system will decrease dramatically. Essential minor and trace elements would be depleted as well. Water changes remove the above mentioned (and other) pollutants while at the same time replenish diminished elements and restore both alkalinity and pH.
Foods
I feed 1mm New Life Spectrum Cichlid sinking pellets and supplement with mysis shrimp brine for young frontosa.There are other foods like black worms, glassworms and silversides,that are also good for supplements. Don’t be fearful to invite your frontosa to feast on a variety of foods, however be sure of what you are feeding them will be something that promotes good health and happiness for the fish. When frontosa are young and small, flakes or 1mm pellets work best. As they get larger, flakes become messy and pellets are the food of choice. There are many good brands of prepared foods out there. Use what gives your fish the best results and maintain a healthy look.
Blogs that you loved
07/11/09
Woke up today to find another dead baby Kapampa 🙁 thats two that ive lost now and i have 3 left out of original 5 that i bought.
I noticed he was breathing quite heavily the night before and had not really been eating and hanging out in front of the tank.
07/08/09
Our Affiliate has aquired NOT ONE…BUT TWO pair of WILD CAUGHT BLUE MOBA “CONGO” FRONTOSA…and has posted video and photos, so check it out!!
7/01/09
Moved the entire contents of kapampa tank from upstairs to downstairs and placed the fish in a different 55 gallon aquarium with blue background, thanks again to David Akins!!!
6/28/09
30% water changes on 125 gallon Ikola tank and 55 gallon Kapampa upstairs tank with water tests for NH3/NH4 done today
6/18/09
woke up today and found one of the kapampa dead on bottom of tank 🙁 Now i have 4 left..looks like 2 males and hopefully 2 females
im keeping my fingers crossed X
6/13/09
30% water change for Kapampa 55 gallon tank done today.
6/12/09
started up another 55 gallon tank with 3 sponge filters, pea gravel and a dozen zebra danios.
6/4/09
30% water change for 125 gallon tank done today.
5/31/09
30% water change for 55 gallon tank done today
5/20/09
30% water change and water test for NH3/NH4 for 55 gallon tank…Babie kapampa “congo” Ziare blue Frontosa have been eating mysis shrimp and 1mm cichlid pellets
5/16/09
Released a small colony of five (F1)Ziare Blue Kapampa frontosa in 55 gallon tank today. Ikola colony now showing signs of returning to normal behaviors.
5/10/09
Ikola colony still showing signs of being skiddish.
5/9/09
Ikola colony in 125 gallon tank seems to be skiddish after “THE BIG MOVE” from smaller 55 gallon tank.
5/8/09
Removed all of the zebra danios from 125 gallon tank.
Moved giberosa ikola frontosa colony of ten from 55 gallon tank to 125 gallon tank.
5/6/09
Day 25 of nitrogen cycle for 125 gallon tank
5/3/09
(Day 22 of nitrogen cycle for 125 gallon tank)
5/2/09 KY DERBY DAY!!!! 🙂
(Day 21 of the nitrogen cycle for the 125 gallon tank)Congrats on derby win MINE THAT BIRD!!!!
4/29/09
Created Frontosa Fanatics website T-shirt design through CustomInk.com and completed an order for Delivery Date: On or before Wednesday, May 13, 2009
4/28/09
30% water change and water test for NH3/NH4 for 55 gallon tank…(also this is day 17 for the The Nitrogen Cycle in the 125 gallon tank)
4/26/09
Placed two of the Labidochromis Caeruleus (yellow Lab) in with the zebra danios in the 125 gallon tank thats cycling
4/19/09
Updated photos section with new pictures and 30% water change with test for NH3/NH4 in 55 gallon tank was completed today.
4/12/09 Happy Easter!!! 🙂
Changed the way blog text was displayed, utilizing page space giving it its own scrolling window.
4/11/09
Started water cycle for 125 gallon tank with new Marineland C360 canister filter and about 15-16 zebra danios today.
4/05/09
Created community board forum…take a look and join, we will be glad to have you.
3/29/09
Added more zebra rock to create caves in the 55 gallon ikola frontosa tank today.
3/27/09
30% water change and water test for NH3/NH4 will be done this saturday 3/28/09
3/24/09
Changed the blog banner around again, deciding to use the changing gradiant banner that ive been working on.
3/22/09
Changed the blog banner around today and created color variants with font variations as well.
3/21/09
Here at Frontosa Fanatics.com we are excited to announce that we have recently added two more of the Cyphotilapia Giberosa Ikola into our current colony, thanks to a very good friend David Akins.
3/21/09
This is a new addition to this site. please keep coming back for further updates to this blog.