The frontosa cichlid is one of the most eye-catching African cichlids to own. It boasts an attractive humped head and vibrant colors.
Caring for these fish necessitates creating a friendly environment and providing them with nutritious food. Additionally, selecting tank mates who will mimic their natural behavior is essential.
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Live Food
Frontosa cichlids are large and gregarious fish that will do best in a tank that’s large enough for them. Groups of five or more is ideal for keeping this cichlid socializing.
These peaceful fish tend to remain peaceful, not showing aggression towards tank mates unless they feel threatened. That being said, they do have the tendency to defend their territories when feeling threatened.
These fish are hardy and can tolerate a range of water conditions, though they should be regularly changed to keep the tank fresh and oxygenated. Furthermore, treatments for ich, protozoa, and skin flukes often work effectively on these hardy creatures.
When selecting tank mates, ensure they are of similar size and temperament. Doing this will help prevent misunderstandings between the two of you.
African cichlids are renowned for their aquascape skillset, so ensure your aquarium decor reflects their natural habitat. Anubias and Java ferns with strong rhizomes would work perfectly in such an arrangement.
Frozen Food
Frontosa cichlids thrive on a combination of high quality protein and vegetable-based foods. These can include frozen brine shrimp, clams, mussels and silverside fish. Additionally, Spirulina algae (high in carotenoid pigments) should be included to further enhance coloration.
Frontosa cichlids are native to Lake Tanganyika, where they live in large colonies. When left to their own devices, these slow eaters subsist on snails, worms and mollusks for sustenance.
In the aquarium, they eat a varied diet of pellets, feeder fish, worms and crustaceans. Some popular foods include krill, prawns, mysis shrimp, earthworms and small fish that sink slowly to the bottom of the tank.
Cichlids make great additions to any community aquarium as they’re friendly and hardy creatures that can live for up to 15 years in captivity. However, it’s best to treat them with gentleness and provide them with adequate space and water conditions.
Pellets or Flakes
Frontosa cichlids are slow feeders and will eat most kinds of food, including pellets or flakes. Meaty foods like worms, fish larvae and even frozen brine shrimp can be fed to them – so don’t be afraid to experiment with your diet!
In their natural habitat, carnivorous ambush predators wait for smaller fish to pass by. This strategy works because they don’t expend much energy swimming but prefer staying still most of the time.
They are known as one of Africa’s calmest cichlids due to their tolerance towards other fish species and mild temperament, making them excellent tank mates.
These cichlids do best in a community aquarium with other cichlids and fish species at least as big as them. Although they won’t tolerate aggressive Lake Tanganyika or Malawi cichlids, Jack Dempsey cichlids and American cichlids should not be overly large.
Vegetables
Vegetables are nutritious, starchy plant foods high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber that can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Popular vegetables include broccoli, spinach, carrots, peppers and tomatoes which have low sugar levels.
Vegetables may include herbs and flowers used primarily for culinary purposes, rather than being part of the plant’s reproductive structure. Examples of flower vegetables include cauliflower, artichoke, and caper.
Fruits, on the other hand, refer to all edible parts of plants – roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds included.
Frontosa cichlids can be kept with many species of fish, but they do best when kept with other rift lake species that thrive in hard water conditions like Plecostomus, bichirs, and other African cichlids.
