Frontosa (Cyphotilapia frontosa)

Fish in the family Cichlidae. Moderate care. Freshwater.

Frontosa

Quick facts

Scientific nameCyphotilapia frontosa
FamilyCichlidae
Also known asHumphead Cichlid, Frontosa Cichlid, Cyphotilapia gibberosa (sister sp.)
Care levelModerate
Reef safetyFreshwater
TemperamentSemi Aggressive
Dietcarnivore
Adult size13 in
Minimum tank size125 gallons
Water parametersTemp 75-80°F, pH 7.8-9.0, GH 10-20 dGH

Appearance

Tall, striking body with bold black-and-white (or blue-white) vertical bars; mature males develop a prominent nuchal hump.

Difficulty and care for the Frontosa

Moderate

Origin and habitat

Lake Tanganyika, Africa

Keeper notes

Slow-moving but a predator; eats fish small enough to swallow. Relatively calm with similarly sized tankmates. Best in a colony of one male and several females.

Log Frontosa in your reef tank

Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Frontosa alongside everything else in your reef.