Frontosa

[tim_s]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 90 Gallon tank with:

5 X 4" Yellow Labs
1 X 4" Saulosi
2 X 5" Unknowns (Link: http://ovas.ca/forum/index.php?topic=52290.0)
20 X Juniors

To add a Frontosa - would you recommend I get a larger tank?

I just wanted to add 1 large cichlid to the tank to make a variance in size.

[tim_s]

Doing research - it appears that maybe the frontosa in my active tank - would *not* be a good idea.

[bitterman]

Frontosa are not a good idea in any tank under 5-6 feet.

They also live in colonies in the wild so in the aquarium a minimum 1M and 3F but it is better to have more females and a larger colony to spread aggression between more fish

Also they are an opportunistic predator. So if a fish will fit in its mouth thay might eat it. BN's for example can very easily end up being food or worst case result in the death of frontosa as the barbs often wedge them in there throat when the frontosa attempts to swallow them.

A busy tank will also stress out frontosa and have negative effects of there health.

I Have 2 colonies Burundi Frontosa and Mpimbwe Gibberosa.... They are similar but the Mpimbwe are a much more blue fish then Bunundi.

In some cases an experienced fish keeper might keep a single Mpimbwe and have a better chance of it doing ok, but generally Malawi cichlids will nips the fins. Mpimwe are noramlly a bit more agressive feeder them Burundi hence a better chance. Fishbuddy for example has a Mpimbwe gibberosa in his tank and it is doing well (He also hand feeds it)

Only feed sinking food for frontosa also.

Regards,
   Bruce