🐟 Frontosa Cichlid (Cyphotilapia frontosa)
The Queen of Lake Tanganyika • Bold Black-and-White Bars • A Gentle, Long-Lived Giant
 
📋 The Frontosa Cichlid is one of the most majestic cichlids in the hobby, with bold black-and-white banding, a deep, sweeping body, and, as males mature, a prominent nuchal hump and flowing fins. It's famously calm and slow-moving for such a large cichlid, gliding through the tank with a regal, commanding presence, and it's a centrepiece species for a large Rift Lake display.
In the wild Frontosas live in the deeper rocky waters of Lake Tanganyika, where they gather in groups, and they're happiest as a small harem of six or more with one male. They grow slowly and live a very long time, often 15-20 years and sometimes beyond 25, so a Frontosa is a fish to enjoy for the long run. Give them a spacious tank, hard alkaline water, and rockwork, and they'll become the star of the aquarium.
 
💡 Highlights
✨ Bold Black-and-White Banding: One of the most recognisable African cichlids
👑 Regal and Calm: A slow-moving, imposing presence
👥 Social Harem Fish: Best as a group of six or more, with one male
⏳ Truly Long-Lived: Often 15-20 years or more
🌍 Lake Tanganyika Native: A Near Threatened species, captive-bred for the aquarium