Frontosas

[grayboy1]

I always see young fronts in tanks with young mbuna and they look fine. However, Ive never seen anyone succesfully keep them as adults with mbuna. What do you recommend keeping fronts with in order for them to thrive and hopefully breed? My thoughts would be a species only tank OR a tank of fronts with maybe some small peaceful tangs such as calvus, but with the fronts being the main fish. If anyone has experience on keeping adults and breeding these fish, please share your knowledge

 

[Druchii]

I don't really know much about frontosas (other's do) but personally i would not mix them with mbuna or malawi in general becuase of the different dietry needs.

As you'll end up feeding one the right type and the other the wrong one

 

[Ferris]

Fronts and Mbuna is generally not a good idea for 2 reasons:

1. At a similar size, Mbuna are far more aggressive than Fronts - which would almost certainly lead to high stress levels. On the flip side, a Front adult could see Mbuna as a tasty snack.
2. Diet - Fronts are carnivores and most Mbuna are Herbivores or at best omnivores. Feeding most Mbuna meaty foods can prove fatal as they simply cannot process high protein, which leads to bloat.

 

[jollysue]

Right now I have 3 red fin Lu Bufu compressiceps, 5 clown loaches and 6 multi Synos in with 6 Zaire Moba frontosas. As far as breeding is concerned, My fronts aren't old enough yet to know if I have any females. I understand that a breeding tank should be 1m to several females. They are mouth brooders (?), and I understand relatively easy to breed. Although I also understand it is best to make sure to get females and male from different families so as not to interbreed and keep the species strong.

The fish I have are doing fine together no problems. I understand the compressiceps will get about 6". There is some variety of Tanganyikan compressiceps. I saw some other Tanganikan deep water (as opposed to shellies) but have not reaserched it yet. The link below to my tank. Lots of chatting about filtration with jayjay, but go for the pics.

my set up right after set up

I would be interested for you to post any info you get and see your tank.

I also have a large Burundi by hinself and a Bismark tank with 2 juvie Bismark fronts, 2 Petrocola and 2 unknown Synos.

 

[beechey]

ive been thinking about changing my set up for a just frontosas tank

well like them....

 

[jollysue]

They don't do much, but they sure are pretty. lol And sometimes they make like they know you. haha

 

[jollysue]

Oops! take it back. They are very busy today messing with one another and trying to get over on oneanother w/o getting nipped.

 

[beechey]

yeah desd pretty things the lfs has got loads of babies in not cheap at £20 each

 

[jollysue]

Hi, beechly,

I was just in the lps day before yesterday. They also had a couple of tanks of 1" babies. Since I am overstocked as it is with fronts, I didn't check the price.