Cyphotilapia Frontosa or Some other African.

[redghan]

Yeh i know there from the other end of the world and opposite water conditions to my Sth American tanks, but i want to try something different and i think African is what i wanna try.. Just bought myself a new 4ft tank (standerd size).. So the tanks just waiting to be set up!

So my question is, anyone out here know any info on them, (Frontosa) or even kept them before?

Ive been told by a mate to try and get 4 bar ones....??

Or can someone else suggest anouther African fish that is rearish or hard to bred? I like a challange.. Not in this for money just the satisfaction of keeping harder to keep fish, that the normal hobbist cant or wouldnt try and keep.

Thanks
Redghan

[Ben]

Hi Redghan,

i am not familar with rare african cichlids but one of the members here (oscarmanalpha) knows and breeds some very nice ones! He might be able to help..

Regards
Ben

[OscarManAlpha]

G'day Redghan,

The African's are easy and there is loads of info on the net.

I'm not aware of the 4 bar one's.

I think the 7 bar and Zaire Blue are the rare ones ATM.

They get large and a standard 4ft may be a bit small for Frontosa).

Mine are 6 bar and all female LOL in a 6ft tank so I have not bred them.

Depending on your water you may need to add some Bi Carb.

I add 1ts per 20 liters and I change the water 40-50% twice aweek.
I do that with all my fish I believe good bio filtration and low nitrates tends to bring on the natural beauty of all fresh water fish..

If time permitted I would add another water change too that..

Thus the Africans are at 7.5-8 ph and under 25ppm nitrate.

Just read up about diet. ATM I feed mine HBH vege flakes and some normal HBH flake.

Wait till you see how these guy's eat, I feed 2-3 times per day what they can consume in 30 seconds and that's alot of food trust me LOL

HTH

Cheers,

Mark

[mcloughlin2]

redghan,


Ive been told by a mate to try and get 4 bar ones....??

There is no such thing as a 4bar frontosa...:wink:

Four bars= Very poor quality frontosa.... :)

Cyphotilapia Frontosa
Variant: Burundi (In the future, this variant will possibly be classified into a new species)

Bulu Point
Burundi
Karilani
Kavala
Zaire North

Variant: Kigoma / 7 Stripe (In the future, this will likely be the only fish classified as Frontosa)

Bangwe
Boulomboro
Kigoma

Cyphotilapia Gibberosa
Variant: Tanzania or Southern Tanzania

Fulwe Rocks (Fulwe)
Ikola
Kantalamba
Kasanga
Kipili
Mabilibili
Mpimbwe
Molwe
Samazi / Bismark
Sibwesa
Tanzanite

Variant: Zambian

Isanga
Chaitika
Nangu
Sumbu

Variant: Zaire (Congo, DR) or Southern Zaire (Congo, DR)

Kalumba (Collected at Lupota?)
Kapampa
Kitumba
Moba (Collected at M'Toto)
Moliro
Tembwe

There the varients available to us...

The most common zaire varients available are moba, kapamba, and kitumba...these are now going for about $350 plus depending on the importer..

The most common form of frontosa in Australia is the burundi ( the commonly called 6bar) and u can get these for $15+ for a 2inch...

The kigoma ( The 7bar frontosa ) is the second most commonly available frontosa and can cost up to double or triple the price of burundi's..

Mpimbwe are also quite popular but not very readily available atm as there has been a problem with collection...

IMO a 4foot is to small for frontosas as they grow to 14inchs+...

You would be better off getting some mbuna or other african cichlid.... :P

You could possible get some calvus?

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/a_calvus.php

Or maybe some Dimidiochromis strigatus?

Or if your up for a challenge maybe even some tropheus? :D

http://www.aquariacentral.com/articles/troph.shtml

HTH..

Cheers,

Sam