By Eric Rogne, MAS

A majestic species known very well for a long time in the aquarium hobby, Cyphotilapia Frontosa is a large mouth-brooding cichlid of Lake Tanganyika. They tend to have a light blue internally compressed body with six to eight thick dark vertical bars. Reaching sizes over 35 cm. C. Frontosa is the pinnacle cichlid to obtain by most African cichlid hobbyists. With its large size and enlarged nuchal on its forehead, this species has the look of an aggressive monster. Even though it is a piscivore, this species is relatively passive and slow moving. It has a means of conserving energy, and only exerts energy if food is easily accessible or if scared. In the wild it is an opportunistic piscivore, usually taking advantage of easy targets such as fish sleeping in the evening. C. Frontosa is also a deep water cichlid, rarely seen above 20 meters. This species also has a large distribution in the lake. The most common location exploited by the aquarium hobby is from Barrundi, but in the last five years many locational varieties are available.

The spawning behavior of C. Frontosa is unlike any other mouth-brooding cichlid. The male, noticeable by its larger longer body with longer extensions on dorsal, anal and pelvic fins, and a large nuchal on its forehead. He makes a nest around sandy areas. The male actually releases sperm into the nest and awaits close by outside the nest. Next the female, which has a shorter body length with a small nuchal on its forehead, moves into the nest and lays 10 to 20 eggs. She evades picking up the eggs in back and forth swimming motion. She does this all without the male even being by her side. Male Frontosa must have some strong sperm to be able to be dispensed and viable for minutes on end. The female is never seen lapping the anal fin of the male. Females can hold anywhere from 20 to 60 eggs, and for as long as 30 days. Fry are slow growing compared to most cichlids.

Cyphotilapia are one of the jewels from Lake Tanganyika. With a large size and peaceful manor they display nicely in a large aquarium. C. Frontosa is foremost a very respectable species in the aquarium hobby.