Origin: Lake Tanganyika, C. frontosa is present in different populations (color variations) in all parts of Lake Tanganyika. They are found in both sandy and rocky parts of the lake. They are deep water inhabitants, ranging between 40 and 350 feet, and when collected have to be brought to the surface in stages so they don’t get the bends or end up with swim bladder problems.
Size: male up to 14 inches, females is somewhat smaller in size, up to 10 inches.
Sexual Differences: Male have a much bigger nuptial hump or bulge on the forehead.
Behavior: Quiet fish, mouthbrooder.
Water Tolerance: 75 to 81 F, pH 7-8, 10-20dH.
Feeding : Carnivorous fish, attacking sleeping fish in the semidarkness.

Cyphotilapia frontosa is one of the largest of the cichlids collected from the Rift Lakes, Lake Tanganyika, specifically. Large yes, but not as huge as some of the New World Cichlids. Males can attain a size up to or over 12 inches, females somewhat smaller. C. frontosas’ most distinguishable trait is it’s large hump located on its’ frontal lobe. C. frontosa sometimes called the Tanganyikan Humphead was one of the first cichlids brought into this country in the early seventies. There are several populations of Cyphotilapia frontosa available today.

The most common are the “Six-stripe” and the “Seven-stripe”. Others include the “Cape Chaitika”, “Mpimbwe Blue”, “Samazi Blue”, “Zambian” and the “Zaire Blue”. Recently a variety of C. frontosa called “Zaire Purple” has surfaced. It takes an expert to tell some of these varieties apart. Of course, if it’s a variety with a different striping pattern, it’s a little easier. To most casual observers, they are a large humpheaded white and black fish with varying degreees of blue replacing some of the white.

Photos Credits: destin-tanganyika.com, thetropicaltank.co

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