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Hi, I have two types of frontosa, regular burundi and also a tanzanian variant called mpimbwe. Here are some pics of them, enjoy.

Here is a mpimbwe (they are a bluer variant) I like them very much.
http://s441.photobucket.com/albums/qq133/cichlidgirl/?action=view&current=frontsin265001.jpg


http://s441.photobucket.com/albums/qq133/cichlidgirl/?action=view&current=frontsin265045.jpg

Here are my burundi.
http://s441.photobucket.com/albums/qq133/cichlidgirl/?action=view&current=frontsin265057.jpg

Here is the alpha burundi, he rules the tank with a iron fin.
http://s441.photobucket.com/albums/qq133/cichlidgirl/?action=view&current=frontosaoct08018.jpg

http://s441.photobucket.com/albums/qq133/cichlidgirl/?action=view&current=frontosaoct08020.jpg

Do all frontosas have that much blue in them?

WOW! -> http://s441.photobucket.com/albums/qq133/cichlidgirl/?action=view&current=frontsin265001.jpg

That first fish is great! I hope to have one of those some day... time to read up.

Saint Paul, Minnesota USA 20g Freshwater Started June 10th 2008
-> Tank Info In Profile <-

Very Awsome, Whats size tank you got?

very nice,well done,its obvious looking from the pics that you look after them well,also love the saying "he rules the tank with a iron fin"good one!

Sorry for late reply, been so busy with holidays and all.

Well, no , not all frontosa are as blue. The bluest ones are usually the zaire types (there are several), followed by the tanzanian and zambians (often nearly as blue and called poor mans zaire) the least blue are the burundi and kigoma (kigoma have a extra black stripe) but they tend to make up for the lacking blue color with a much larger nuchal hump than their bluer brothers and sisters.

I keep both the tanzanian and burundi. I believe the fish everybody liked that was so blue was one of my tanzanians, there are several types of tanzanians, mine are all mpimbwe. Mpimbwe is just the collection point. That particular fish is much bluer than what is normal, he has more blue spangles on him and his shade of blue is very intense. I have one or two others that are similar but he (im guessing he LOL) is a real standout fish for sure.

The substrate and lighting and background will make a huge difference in the appearance of these fish as well. I like mine on black sand and black background with a mix of regular white aquarium lights and marine glo bulbs. Marine glo bulbs have alot more light in the blue spectrums and if mixed in a double bulbed light strip look real good. I dont like running all marine glo bulbs though, i feel it washes out the rest of the tank and gives a false impression of the colors on the fish. Mixing does not do that, they balance each other.

Oh, and i have two tanks for my frontosa, one is a six foot 135 gallon and the other (for future when fish get very large) is a 7 foot 265 gallon tank. Frontosa live in a harem (one or two males and many females), they get quite large as adults (often over 12 inches for males and females both)and so need more tankspace than other species.

Frontosa also are best kept with other frontosa, they can be aggressive to each other but are so wimpy around other species. I was suprised at just how wimpy they really are after keeping them alone, i thought they were semi aggressive to aggressive, i added in some other peaceful african haps and they kicked the frontosa butt all day long. I had to remove them.

Very good pictures cichlidgirl. Their colours are superb & they look quite photogenic as well.

A friend of mine used to keep Frontosas & he had some N.brichardi with them. Both species spawned & lived quite well together.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com