The Frontosa is one of the fish species that many people want for their aquarium. One of the reasons why is because this fish has quite a unique appearance! If you want to have a Frontosa in your aquarium, continue reading the article below!
Did you know that the fish is the third most common pet globally? There are many reasons why people prefer having fish species as pets. Let us delve deeper into these reasons so you can have a pet fish soon!
Health Benefits
A surprising reason why people keep fish as pets is the health benefits they give to others. This is also why you see many fish tanks in the doctor’s office. There is plenty of scientific research that proves this claim. Here are a few of them:
Reduces Stress
The sound of the aquarium is relaxing. It mimics the sound of the ocean. Both of these sounds are associated with feelings of peace and calmness. Scientific research also proves that having an aquarium in your home can reduce anxiety levels by up to 12%.
Lower Blood Pressure
Another reason why many people want to have a fish as a pet is that fish lowers blood pressure. Again, there is much research to support this claim. According to these studies, there is a noticeable reduction in people’s blood pressure and heart rate when they watch fish in the aquarium.
Helps In Alzheimer’s Disease
Did you know that having a pet fish can also help if someone you know has Alzheimer’s Disease? In another health study, having an aquarium in a home care center increases people’s appetite. It also decreases rowdy behavior.
They Are Quiet
Cats and dogs are great pets. But they tend to be rowdy. Dogs will bark. Even if you shush them, they will bark at anything and everything. Cats are quieter. But they tend to scratch your furniture. You will be stressed if they do this.
One of the reasons why people want to have a pet fish is that they are quiet! All you can hear is the steady (and relaxing!) hum of the aquarium. Of course, you can also hear a blurb or two from time to time. But other than that, fish keep to themselves. They are the perfect pet if you want something quiet.
Learning Opportunity For Children
Having pet fish is also a learning opportunity for children. Here, they can learn more about the different types of fish. Having pets is also an avenue where your children can learn about responsibility. This includes learning about the care needs of a fish. It also includes chores like cleaning the fish tank.
Even though some pets (like cats and dogs) also need care, fish as pets are different! For example, cats and dogs require more maintenance. Fish, in contrast, only requires little maintenance. For example, you do not need to groom a fish. Instead, you need to maintain the tank so your fish can be happy and healthy.
They Are Space Friendly!
You will not worry about fish taking up space. All you need is a corner of the room and a tank, and you are all set. Other pets like cats and dogs need big spaces so they can be active and jump around. You do not need those space needs for your fish. They are content swimming around in their tank all day.
They Are More Cost-Efficient
Think about how much money you need to spend to groom and vaccinate your pet dog or cat. You do not need to groom your fish. They also do not need vaccination. However, they need a clean tank and a good diet. Having a pet fish will save you money as compared to having other types of pets.
They Are Easy To Maintain
Dogs and cats need toys and treat to be active and healthy. However, you do not need these for your pet fish. Yes, you can invest in hollow décor and plants for your aquarium. But if you invest in high-quality aquarium décor, you can use them for a long time.
They Are Pretty To Look At
Fish have different types of species. There are colorful fish types. You can add them to add a splash of color to your aquarium! Ensure that the temperament of your fish is okay with their other fish tankmates. Otherwise, you will have a problem.
The last bullet point hits home. One of the more interesting fish types is the Frontosa. The Frontosa is quite popular among fish enthusiasts. This is because it has a unique appearance. This includes a striking blue color and a humped head. If you want your aquarium to stand out from the rest, you can invest in a Frontosa. Continue reading the article below to know more about the Frontosa. This also includes the care needs of this fish.
What Is Frontosa?
The Frontosa fish hails from the Cichlid family. It is a fish that you can see in many lakes of Africa, particularly in Lake Tanganyika. The scientific name of Frontosa is Cyphotilapia frontosa. Its scientific name hails from the Ancient Greek names of Cypho and Tilapia. Cypho means curved. Tilapia means fish.
Are you wondering why the Frontosa has Cypho or curved as their name? It is because of their forehead, which has a curved shape! The other name of the Frontosa fish is the Hump head Cichlid.
The Formosa fish is native to Africa. They are endemic species. This means that these fish species types are native to the lakes of Africa. You can see that the Formosa fish like to be in the northern part of the lake. While they swim in the deep corners of the lake, they will go up in the morning to feed. In the wild, the Formosa fish eats other types of smaller fish. The Frontosa fish likes to live up to 11 to 50 meters deep in the ocean in the wild.
Even though the Frontosa fish is native to the lakes of Africa, this fish is commercially available in the market. This is mainly because of their appearance and their unique hump head! Many fish enthusiasts love to have this fish in their tanks.
Appearance And Size
The Frontosa fish is unique. It has an interesting appearance. This is why they also have a unique name.
The Frontosa fish has a full body. They even have a larger head. This is why they have the name “hump head.” These types of fish can grow as large as 12 inches. They can grow quite big! It does not matter if they are in the wild or if they are in an aquarium.
In the wild, Frontosa fish can grow bigger. They can grow up to 16 inches. But do note that female Frontosa fish are smaller. They can only grow around 10 inches. It can take three to four years before they mature.
The female and male Frontosa fish have humps in their head. But remember that you can see the hump better with the male species. For younger species of Frontosa fish, you cannot see the humps in their heads. The humps develop as they grow.
The Frontosa fish has a unique color. They have a cool blue color that can add a dash of color to your tank. You will also notice that their fins have a lighter color compared to the rest of their body. You can also see six dark stripes across their body. Some species variations have seven dark stripes.
Other Variants
Breeding among Frontosa fish happens. This is why there are many variants of this fish. Here are some variants you can be familiar with.
Burundi Six-stripe Frontosa
This Frontosa fish type has quite a large body. You will also notice that it has a larger head hump compared to other Frontosa species types. This fish species also has a lighter color compared to the others. What’s more is that they have darker bands on their body.
Zaire Blue Frontosa
The Zaire Blue Frontosa’s name hails from Zaire, which is an area in the Congo Republic. This has a unique name because you can see many of these fish species types in the area. This fish has a deep blue color. Some people even call it a purple color! You can also see the dark band from the head down to the fish gills. You will also notice blue dots in this fish’s body.
Tanzanian Six-stripe Frontosa
The Tanzanian Six-stripe Frontosa is quite similar to the Burundi Six-stripe Frontosa. Both have large bodies. Both also have large hump heads. But please do not let the two species breed together. This will result in diagonal bands in the fish’ bodies.
Tanzanian Seven-stripe Frontosa Or Frontosa “Kigoma”
The Kigoma is a highly sought-after Frontosa fish species. What makes this species unique is that it has seven bands instead of eight! You will also notice a large hump head. Another feature that makes the Kigoma unique is that its fins have gold accents.
Kipili Frontosa
The Kipili Frontosa is not as popular as other Frontosa species. It is average in appearance. The body of the Kipili Frontosa has a lighter blue compared to other varieties.
Zambian Blue Frontosa, Or Blue Face Frontosa
What makes the Zambian Blue Fontosa is that it has a blue color extending to its face! You can also see the band above the eye of the Zambian Blue Frontosa.
Samazi Frontosa
The male and female Samazi Frontosa differ in characteristics. They have a brighter blue color compared to their female counterparts. Female Samazi Frontosa has a lighter color which is almost silver. If you want to add a pop of color to your aquarium, invest in a male species.
Kavalla Frontosa
The Kavalla Frontosa is a rare fish type. You will notice that this fish has six black bands across its body. It also has a deep blue color. It can have a deeper color depending on the mood of the fish. You will also notice that its fins are gold and shine as they swim.
Typical Behavior
Many people think that the Frontosa fish is difficult to take care of. In reality, they are peaceful creatures. But their care requirements are a bit complex. This is why I recommend this fish to moderate or more experienced fish enthusiasts.
You will notice that the Frontosa fish likes to be at the bottom of your tank. But you can also see them swim on top, especially during mealtimes. They love creatures. They get excited when they see you. They can even eat off your hand if you allow them to! But they can be clumsy. If they are startled, they can bump into your aquarium décor.
While they are not aggressive fish, the Frontosa is territorial. They do not want other fishes swimming at the bottom of the tank.
Lifespan
The Frontosa fish has a long lifespan. They can live up to 25 years! This is why they make good pets. How long they live will depend on the level of care you provide to them.
Feeding And Diet
The Frontosa fish is a carnivore fish. In the wild, they eat smaller fish that reside at the top of the lakes. The Frontosa fish has a big mouth. If you feed them with pellets, remember to feed them with bigger chunks.
Even if Frontosa fish love to eat smaller types of fish, you can feed them with other types of food. For example, they love to chomp on brine shrimps and bloodworms. Other saltwater food sources can also be a source of nutrition for the Frontosa fish.
I recommend feeding them daily. If possible, do not feed your Frontosa fish at night. You can also feed them twice a day. But remember to limit their intake.
Tank Mates
The Frontosa fish are territorial types of fish. You will notice that they swim at the bottom of the tank. But you can see that they are gentle to their tankmates. This is why you should add fish types that are middle or top-dwellers.
I recommend the Bichirs, Blue Dolphin Cichlid, and Petricola as ideal tankmates for your Frontosa fish. In terms of ratio, you can add one male to 5 females. This is the ideal setup for breeding among Frontosa fish.
Common Health Issues
A common health issue for the Frontosa fish is Ich. Ich happens because of a bacteria, protozoa. Symptoms of this fish disease include white spots on their bodies. You might also notice that your Frontosa keeps on rubbing their bodies in the glass of the tank. If you see any of these symptoms, go for a vet check-up as soon as possible.
Tank Requirements
Because Frontosa grows big, you also need a large tank. I recommend at least a 70-Liters tank, so they have ample space to swim. The Frontosa are also social types of fish. They need to be in groups, so having a large tank is favorable.
The water temperature should be at 22 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius. The pH level ideally should be at 9. They also prefer hard waters at 12 to 14 dGH. I recommend you invest in a bubbler because they love to be in an oxygen-rich environment.
Conclusion
The Frontosa is a great addition to your tank. They boast of a unique appearance with their hump heads. They also have a blue color that will add a pop of color to your tank. Many people think that Frontosa is difficult to manage. It would be best if you had research to take care of them.
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