# Frontosa Cichlid (*Cyphotilapia frontosa*)

Frontosa Cichlids have a unique shape and are known for their beautiful blue and white colors. They are calm and like to hang out in their tank.

- **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Also known as:** Cyphotilapia frontosa, Humphead Cichlid

![Frontosa Cichlid](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425838/objects/4752.jpg)

## Appearance

The Frontosa Cichlid has a striking appearance with six or seven distinct vertical black bands across its body, contrasted with a white or bluish-white background. Adults, particularly males, develop a prominent, fatty nuchal hump on their forehead.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Actinopterygii
- **Order:** Perciformes
- **Family:** Cichlidae
- **Genus:** Cyphotilapia

## Interesting facts

- Frontosas are only found in one super-deep lake in all the world!
- Sometimes, they sleep completely upside down tucked into rocky crevices!
- These amazing fish keep their eggs and babies safe inside their mouths!
- They can change how bright their stripes are to show if they are happy or scared!

## Special abilities

- **Deep Dweller:** Frontosa Cichlid can thrive in deep, dark waters because their eyes are adapted to low light conditions.
- **Forehead Hump Display:** Frontosa Cichlid has a large forehead hump that helps them attract mates and signal dominance to other fish.
- **Slow-Mo Ambush:** Frontosa Cichlid can silently ambush prey because they move slowly and blend into their rocky habitat.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 25-35 cm
- **Weight:** 1-1.5 kg
- **Lifespan:** 15-25 years
- **Swim Speed:** 7 km/h
- **Maximum Depth:** 70 m
- **Water Type:** Freshwater

## Diet & Feeding

Frontosa Cichlids are opportunistic hunters that primarily feast on smaller fish and invertebrates.

- **Primary Foods:** smaller fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects
- **Foraging Method:** Ambush

## Ecological connections

- **Hunts:** Dardenne's Limnotilapia (*Limnotilapia dardennei*) — Preys on smaller cichlids that swim near its rocky habitat.
- **Eaten by:** Giant Cichlid (*Boulengerochromis microlepis*) — Larger predatory fish in the lake might prey on juvenile Frontosa.
- **Hunts:** Duboisi Cichlid (*Tropheus duboisi*) — Frontosa Cichlids are known to ambush young Tropheus cichlids.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
- [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

## Collections

- [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Frontosa Cichlid?

Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Frontosa Cichlid?

25-35 cm

### How much does Frontosa Cichlid weigh?

1-1.5 kg

### How long does Frontosa Cichlid live?

15-25 years

### What does Frontosa Cichlid eat?

Frontosa Cichlids are opportunistic hunters that primarily feast on smaller fish and invertebrates.

### How fast can Frontosa Cichlid swim?

7 km/h

### How does Frontosa Cichlid hunt?

Ambush

### How deep can Frontosa Cichlid go?

70 m

## More Fish

- [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*)
- [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*)
- [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*)
- [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*)

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Source: [Frontosa Cichlid: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/frontosa-cichlid)