280 Gallon Frontosa Tank

['Merica]

Happy Easter monsterfishkeepers. I moved to Florida about 5 years ago and had to rehome all my fish before that. I’ve dabbled with different fish since then and during that time have found that my water parameters really work well for African cichlids.

Last week I was a visiting a friend to look at his Peacocks for a different project I am working on. I ended up not wanting those, but he had multiple groups of Frontosas. I asked if he would be willing to part with some, and he agreed. I got 2 males and 8 females. Some of my limited research suggested up to 15 may be ok with this tank, but ultimately I decided to air on the side of caution, and go with 10 as my intuition suggested that may be stretching it with my limited knowledge on such things.

Currently, I am just feeding Northfin Jumbo Fish. I am thinking of ordering some type of NLS as well and adding shrimp and other frozen in to the rotation.

Thanks for checking this thread out and feel free to offer your diet tips and other guidance as you see fit.

The tank is 72” x 30” x 30” and has two FX6s. One has a uv light plumbed in to it which inadvertently reduces flow a bit. I reduced flow on the other FX6 to match and have an air stone on either end.

 

[ken31cay]

Very nice fish. I usually feed northfin cichlid food as a staple and northfin krill gold as a treat to my Frontosa groups I've had but once I feed other food such as cut pieces of raw shrimp or frozen krill, they don't take the pellets as readily. My current group are spoiled and only eat the shrimp and krill.

 

['Merica]

Very nice fish. I usually feed northfin cichlid food as a staple and northfin krill gold as a treat to my Frontosa groups I've had but once I feed other food such as cut pieces of raw shrimp or frozen krill, they don't take the pellets as readily. My current group are spoiled and only eat the shrimp and krill.

That’s good to know. Have you noticed a difference in their health and looks in a diet of primarily pellets versus one with more frozen food?

 

[ken31cay]

That’s good to know. Have you noticed a difference in their health and looks in a diet of primarily pellets versus one with more frozen food?

There was no difference. But what I noticed was that my groups ate the shrimp and krill with gusto, much better than they ever ate the pellets. My Frontosa groups over the last eight years have all been wild-caught blue zaire variants (gibberosa).

 

['Merica]

There was no difference. But what I noticed was that my groups ate the shrimp and krill with gusto, much better than they ever ate the pellets. My Frontosa groups over the last eight years have all been wild-caught blue zaire variants (gibberosa).

What has your experience been with them spawning? Do all of the females in your groups spawn? How frequently per year do they do so? Do you strip them? Do you imagine this experience would differ from more domestic Burundi type groups?

 

[ken31cay]

I haven't had any one group long enough for them to be mature enough to breed. I've had my current group of 29 (~3F/1M) for about 1.5 years now and they were 3.5"-5" when I got them, so I figure I've got around another year and a half before I can expect to see any spawing activity. I do plan to keep this group for the long haul though.

 

[danotaylor]

What’s up mate. Nice looking group of Burundis. Nice size tank as well. 30” front to back and 30” high is a nice feature.
I have had numerous groups over the years. Kapampa. Mikula. Now Moba.
I feed strictly pellets as their staple. A mix of bug pro, xtreme & fluval bug bites. In the spring when we get a lot of rain night crawlers & red wiggler worms lay up on our blacktop driveway and for a month or so I’ll throw 20-30 small ones at a time into their tank.
Like Ken, I have never kept mine long enough to reach breeding age. My current group of moba is young, bought them at 4-5” just a few months back. They’re prolly 2.5-3year away from breeding.
Here’s a pic of my guys!

 

['Merica]

Here’s an update from this morning. I think there might be a slight difference in color. Nothing new really to report except that I ordered some NLS Thera+ jumbo for them. So far I have just been feeding the Northfin Jumbo in sparing amounts.

 

['Merica]

What’s up mate. Nice looking group of Burundis. Nice size tank as well. 30” front to back and 30” high is a nice feature.
I have had numerous groups over the years. Kapampa. Mikula. Now Moba.
I feed strictly pellets as their staple. A mix of bug pro, xtreme & fluval bug bites. In the spring when we get a lot of rain night crawlers & red wiggler worms lay up on our blacktop driveway and for a month or so I’ll throw 20-30 small ones at a time into their tank.
Like Ken, I have never kept mine long enough to reach breeding age. My current group of moba is young, bought them at 4-5” just a few months back. They’re prolly 2.5-3year away from breeding.
Here’s a pic of my guys!
View attachment 1574851View attachment 1574852

Awesome! Thanks for sharing. They are beautiful. I appreciate your insights.