About Burundi Frontosa's. Help!

[AnDr3w]

Couple of questions for you cichlid experts!

1. About how much is a fair price for a 2.25 to 2.5 inch fish? I can get a deal at 14 dollars a piece. Is that good?

2. P.h. and water chemistry are what, like 8.5 and hard water?

3. What do I need to keep them happy?

4. If I were to get four (1m 3f), and I had everything right, about how long would it be before they started to breed?

5. Do you suggest I get more then 4?

6. How big do they get?

7. What size tank will I need for four adults?

8. I'd start them in a 30g tank with other cichlids. How long would it be before they outgrew that?

Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[AnDr3w]

Omg will some one help me please?

 

[Oddball]

$14 each for w/c burundis or F1 is an OK price. For farm-raised burundis, it's about twice what you can get them for.

pH of 7,5 and up will promote their best coloration (IMO). But, they've been known to do well in neutral conditions, too. Aragonite and limestone are the most common methods of promoting optimum alkalinity for fronts to thrive.

Proper maintenance (water changes/gravel washes) and a varied diet will keep them happy.

You'll need surgery to sex 2.5 inch fronts. They're very difficult to sex from 4" on down.

2.5 inchers will have a couple of years ahead of them before expecting any breeding action from them.

Fronts prefer colony lifestyles so, the larger the group, the more comfortable they are. (Tank size, especially the footprint, is the limiting factor).

Male burundis achieve an adult size commonly around a foot. However, some have reached the 14" mark. Females are usually around the 6-8" mark as full adults.

4 full adults can be kept in a 75-100 gal tank if breeding (and ease of maintenance) is the goal.

Without knowing the other inhabitants of the 30 or the maintenance schedule, it's difficult to predetermine how long 4 fronts will tak e to grow out in a 30. Figure on a year or less.

 

[toehead11183]

well he pretty much covered it! once again oddball knows all!

 

[AnDr3w]

The fish in the 30 are in my signature. How fast do they grow in a month? You think I can get away with 6 adults in a 125?

 

[carpediem]

The fish in the 30 are in my signature. How fast do they grow in a month? You think I can get away with 6 adults in a 125?

Figure I should probably hurry up and answer

I'll just cut right to the chase. I wouldn't buy 6 fronts and put them in a 30 with those other fish. If you're going to be getting a 125 in a month, then wait until you get the new tank. 6 will be fine in a 125 but I wouldn't get any more than that.

 

[AnDr3w]

Instead of 6, what if I bought four. How long would they be in there comfortably?

 

[riskistang]

If I was you I would wait until you get your new set up going then get the fronts....Fronts are better off as a single species tank for breeding.....they are very skidish fish and need spots to hide and "dart"....if it is a small tank, when they freak...tehy will dart into the glass or rocks.....they do best in min. amounts of deco with all smooth edges......so if they do dart, they wont hurt themselves on lets say...lava rock or broken pots.....they are too much money to have them get hurt.....

for the prices for the fry they are good.....prob F2/3's......not many people have wild burundis these days, and most are ofspring of ofspring.....just try to get ones with solid bars on both sides...(6 bars for burundis and others, except for 7 strip, kigoma's)

If you are looking into breeding anytime soon......dont get the juv's......they take a few yrs to reach adults and breeding maturity...mainly the males....If I was you I would get the a pre established colony of 5-8 but expect to pay atleast 300 plus depending on the species....burundis eing the common and cheapest.....and they produce large amounts of fry when adults over the other species of frontosa's......

all in all....wait til you are ready for them.....you will be much more happier if you do....

 

[AnDr3w]

If I was you I would wait until you get your new set up going then get the fronts....Fronts are better off as a single species tank for breeding.....they are very skidish fish and need spots to hide and "dart"....if it is a small tank, when they freak...tehy will dart into the glass or rocks.....they do best in min. amounts of deco with all smooth edges......so if they do dart, they wont hurt themselves on lets say...lava rock or broken pots.....they are too much money to have them get hurt.....

for the prices for the fry they are good.....prob F2/3's......not many people have wild burundis these days, and most are ofspring of ofspring.....just try to get ones with solid bars on both sides...(6 bars for burundis and others, except for 7 strip, kigoma's)

If you are looking into breeding anytime soon......dont get the juv's......they take a few yrs to reach adults and breeding maturity...mainly the males....If I was you I would get the a pre established colony of 5-8 but expect to pay atleast 300 plus depending on the species....burundis eing the common and cheapest.....and they produce large amounts of fry when adults over the other species of frontosa's......

all in all....wait til you are ready for them.....you will be much more happier if you do....

Ok, thanks. I will. But BTW, they were F0.

 

[riskistang]

Ok, thanks. I will. But BTW, they were F0.

I would find that very hard to believe as most wild frontosa's are caught when they are min of 4-5 inches.....and burundi's are not big on the importing due to the vast amount of them already state side....so if they are smaller than 4-5 inches tehy are offsprings....and the odds of them being offspring of true wild fish are slim to none on the burundis......ask around on other forums or on here....