Frontosa help......

[..puSkar..]

So the lfs ordered 6 3-4" Frontosa but what he got were 8 0.5" Fries.
They were poorly packed and the oxygen had leaked, when they arrived 5 we're already dead on arrival. The remaining three were put in the tank and 2 of those didn't survive the night.
So what is left is a 0.5 inch frontosa hanging in there. A similar incident had happened in feb 2021 where he received 0.5" Argentea fry instead if the 3" Ones. 6 we're dead 4 remained but covered with ich and white poo. He called me up as he knows he won't be able to give them the proper conditions. I got them but 3 died within a week and I have 1 left that us a glss banger at 3" Super aggressive he kills whatever goes into the tank .
So I think I'll be getting the frontosa and trying the best to save it but the problem is that he's the only 1 and I'd have to quarentine it in a 10 gallon and by what I've heard they are super skittish. Should I get some mollys and platys to go in with him?
And after the 1 week quarentine I plan on shifting it to my 40 breeder, how may months could he stay in there before it outgrows ? And what tankmates should I get him to feel less stressed?
Thanks ?

 

[1 2many]

Sorry to hear about the shoddy packing and delivery conditions you’ve been experiencing lately.

Any luck rescuing it?

I don’t own any Frontosa, but I do have some experience with Tanganyikan cichlids. I would quarantine the fish by itself. No platys or Molly’s. I wouldn’t attempt adding any tank mates for a little bit. To help reduce stress and skittishness use dim lighting on the aquarium and try creating your own Tanganyikan biotope. Use a lot of chunk rocks to achieve this while still allowing plenty of open space to swim/explore.
After your fish settles in good tank mates would be Altolamprologus Calvus/Compressiceps and various Synodontis cats. These are generally good tank mates for most Tanganyikan communities because they are mostly peaceful and very hardy.