Fronts

[lukefang]

hello experts out there,

I need help differentiating between the variations of fronts.

Basically in Singapore, its hard to find variations of fronts such as Zaire Blue or the Mpimbwe. Typically, we can only get Burundis. As such, I have requested the LFS to specially import the Zaire Blue. Thus I'm here seeking your grace on how to actually recognise a good zaire blue or even differentiate it between there variations.

cheers

 

[mshuangchao]

Frontosa are an amazing fish, full of character. Like said before be sure to do your homework, the link for info on this site and cichlidforum should help alot. It is best to get a group of atleast six or more, I personally started my group with 15 F1 fry half from one breeder and half from another. I keep my colony in sand and only have a few larger round rocks in the tank, gives them enough shelter to feel secure but not enough to hide and claim territory all the time.

The diet is key as everyone else has mentioned, I feed mine a blend of krill, plankton, spirillina, flake, and tetra sinking cichlid pellets, you want to avoid floating foods as some fronts can get air bubbles trapped from swallowing surface are, ive never had this problem but know those who have.

There are several variants to choose from, each having its own great features.

Zaire/kapampa/moba are a darker deeper blue and usually cost a little more for it

Mpimbwe/ikolo are a lighter blue, more of a carolina blue

Burundi most commonly seen in the hobby, known for its very large nochal hump

there are many more but these are my favorites, of these I choose to go with mpimbwe as they are a much more active variant, commonly refered to as the puppy dog of the frontosa.

I think des4365 will answer your question, thanx des4365!

 

[lukefang]

haha oh no! I should have ordered the Mpimbwe! I hope the zaire blue will also be like lilttle puppies..

 

[qwesty]

The biggest difference that you will be able to spot will be in the mask. The zaire varients will have the zorro mask. Tanzanian varients have a lone ranger mask and the northern species have a full eye stripe.

If they are juvies it will be pretty much impossible to give a postive ID on them. My recommendation is to see if they will let you take a picture of them in the store and post it on here so we can help you ID it before you purchase them.