Cyphotilapia frontosa 'Zongwe'

Cyphotilapia frontosa 'Zongwe' features crisp, bold black and white barring across the full body with a characteristic blue-grey wash that intensifies in dominant males. This population is collected from the central lake area near Zongwe and is exported primarily through Zambian collection networks.

The Zongwe Frontosa is considered one of the better-defined geographic morphs in terms of consistent barring pattern and bar count. Adults develop a moderately sized nuchal hump and the blue wash deepens noticeably in well-conditioned males over several years.

Care is identical to other Frontosa populations: large deep aquarium, cool-to-moderate water temperature relative to other Tanganyika species, protein-rich but infrequent feeding, and compatible large Tanganyika tankmates.

Water: 24–26°C, pH 7.8–9.0, GH 10–18, KH 8–16; deep-water origin means slightly lower temperatures than littoral species are tolerated well. Tank: 500 L minimum with generous height; open midwater swimming; rock formations along back wall. Feeding: High-quality large cichlid pellets; whole frozen shrimp and krill; feed adults 2–3 times weekly. Breeding: Harem mouthbrooder; 30–60 eggs; female holds 4–5 weeks; fry large enough to accept small pellets immediately. Compatibility: Excellent with other large peaceful Tanganyika species; avoid with aggressive or nippy species.