Frontosa Blue Zaire

Also known as a Blue Mpimbwe, the Zaire Blue Frontosa is rare, difficult to breed, and commands a higher price than other frontosas. In part, the demand for blue Zaires is due to the nice blue color accents on the fins and bar body pattern. Like all frontosas, these cichlids are hardy and live more than twenty years. They are a rusty-colored version of their broad-banded cousins. These are splendid cichlids, and males grow a distinctive hump on their head. These fish are appropriate for a large species community or cichlid tank. Since they are difficult to breed and grow slowly like most Tanganyikans, they are a bit more expensive than their Lake Malawi cousins. Some Tanganyikans, like tropheus cichlids, require vegetables, but the frontosa is a big, fat-headed meat eater.

The breeders are selling the blue Zaires before they get very big, so right now they are only one inch.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Frontosa need a sand bottom, a few large, stable rock caves and lots of open water. Keep the lighting moderate. Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika cichlids need hard, alkaline water; crushed coral or aragonite sand helps hold the pH up.

Feeding: Feed a quality sinking cichlid pellet once a day. They also enjoy frozen foods like shrimp. Avoid feeder fish, which can carry disease.

Tankmates: Frontosa do best in a group with other peaceful, large Tanganyikans like calvus and cyprichromis (adult frontosa will eat small fish), plus synodontis catfish.

Good to know: Frontosa grow slowly and can live 20 years or more, so they are a long-term commitment.