Fish
Frontosa Cichlid
Cyphotilapia frontosa · also called humphead cichlid
A prominent fatty bump grows more pronounced with each passing year on the forehead of a frontosa cichlid, a slow-growing, long-lived fish that patrols the deep, dark waters of Lake Tanganyika far below where many of its lake-mates prefer to stay.
Overview
The frontosa cichlid, Cyphotilapia frontosa, is a Least Concern fish native to the deep waters of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Its growing forehead hump, bold vertical striping, and preference for deeper water than many other lake cichlids make it one of the more distinctive and long-lived cichlids found in Africa’s Great Lakes.
A bump that tells its age
Unlike many fish whose appearance changes little after reaching adulthood, the frontosa cichlid keeps developing a more prominent forehead bump as it continues to age, giving experienced keepers a rough sense of an individual’s maturity just by looking at its profile.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable deep-water habitat in Lake Tanganyika.
Frontosa Cichlid: common questions
Why does the frontosa cichlid have a bump on its head?
It develops a fatty hump on the forehead that grows larger and more pronounced as the fish matures, a feature particularly noticeable in older, larger individuals.
How deep does the frontosa cichlid live in Lake Tanganyika?
It lives at greater depths than many other Lake Tanganyika cichlids, often found well below the surface in deeper, darker water than many of its lake-mates prefer.
Does the frontosa cichlid grow quickly?
No, it grows notably slowly compared to many other cichlid species, but it can live for well over a decade in captivity as a result.
Does the frontosa cichlid live in pairs or groups?
It typically lives in loose social groups rather than strictly defending paired territories, a social structure that differs from many other cichlid species.