Cyphotilapia frontosa
Black Widow Frontosa
Black Widow Frontosa
19 in stock
Remarks: The black widow frontosa is a man-made variant of frontosa. They will not have the typical baring like six stripe frontosa have, instead their bars break and bleed into one other making for an interesting pattern. No two black widow frontosas will ever look the same and their pattern can change as they grow.
We do offer six stripe frontosa that carry, but do not display the black widow gene. These are throw-offs from black widow frontosas so they will look more like the six stripe frontosa, but may have some slightly different markings as they mature. They can be a more affordable alternative to start your own black widow breeding project once they mature as there is a very high chance at least some of their offspring will be black widows.
Frontosa are an extremely iconic and desirable Tanganyikan cichlid within the fish keeping hobby. Before they were commonly captive bred, it was very difficult to obtain one of these fish, let alone a healthy specimen, as they typically are found at great depths in the lake where little sunlight reaches. This meant that wild caught fish commonly got decompression sickness when being brought to the surface too quickly. At these depths, they hunt smaller, open-water fish species such as Cyprichromis and feed on algae growing on rocks when they wander to shallower sections.
Contrary to most large cichlids, frontosa are actually very social and travel in large schools of hundreds of individuals in the depths of Lake Tanganyika. They form a social hierarchy with more dominant males growing larger and developing a large nuchal hump on their head to impress females. Females and lesser dominant males also will get a nuchal hump as they grow, but nowhere near as large as a dominant male's. There is great variation among the different localities and varieties of frontosa, but what is common amongst them is their beautiful white or silver bodies tinged with a striking blue color and adorned with nicely contrasting black markings. The differences in these black markings is typically a good way to to differentiate between them.
As there isn't much structure for their fry to hide from predators in after they hatch, frontosa take mouth brooding to the next level. The female will actually keep the fry in her mouth until they are fully independent, unlike other mouth brooders who keep their fry outside their mouth a majority of the time once they are free swimming. To feed her young after they have absorbed their yolk sack, the female will seek out tiny foods to take into her mouth for the fry feed on, even carefully chewing larger foods to break it down for them. For this reason, feeding lots of small foods such as moina or baby brine shrimp can actually help trigger spawning in captive frontosa, even if the adults do not eat it.
These days, almost all frontosa in the hobby are captive bred and a bit hardier than their wild counterparts. However, they still require a proper set up and correct water parameters to live long, healthy, and happy lives. As they are an open water species, they need lots of swimming space with a minimum of 150 gallons for a single fish and 250 gallons or more for a pair or small group. Frontosa, while being omnivores, react poorly to animal meat as they can't digest it properly so their protein should come from fish or invertebrate based foods. Vegetable/algae based foods are also necessary to promote healthy digestion. All foods fed to frontosa should be of the sinking variety as their bodies will not be able to expel any swallowed air when trying to eat floating foods.
Frontosa are known as gentle giants, typically being docile with fish that do not look like them and are not small enough to swallow, except when spawning during which they can be territorial. They actually can be rather shy and timid so they should not be housed with aggressive species like mbunas, haps, peacocks, or Central American cichlids as they are very likely to be bullied despite their size. Frontosa also grow very slowly so it is important to make sure their tank mates do not outgrow them. It will help these fish feel comfortable if lighting is dim as bright lights stress them out. Due to their size, dietary requirements, and intolerance for poor water quality, frontosa are not recommended as beginner fish. However, if the more experienced keeper provides these incredible fish with the right conditions, they can be rewarded with a very personable, elegant, showstopper of an addition to their aquarium.
Animal Data
Animal Data
- Native to: Lake Tanganyika, Africa
- Breeding: Tank-raised in USA
- Max adult size: 11-12"
- Diet: Omnivore
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive
- Care skill: Intermediate
Tank Parameters
Tank Parameters
- Temp range: 74°F - 80°F
- pH range: 8.0 - 9.0
- TDS range: 180 ppm - 450 ppm
- Min Tank Size: 150 gal
Shipping Info
Shipping Info
We provide premium next day air shipping at affordable flat rates to minimize transit time for the health of the fish.
US Zone 1 | UPS Next Day Air | $39.99 |
US Zone 2 | UPS Next Day Air | $49.99 |
US Zone 3 | UPS Next Day Air | $59.99 |
US Zone 4 | UPS Next Day Air | $69.99 |
Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska | UPS 1-2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
Canada | UPS 1-2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
Florida | UPS Next Day Ground | $19.99 |
Local pickup | Select at checkout | No charge |
No overseas shipping |
Minimum order for all shipping is $50 for mainland US, $100 elsewhere. Saturday delivery available for an extra $30. Shipping to Alaska and Canada is not flat rate and can be subject to additional fees based on location.
Important order and shipping info
Allow 2-4 business days to process and pack your order. You will receive a notification when it actually ships. Order cancellations are subject to a 10% restocking fee. Order changes cannot be made. However, if you wish to add to your order within 24 hours, you may place a second order with a request to combine the shipments. We will do our best to accommodate, however once an order is packaged and sealed it cannot be reopened.
Your order is covered by our Healthy & Happy Arrival Guarantee.
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Our Healthy & Happy Arrival guarantee
We've been packing and shipping live fish for over 50 years. When you buy from us, you get the healthiest stock and most experienced live fish shipping in the industry. So you know you won't be disappointed!
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Ordering FAQs
Will my fish look like the picture?
The majority of fish on our website will NOT look like their photos upon their unboxing. Fish change in appearance depending on many factors, including mood, age, gender, and social status. Fish will naturally lose color during shipping and may appear faded upon arrival. Pictures are used as examples only. Pictures may be of mature fish with full color or juvenile fish without color. We encourage you to research the species as much as possible prior to ordering in order to familiarize yourself with the various appearances they may take on. Many species have females that look drastically different to their male counterparts, and many juveniles will not have as much color (or different colors) as their adult forms. If you have questions about how the fish will look, please review their information and email us if you have any questions.
How do I know which fish can go together in my tank?
Research the product descriptions on our website and use Google search to help decide which fish can go together. PLEASE do your research and email us if you have any questions. Also, we have a very active Facebook group called Imperial Tropicals Fishkeepers where you can learn from knowledgable and experienced fishkeepers.
How do you ship live fish? Sounds risky!
We've been shipping live fish for over 50 years. we use specialized packaging and techniques to ensure their health. See how we do it.
How much does shipping cost?
We provide premium next day air shipping at affordable flat rates to minimize transit time for the health of the fish.
US Zone 1 | UPS Next Day Air | $39.99 |
US Zone 2 | UPS Next Day Air | $49.99 |
US Zone 3 | UPS Next Day Air | $59.99 |
US Zone 4 | UPS Next Day Air | $69.99 |
Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska | UPS 1-2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
Canada | UPS 1-2 Day Air | Starts at $89.99 |
Florida | UPS Next Day Ground | $19.99 |
Local pickup | Select at checkout | No charge |
No overseas shipping |
Minimum order for all shipping is $50 for mainland US, $100 elsewhere. Saturday delivery available for an extra $30. Shipping to Alaska and Canada is not flat rate and can be subject to additional fees based on location.
Important order and shipping info
Allow 2-4 business days to process and pack your order. You will receive a notification when it actually ships. Order cancellations are subject to a 10% restocking fee. Order changes cannot be made. However, if you wish to add to your order within 24 hours, you may place a second order with a request to combine the shipments. We will do our best to accommodate, however once an order is packaged and sealed it cannot be reopened.
Your order is covered by our Healthy & Happy Arrival Guarantee.
When will I get my order?
We need 2-4 days to select and pack your fish, you'll get a notification when it ships along with tracking info. It will arrive the next day or day after, depending on your location. See our Shipping Policy for full info.
What if my order is delayed? Will my fish be OK?
We ship hundreds of packages a week, and most are delivered without any issues thanks to our experienced team and premium air courier service. Our high-tech packaging is designed to sustain the animals a minimum of 2-3 days in the box, and in some cases longer, depending on the breed.
However, sometimes delays do occur. If this happens to your order, please document and contact us promptly following our inspection and documentation policies above in order to receive credit.
Can I change or cancel my order after it is placed?
Orders can be changed or cancelled within 24 hours, subject to a 10% restocking fee. Shipping is stressful for the animals and we cannot open boxes once they have been prepped and packed.
Can you hold my order until my tank is ready?
We can hold for a few days, but not beyond a week as inventory changes rapidly. Please only place your order when you know you will be ready to receive them.
What if my order is missing something?
First, please check the box and packaging thoroughly. If you are sure an item is missing please contact us immediately.
Do you offer pickup on local orders?
Yes! Just specify local pickup as your shipping option in checkout and we'll let you know when it is ready.
What if a fish I receive seems dead, sick or doesn't look right?
97% of our orders arrive without an issue. But if something goes wrong, no worries! You're covered under our Healthy & Happy Arrival Guarantee