Tank Mate For Fronts...what Fish Am I Thinking Of?

[Lisa67]

I have a 75 gal tank with 4 medium size frontosa, 3 young calvus and 1 comp. I am currently cycling a 125 gal tank for them. I plan to add a few more frontosa. Recently I was looking online to see if there are any other suitable tank mates for them and came across a Lake Tang cichlid that was yellow/orange (it kind of looked like a mbuna, but not quite). I already know that MANY of you will tell me that I should keep a front only tank. Still, I'd really like to add just a few of these other Lake Tang cichlids if possible... just to add a little color (and possibly action since the fronts don't move much). I'm also open to suggestions if someone has a better idea. Thanks in advance!

 

[Lisa67]

I think I may have found it...a Neolamprologus leleupi? Does anyone successfully keep them with frontosa?

 

[#1 Cichlids]

I think I may have found it...a Neolamprologus leleupi? Does anyone successfully keep them with frontosa?

leleupi & fronts would not be a good mix as the fronts will swollow them,years ago i had this mix in a 55 tang tank with 4 fronts than added 12 leleupi to be sad the next day the bellys of the fronts was full,you live and learn,but happy to share this with you #1 Cichlids

 

[kiriyama]

Never kept Fronts myself, but for what I have heard from folks that do is tankmates are a bit hit and miss, the Fronts either gt there fins nipped or if the tankmates are small enough to fit in the Fronts mouth it will normally become an early morning snack, have even heard of Tropheus ending up as Front food......

Cheers, Sean

 

[Lisa67]

Hmmm there must be something I can add a few of for some color... i want to stick to Lake Tang

 

[#1 Cichlids]

Hmmm there must be something I can add a few of for some color... i want to stick to Lake Tang

Add a few more frontosas and stick with the calvus,but i like to warn you calvus eat young ones,fry,but as far for a tang mix,it is a hit and miss,fronts dont like fast pace moving fish as well,but im clue less to say the lease to add with the mix,its kind of touchy,but like what you said Lisa,fronts are best kept alone

 

[Lisa67]

Well, it's a few weeks later and I finially moved my fronts into the 125 gal tank. I took everyones advise and added 3 more of them. There are now 7 frontosa. I didn't think 7 of the same type of fish would look like much, but seeing all 7 of them swim together is beautiful. There are also 3 comps and 1 calvus in there, but they are on the small side. The frontosa make the tank!

 

[Man of fish]

I didn't think adding 5 more cardinal tetras to my shoal would make much of a difference, but they shoal together more actively now and stay right in the middle in the back of my tank. Nice little guys.
Congratz on that

 

[doresy]

Check out the stocking in my signature. All living well together and not lost a fish in over 2 years.......