How do you tell a good quality frontosa

[rcombs]

I purchased a frontosa. The person I bought it from said it was a kigoma. Does he look like one? I read somewhere that they had 7 stripes. Then again you cant believe everything you read on the internet right. I think he looks good but what do you look for to get a good quality Frontosa. I am going to start focusing on learning about these guys. They sparked an interest in me out of no where for some odd reason.

[danielratti]

Not a kigoma... maybe brundi

[rcombs]

Thought so. Thank you.

[Ron]

Yep, Kigoma have 7 stripes and the one over the face is more like a raccoon mask than a single-width stripe. If the person who sold you the fish doesn't know what it is, I'm not sure I'd consider it a good one to build a colony with.

[rcombs]

Yep, Kigoma have 7 stripes and the one over the face is more like a raccoon mask than a single-width stripe. If the person who sold you the fish doesn't know what it is, I'm not sure I'd consider it a good one to build a colony with.

Good advice Ron. This guy was just to see if I like fronts. Kind of an experiment. He will not be added with any other fronts. I do not want ANY Breeding with a fish I am unsure of.

He said he thinks its a kigoma. I bought him because I liked all of the blues on his fins. Then started to research some fronts trying to find something similar to him and got hooked on fronts. Also became almost positive that it was a brundi.

[rcombs]

Correct me if im wrong.

Gibberosa - 6 stripes, Zoro mask
Kigoma-  7 stipes
brundi- 6 stripes. one going all way through eye vertically from top to bottom.

[Ron]

I believe you're correct, but I'm not 100% on the gibberosa.

As for a quality front...
- known variant/local collection point
- correct, full stripes, with good spacing, no mooning (areas of white within the dark stripes that may or may not go completely through the stripe
- good color, body shape, full finnage, etc...

[Mastiffman]

Almost looks like and young Mpimbwe

[Marty]

Is the underside of the mouth all white, or does it have some darkness to it?

[jcunningham0295]

Almost looks like and young Mpimbwe

I thought Brundi was the only one that had the mask come up threw the eye and head.

[Mastiffman]

 Well Technically Speaking all Cypho's do. Some just vary in width of the mask as well as the length that it travels downward.. I just didn't think that Burundi would have that much blue on them at such a young age. WC typically don't have much blue to begin with from what I understand.

 You're probably right Josh. 

 But to answer the OP's Question: How to tell a quality Cypho?

 Buy True Wild Caught from a reputable Importer or F1 from the person that did. 

[20prima10]

watch out for the aggression out of the fronts. they need to be with several of there own species or you will end up with one angry big clumsy fish.. i had this problem a few months ago =[ in one night he killed two of my show male peacocks and did some good damage to three other

[Mastiffman]

That's atypical of what Cyphos really are. They are a Peaceful fish until spawning.... Unless underfed and in higher temps from my experience.