Frontosa in 6ft tank

[Steve]

Questions for you guys that have kept fronts before. After picking up a nice size male frontosa at the auction I have him in a 75g right now by himself, but plan to move my 7" female in with him soon and then use that tank as a temp tank to house maybe a trio of fronts just over the winter and then in the spring get a 6ft 125g and move them into that. Couple questions about that...

In a 125g 6ft tank how many fronts is a good number? and can anything else be kept with fronts? I was reading where some people keep Calvus with them?

[jcunningham0295]

At full size I would probably say no more than 10 to 12 in a 6 ft tank.  I seen people keep calves, I had some leleupi in with mine, just made them a rock pile in the corner.

[Ron]

IMO, a max of 4 in a 75 (48"x18" footprint) and around 8 in a 72"x18" footprint. Of course you can start with more if they are smaller and whittle down the numbers as they get larger. Fronts get pretty large though.

As for tankmates, my impression is that they are best kept most often as a species setup, perhaps with a few other non-boisterous fish that are too large to fit in a fronts mouth. 

So just what kind is your male? And what kind is the female?

[Steve]

So just what kind is your male? And what kind is the female?

The male I bought at the auction yesterday was labeled so I know he is a F1 Burundi Male. The female I am not sure, guessing Burundi as well maybe? I bought her at Oceans & Seas about a year ago and they didn't have her labeled as to what collection point. Not sure if there's anyway to tell for sure by looks or not since I'm just now trying to learn about fronts, but here's a pic of both of them, maybe you can tell? (shes the second picture). I can tell you she is one tough girl though. She's been in my hap/peacock tank which currently has a 7" bleekeri in it and when he starts to chase her she turns around with her gills flared and mouth open and backs him right down 

 

 

[danielratti]

I'm not a expert but they look to be the same.

[Regalblue]

IIRC- My colony was 11 at 6-10"
 I had them with a bunch of brichardi & there was no issues.

[mibwb]

I'm not a expert but they look to be the same.

Look closer, one is black with whitish stripes or bars and the other is whitish with black stripes or bars

[Regalblue]

I'm not a expert but they look to be the same.

Look closer, one is black with whitish stripes or bars and the other is whitish with black stripes or bars

Haha!

[Ron]

So just what kind is your male? And what kind is the female?

The male I bought at the auction yesterday was labeled so I know he is a F1 Burundi Male. The female I am not sure, guessing Burundi as well maybe? I bought her at Oceans & Seas about a year ago and they didn't have her labeled as to what collection point. Not sure if there's anyway to tell for sure by looks or not since I'm just now trying to learn about fronts, but here's a pic of both of them, maybe you can tell?

I'm not well versed in fronts. IIRC, there are 5 different species of fronts / gibberosa. Then among species, there are different collection points. IMO, it's often similar to malawian peacocks in that you need to trust from whomever you purchase, that it is the species and collection point they claim it is.

I kept 7-stripes ... easy to tell from the others because the bar count is easily recognized.

The others IIRC, all have 6 strips. Things such as tooth count, scale count, etc, help distriguish them. I'd like to say that Brundi's always stood out next best to me after the 7-stripes as looking different from the rest. The male strikes me as a Brundi. The female, I'm not so sure, but don't want to make a claim either way because I'm just not an expert in this area.

I'd suggest for a mixed-sex tank, that you try to keep a single "species" if possible. Otherwise, maybe try for an all male tank instead and keep the female with the haps?

[danielratti]

You can go by the mask on there face that is generally what I go off of.

[Steve]

I'd suggest for a mixed-sex tank, that you try to keep a single "species" if possible. Otherwise, maybe try for an all male tank instead and keep the female with the haps?

Is that for aggression reasons or to make sure they don't cross breed? Also the male I just got doesn't seem to be eating yet, he ignores pellets and flakes completely, he did suck in a veggie styx but them spit it back out. I was reading where they are carnivores and are supposed to like frozen foods so I was thinking of heading out to pick him up some krill today maybe? Also was thinking maybe he just doesn't like being alone so thought about putting the female in with him for a bit to make him more comfortable?

I know I'm probably over thinking things and he'll probably be settled in soon but I just want to make sure I take care of him properly.

[danielratti]

He might beat the female up if you do that.  If you got him Saturday it might take some time to get him to eat

[mibwb]

 Also the male I just got doesn't seem to be eating yet, he ignores pellets and flakes completely, he did suck a veggie styx spit it out. maybe he just doesn't like being alone so thought about putting the female in with him for a bit to make him more comfortable?

I'm over thinking things and he'll probably be settled in soon

With your luck Steve, he'll probably be a steak and lobster guy..
Don't be in a rush with the ladies...he might have just be in a bad relationship and just needs some alone time, to just be himself.....There's plenty of time to find out if he's a lover or fighter...let him settle in, get relaxed, get the place the way he likes its and he'll start eating....then worry about cohabitation..JS     

[Steve]

Okay makes sense, I'll wait on putting her with him then. Just got back with some krill for him so I'll see if that's to his liking.

BTW Mike I saw I missed a call from you the other evening, I'll give ya a buzz in a bit.

[Steve]

Well looks like he's a meat lover, just got him to eat three good size pieces of Krill. He was unsure of the first piece but after eating that he got excited for the next two  He probably would have ate more but I don't want to give him too much all at once.