Burundi Six-Bar Frontosa Care Guide

The Burundi Six-Bar is a regional form of Cyphotilapia frontosa from Lake Tanganyika, a slow-growing centrepiece needing a large tank and a colony.

Overview

The Burundi Six-Bar is a regional form of Cyphotilapia frontosa, a large deep-water cichlid from Lake Tanganyika. It shows bold black vertical bars on a white-blue body and develops a pronounced nuchal hump on the forehead of dominant males. It is a slow-growing, long-lived centrepiece species.

Taxonomy

Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Cyphotilapia
Scientific name: Cyphotilapia frontosa "Burundi 6-Bar"
Note: the bar count distinguishes regional forms

Habitat

Cyphotilapia frontosa is endemic to Lake Tanganyika and widespread in the northern half of the lake. It lives at depth, typically 30-50 m below the surface, rising toward shallower water in the early morning to hunt. The Burundi form originates from the lake's northern shores.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 600 L
Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
pH: 8.5-9.2
GH: 12-25 °dGH
Group size: keep a colony of 5 or more
Lifespan: 15-25 years

Diet

In the wild, Cyphotilapia frontosa is a predator that hunts shoaling fish such as Cyprichromis at night and also takes snails and mussels. In the aquarium it is fed meaty foods; overfeeding should be avoided given its slow metabolism, so a once-daily feeding suits adults.

Compatibility

This is a semi-aggressive species best kept as a colony with mid-water Cyprichromis and catfish such as Synodontis multipunctatus. Small fish under about 8 cm may be eaten. Avoid boisterous mbuna and Tropheus, whose higher activity and aggression conflict with the slow, deliberate Frontosa.

Breeding

Cyphotilapia frontosa is a maternal mouthbrooder; the female incubates eggs in her buccal cavity and guards the early larvae. Captive breeding is rated intermediate, with slow growth meaning patience is required.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List assesses Cyphotilapia frontosa as Near Threatened (assessed 12 March 2025) under criterion A2d.