Black Widow Frontosa

 

fish description – Black Widow Frontosa Care Guide ($Cyphotilapia\ sp.$ ‘Black Widow’ Strain)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Cyphotilapia\ sp.$ (‘Black Widow’ Strain)
Common Name	Black Widow Frontosa, Marbled Frontosa, Humphead Cichlid
Origin	Deep, rocky waters of Lake Tanganyika (Africa)
Adult Size	10–12 inches (25–30 cm)
Temperament	Semi-aggressive, Territorial, Group Social (forms hierarchy), Carnivorous
Lifespan	15–25 years
Care Level	Advanced (Due to size, water quality needs, and specialized water chemistry)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A massive, deep-bodied cichlid with a distinct hump that develops on the forehead of mature males (nuchal hump). This strain has a dark body (black/deep blue) with irregular, marbled, or blotchy black patterning instead of the typical six or seven clean vertical bars.
• Coloration: Dark body with mottled or broken black patterns. Males grow larger and develop a much more prominent, fatty nuchal hump. Females are smaller and rounder-bodied, with a smaller or absent hump.
• Fins: Long, flowing dorsal and anal fins.
• Behavior: A relatively slow-moving, mid-to-bottom dweller. They are gregarious and form social hierarchies, which is best managed in a group. They are opportunistic predators that hunt small fish at night and are sensitive to bright light.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons (475 liters) is the absolute minimum for a small group (5-6 juveniles). 180 gallons or larger is required for a mature colony. The tank must be long and wide.
• Group Size: Must be kept in a group (harem) of at least 5–6 individuals to reduce stress and diffuse aggression (a single male with multiple females is ideal).
• Temperature: Tropical range: $72^\circ$–$82^\circ\text{F}\ (22^\circ$–$28^\circ\mathrm{C})$ (stability is essential).
• pH Level: Hard, alkaline water is mandatory: 8.0 to 9.0. They require very high $\text{KH}$ (10–20 $\text{dKH}$) for stability. Pristine water quality (nitrates below 20 $\text{ppm}$) and powerful filtration are crucial due to their long lifespan and bioload.
• Aquascape: Requires a soft sand or fine gravel substrate (as they dig). Decorate with heavy, stacked rockwork and caves to replicate their rocky, deep-water habitat. Dim lighting (or diffused light with floating plants) is preferred, as bright light stresses them.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Frontosa is an omnivore with a strong carnivorous preference (piscivore/crustacean eater).

• Staple Diet: High-quality sinking cichlid pellets or sinking sticks.
• Supplementation: Diet must be rich in protein and low in fat. Offer sinking frozen foods regularly: Prawns (Krill, Mysis Shrimp), Clams, and White Fish Fillet. Occasional vegetable matter (spirulina wafers) is beneficial. Avoid bloodworms and mammalian meat (beef heart) due to high fat content and digestibility issues (linked to Malawi Bloat).
• Schedule: They are slow, deliberate eaters. Feed once or twice daily.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Will eat any fish small enough to fit in its mouth (under 2 inches). Avoid aggressive or overly boisterous cichlids (e.g., Mbuna) that may harass the slower-moving Frontosa.
• Good Tank Mates: Other large, robust, and relatively peaceful cichlids from Lake Tanganyika and similar hardy, large fish. Examples include Tropheus, Julidochromis, Larger Synodontis Catfish, and Large Plecos.