Breeding the frontosa
Maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries a small brood of large eggs in her mouth for a long time. Sexual maturity takes several years.
Step by step
Buy 6-8 young fish and grow them for 4-5 years. Pairs form slowly.
A 125+ gallon (470 L) tank with caves, 24-26 C, hard alkaline water.
Cool water, clean tank, and heavy feeding. Pairs spawn only when mature.
Usually 10-50 eggs, depending on the female's size; she holds them for about 35-50+ days (5-7+ weeks).
Release fry after 5 weeks. Feed baby brine shrimp, then crushed flake. Growth is slow.
- Buying fish too young
- Tank too small
- Poor water quality
Male or female
Juveniles cannot be sexed reliably. Adult males grow larger, with longer fins and a bigger forehead hump.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Hard: for experienced breeders.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for mouthbrooders
- 21 days beforeGroup and condition
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
- Day 0Spawning
The female takes the eggs into her mouth and stops eating.
- Day 21Release
After about 3 weeks the female releases fully formed fry. Many breeders move her to a quiet tank first.
- Day 21First food
Fry eat crushed flake and baby brine shrimp straight away.
- Day 90Grow-out
Fry are a few centimetres long after about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.