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Flowerhorn Cichlid Fish Information and Care Guide for Hobbyists

 

Flowerhorn meet the classic Three Spot Cichlid


Table of Contents


Flowerhorn Care the ultimate guide Flowerhorn cichlids are stunning and one-of-a-kind. Flowerhorns get their name from the prominent patterns on the side of their bodies that resemble flowers. The "horn" in their name comes from a prominent "nuchal hump" or "kok." Flowerhorn cichlids, like blood parrot cichlids, are hybrids that have been made by humans. Flowerhorns are domesticated aquarium fish that are not found in the wild unless they have been released by their owners since they are man-made. Flowerhorn cichlids are native to Asia, having originated in Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan. They have since spread around the globe, with the exception of Australia, where they are prohibited.

Flowerhorn cichlid history and origin


The lovely flowerhorn, unlike the blood parrot hybrid, was not created by accident. It is a man-made invention, with the flowerhorn cichlid's breeding dating back to 1993. Fish with projecting heads seen in western Malaysia were dubbed "Kaloi," which means "warships," and were thought to be very attractive. The Taiwanese believed that fish with long tails and prominent heads brought good luck. Trimac cichlids and red devil cichlids were transported from Central America to Maylasia in 1994, while the blood parrot cichlid was transferred from Taiwan to Malaysia. The flowerhorn cichlid was developed when these fish were mated together.

In 1995, the "Human Face Red God of Fortune" was crossed with blood parrots, resulting in the "Five Colors God of Fortune" breed. This stunning fish gained a lot of popularity due to its captivating hues. The selective breeding process continued over the years, culminating in the crossbreeding of the Central American "Seven Colors Blue Fiery Mouth," commonly known as the Greenish Gold Tiger, with the Taiwanese Jin Gang Blood Parrot in 1998. The first-generation Hua Luo Han flowerhorn cichlid hybrids were born as a consequence of this mating. Following then, numerous more flowerhorn hybrids were developed.

When the Luo Hans were first introduced to the United States, there were two types of cichlids: golden base and flowerhorn. Flowerhorn cichlids were found in two varieties: pearled flowerhorns (silvery-white patches) and pearlless flowerhorns. Flowerhorns with pearls, known as Zhen Zhu, became more popular than flowerhorns without pearling. The golden base was also available in two varieties: those whose color faded and those whose color stayed golden yellow and did not fade.

Flowerhorn cichlids were in four kinds on the American market about 1999: pearl scale flowerhorns, also known as Zhen Zhu, ordinary flowerhorns without pearls, faders, and golden flowerhorns. Commercial breeding of flowerhorns became common, making it impossible to maintain track of the fish's origins, parentage, and nomenclature.

Around the years 2000-2001, the Kamfa flowerhorn was produced, which was a hybrid of any form of flowerhorn crossed with any variation of parrot cichlid or with the Vieja species. Wrapped tails, small jaws, depressed eyes, and larger nuchal humps characterized this fish. In compared to the Kamfa type of flowerhorns, the Zhen Zhu kinds were developed to be more colorful and mature quicker. There are even more flowerhorn cichlid types with patterns mimicking Chinese characters or pink heart-shaped patterns that sell for hundreds of dollars even today.

Flowerhorn appearance and characteristics


The large oval body of Flowerhorn cichlids distinguishes them from other cichlids. They may grow to be 12-16 inches long. The flowerhorn's scales come in a variety of colors and tints, ranging from bluish green to metallic green, with pinks and reds on the front half of the body. On the body, the majority of flowerhorn types feature black horizontal patterns.

The flowerhorn cichlid's dorsal and anal fins are pointy and lengthy, while the caudal fin has a spade-like rounded look. Flowerhorn cichlids, like other cichlids, have their normal teeth as well as a pair of well-developed pharyngeal teeth in their throat. On each side of the head, they have one nostril. Flowerhorn cichlids live for around 8-10 years on average.

The most astounding feature of the flowerhorn cichlid is its ever-changing coloration and patterns, which continue to change until the fish reaches adulthood. If you want a certain color or pattern of fish, don't acquire a juvenile or a fish that isn't completely developed, since these characteristics will most likely alter as the fish ages. Juveniles are also less expensive than fully grown adult flowerhorns since their appearance is less guaranteed.

Look for the following "Flowerhorn Fish Standards" when purchasing an adult flowerhorn cichlid: color, body form, pearl scales, well-developed nuchal hump, black horizontal lines on the body, upright fins and tails, and attentive eyes.

Flowerhorn aquarium recommendation and requirements


Flowerhorn cichlids are resilient, easy-to-care-for fish. They reach a maximum length of 12-16 inches and need a big tank with at least 55 gallons of water. You'll need a much bigger tank if you want to have additional fish in the aquarium.

Flowerhorn cichlids like to swim in open water, but they also enjoy having a gravel substrate and rocks to burrow and hide in. As a result, make sure you provide enough of room in your aquarium for your Flowerhorn to grow. They like digging in the aquarium bed, thus any ornaments or pebbles in the tank should be carefully chosen to avoid falling over and perhaps harming the fish. You should call an audible if you want to adorn your aquarium with real plants, since your flowerhorn will consume any live plants put in the tank.

Flowerhorns should be kept as a solitary in the aquarium as the "center piece," since they are aggressive and territorial and are not well adapted to group life unless the tank is quite big (with more than 200 gallons of water). Also, if you have other fish in the tank with the flowerhorn, keep an eye on them for symptoms of stress or damage that the flowerhorn cichlid may have caused. If you insist on having other fish in the tank, make sure the aquarium is decorated in such a manner that all of the fish have places to hide and escape harm. This will also create unique territories and keep the fish out of each other's line of sight, reducing aggressiveness significantly.

Flowerhorn aquarium husbandry and care


Flowerhorn cichlids are tough fish that aren't fussy about their surroundings. However, it is essential that you maintain a tight aquarium cleaning routine in order to keep your flowerhorn healthy. Flowerhorns are messy eaters, so make sure your tank has good filtration. The aquarium should be cleaned biweekly or once a month, depending on how much the fish consumes. Algae should not be allowed to grow on the panes, and the substrate should be cleaned regularly to eliminate fish waste. It's a good idea to keep an eye out for any indications of aggressiveness when cleaning your flowerhorn tank, and keep your hands and fingers protected, since the flowerhorn may give you a terrible bite.

Flowerhorn feeding and food recommendations for color and health


Cichlids with flowerhorns are predators with a voracious appetite. They can consume whatever meaty or protein-based meal they choose. Live, fresh, or frozen food, as well as flake meals and fish pellets, are all options. You should, however, provide your flowerhorn a varied diet of high-quality items. Cichlid pellets, frozen blood worms, freeze dried krill, earthworms, freeze dried shrimp, fish, crickets, night crawlers, flowerhorn vitamins, and enhanced-carotene supplements may be fed to them to assist improve and augment their coloration. You may feed your flowerhorn up to three times each day, but try to avoid leaving uneaten food in the tank, since this can soon foul the water.

Flowerhorn breeding information and details


Even though they are hybrids, certain flowerhorns are fertile and can reproduce. If you're breeding flowerhorn cichlids for certain patterns or colors, be careful to examine the ancestry of the fish you're mating, otherwise you can wind up with fry that lack the traits you want.

Make sure there are enough of hiding places for the female flowerhorn cichlid throughout the mating phase, since the male may get hostile and attack her. If the male flowerhorn gets too aggressive, place a partition in the tank to let the male and female to mingle without the male coming too close to the female. Remove any other possible things that the female may use to deposit eggs and replace them with a flat stone near to the divider. The female flowerhorn will be forced to deposit her eggs on the stone (or the aquarium glass), where they may be fertilized. Once the eggs are present, it's a good idea to get them as near to the male as possible so he can fertilize them.

The eggs are usually carefully guarded by both new parents. During this time, be sure to keep a close eye on the Flowerhorn couple. To keep the female away, the male may grow protective of the fry and assault her. It's not unusual for the female Flowerhorn to be murdered, so keep an eye on the couple. If the female's hostility becomes out of hand, it's advisable to remove her from the tank. Flowerhorn cichlid fry are tough and can fend for themselves without the help of their parents. You may feed brine shrimp to freshly born fry for a week or two before switching to flake meals or crushed pellets.

Flowerhorn differentiation of the male from female


Male flowerhorns are often bigger than female flowerhorns. Males have a more prominent nuchal hump, a bigger jaw, and more vibrant and brighter color than females. Male flowerhorns have longer dorsal and anal fins, while females have black colored spots on their dorsal fins. Female flowerhorns, particularly when they are ready to reproduce, have an orange belly. Venting flowerhorn cichlids is a certain way to figure out their sex; learn how to do it here.

Flowerhorn Related Diseases


Flowerhorns are normally bred extremely carefully, with no blood lines crossing. Flowerhorn cichlids, unlike other cichlid hybrids, are not troubled by serious diseases as other cichlid hybrids are. Flowerhorns, on the other hand, are prone to common fish infections, particularly if the water is not changed often. Ich is a frequent condition in flowerhorns that may be treated by increasing the tank temperature to 86° F and then administering copper-based medicine if the fish is still not healed.

In addition, flowerhorns may develop intestinal illness, which can be treated with metronidazole. Flowerhorn cichlids are also susceptible to hole-in-head illness and digestive obstructions, which may be avoided by keeping the water clean and feeding them a balanced diet. Skin flukes, fungal diseases, bacterial infections, and parasitic infestations like as worms, protozoa, and other parasites may all affect flowerhorn cichlids. Because there are so many possible health dangers, inspect your fish on a regular basis to discover infections early and save your life.

Flowerhorn Cichlid Varieties


Some of the popular flowerhorn varieties are: Golden Monkey
This flowerhorn was bred in Malaysia and is also known as Kamalau or Good Fortune. The Golden Monkey is an original Luo Han fish, not a hybrid. The Golden Monkey is a costly item. In 2009, a Golden Monkey was auctioned for $600,000 at a Malaysian show.

Kamfa
The Luo Han was used to produce this breed, which features yellow, white, or red sunken eyes, a fan tail, and a head hump. When compared to the Zhen Zhu, the Kamfa is bigger and has a more squarish body.

Zhen Zhu or Pearl Flowerhorn
These flowerhorns followed the Kamfa and were also descended from the Luo Han. Zhen Zhu has a big mouth, a rounded tail, a noticeable head hump, and crimson eyes that protrude. The pearling on these fish is their distinguishing trait.

Golden Base (Faders)
These flowerhorn cichlids, also known as Golden Trimac, are known as faders because their color fades and they become entirely black as youngsters. The black tint fades with age, and the fish become a vivid red or yellow color.








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