If you are looking for a fish that has all the charm of an aquatic creature but has the
vivacious and playful personality of a puppy then the Flowerhorn is the fish for you.
It is also the perfect fish for anyone wanting to keep just a single fish that is eye-catching
enough to create an aquarium that will attract a lot of attention then keep a Flowerhorn
and you will be all set.
Welcome to the channel. in today's video, we will be taking a look at the majestic looking
flowerhorn fish. Before I continue, can you do me a favor and tap that like button? And
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Natural Habitat
The Flowerhorn being an artificially created fish does not have any natural habitat. The
next best thing would be to look at the natural habitat of larger South African Cichlids as
the Flowerhorn is essentially a mix of those fish. They generally inhabit warm waters with
varying levels of vegetation. The Flowerhorn, however, is quite adaptable thanks to years
of breeding.
Some of these fish have been released into the wild around the world where they have
become an invasive species. However, as they are mostly infertile, they do not present
the same level of threat as other invasive species.
Physical Description
While fish are generally seen as dainty and somewhat delicate, the Flowerhorn is the exact
opposite of that. They are substantial fish with a stocky build.
However, they are very beautiful as well. Their anal and dorsal fins are long and flowy
but their defining feature is the bulge on their head.
The Flowerhorn does come in a few varieties and this bulge can vary from a small bump
to a full-blown bulb. They also come in a wide range of colors from stunning reds to
fluorescent blues and metallic hues.
They also show plenty of variances in size. The King Kamfa variety can grow to be 16 inches
while short body varieties can be half that size.
Ideal Tank Setup
The most important aspect of successfully keeping a Flowerhorn is the tank size. While
the smaller varieties can be housed in a 75-gallon tank, the regular-sized Flowerhorns will need
at least a 125-gallon tank for a single specimen and a 175-gallon tank for a pair.
As far as tank decor and substrate is concerned, going completely bare is the way to go. Substrates
are a strict no for these fish as they can swallow it which can lead to serious health
issues.
A bare-bottom tank or one lined with flat tiles is the best option. Having any decor
can be distracting for these fish and they will interact less with their owners which
is why they should be kept in a tank that is pretty much empty.
Water Parameters
As alluded to earlier, there is no natural habitat for this fish that can provide any
sort of guidance to determine the ideal water parameters. However, their long history in
the hobby has helped identify a set of water parameters that work for most Flowerhorns.
The pH should be between 6.0 and 8.0 while the temperature should be maintained between
80°F and 85°F or 26.5°C and 29.5°C. Hardness should be between 6° and 20° dGH. It is
also a good idea to find out the water parameters the fish has been kept in while procuring
it.
Diet
The Flowerhorn is not at all a finicky eater. It will readily accept most commercially available
fish food. They will happily munch on pellets, flakes, frozen food, and live food.
Provide them with high-quality pellets with the occasional live or frozen food as a treat.
Like most hybrid fish, Flowerhorns also have the propensity to overeat which can lead to
a host of health issues. Feed them small quantities three times a day and remove any food that
is uneaten after about 40 seconds to a minute.
Behavior And Tank Mates
While the Flowerhorn can appear jovial to a human, they are highly territorial, temperamental,
and aggressive in nature. The best option is to keep them all by themselves.
This will also make them more interactive with their owners. If you really must keep
other fish then choose large and equally aggressive fish.
However, this will greatly increase the tank size requirements and even then, there can
be tricky situations and violent standoffs.
Breeding
Breeding Flowerhorns is definitely a challenging task in the home aquarium. To begin with,
most Flowerhorns are sterile by birth. If you are fortunate enough to get a fertile
male and female, the next challenge arises in getting them to live in the same tank without
trying to kill each other.
A successful strategy is for the tank to be divided into two parts using a clear divider
through which water can pass through from one side to the other.
This will allow hormones to pass through. Raise the temperature by a degree or two and
feed them protein-rich food.
After a few days, remove the barrier and observe closely for any aggression. If everything
somehow works out, the fish will breed and the adults should be removed as soon as the
eggs are laid.
The eggs and the fry should not be moved for the first month and they can be fed fry food
till they can fend for themselves.
Diseases
The common diseases that can affect Flowerhorns include white spot disease, fin and tail rot,
bloat, air-bladder disease, parasites, hole in the head, and digestive problems.
Almost all these issues can be avoided by keeping the water parameters as steady as
possible within the ideal range while doing regular water changes.
The short-body varieties will eventually develop digestive problems because of their anatomy
but as long as they are well-cared for, most Flowerhorns can live for more than a decade.
To Sum It Up!
Flowerhorns can be best described as the aquatic version of a puppy. They are playful, intelligent,
and one of the very few fish that can identify their owner and interact with them in a manner
that goes beyond just the feeding frenzy that most fish exhibit. They are majestic and regal
and if you want just one fish to rule over them all then the Flowerhorn is it.
Have you ever had a Flowerhorn in your tank? Would you consider getting one?
Let me know in the comments below. And don't forget to hit the like button and subscribe.
I will see you in the next video.