Are you considering getting a flowerhorn but are confused if they are as good as people claim? Or are you just curious about these fish’s popularity? Well, we are here to show you if the hype is real. Why are flowerhorns so popular, then? Let’s find out!
Flowerhorns are popular because of their vibrant color, unique nuchal humps, shape, and much more. This article contains all the flowerhorn attributes that have gained them their popularity but also some of their attributes that can make us think twice before getting them.
Read more to find out if flowerhorns really deserve the hype they get.
Why Are Flowerhorns So Popular?
Flowerhorns have been popular among fishkeepers and fish enthusiasts for a while. There are a variety of reasons why they are so popular, but these are some of the main reasons for their popularity.
Flowerhorn Like Being Petted
Flowerhorn cichlids are the most pettable fish due to their very interactive behavior. These fish were specifically bred in a way they respond or interact with the human beings around them, and some of them will even lift their humps out of the water to get pets!
Flowerhorn cichlids are affectionate mostly with the individual that feeds them but are otherwise (very) unfriendly.
Some of my friends who own flowerhorns have even said that they have never seen a fish wanting to be petted so bad!
Colors
Flowerhorns are also famous as ornamental fish because of their vibrant and vivid coloring. Depending on the living conditions and the strain put on them, this fish can come in different colors. Their base is mostly white with black, red, or orange markings that run along sideways in the fish’s body. Green and blue are the most common colors. Male flowerhorns have a brighter coloring than females.
Shape
Flowerhorns are medium-sized fish that mostly measure around 16 inches in size. These fish have a symmetrical and rounded body with a fairly long dorsal fin in the back, a relatively long anal fin, and a fan-shaped tail fin. They have a very visually appealing shape and are popular for their nuchal humps, which we will talk about separately.
Hybrids Unique Qualities
Like most ornamental fish, flowerhorn cichlids have also been selectively bred to accentuate the most beautiful and desirable traits. Whether it is for flowier and longer tails, vibrant colors, or controlling temperament, fish breeders have experimented for decades to make the most high-quality fish. And one of these amazing hybrids is the Flowerhorn fish.
The meaning of a hybrid is being selectively bred. In the early 1990s, the flowerhorns entered the infamous aquarium trade for the first time in South-East Asia, in parts of Thailand, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Breeders wanted a fish that had a distinct head structure, and such heads were known to bring good luck.
Three important South American cichlids were bred together to achieve this body shape. They were the red devil cichlid, Trimac cichlid, and the hybrid fish blood parrot cichlid. Even if the fish didn’t have flower markings on its side, it was still labeled as a flowerhorn fish.
Nuchal Humps
Flowerhorns are most known for their majestic nuchal humps. People seem to love this fish’s head shape. This type of head bump has also known to have brought a lot of good luck to a lot of people. This head shape is not easily seen in fish, and flowerhorns are famous for having these.
Their nuchal hump is what makes them so attractive and different from others. It is also believed that fish with big humps have more chances of surviving during phases of scarcity.
The energy levels will be maintained by the extra fat stored in the hump during mating season and the scarcity of food.
The hump can also be a way to attract mates and show dominance.
Strong Fish
Flowerhorns are strong fish and can tolerate a moderate to high flow of water. They also do not catch a disease very easily and have a strong immune system. They have a very strong body with strong fins and sharp teeth that can even bite your finger off. Jokes aside, flowerhorns are pretty strong and reliable.
Rumored To Be Lucky
Flowerhorn cichlids are believed to bring a great amount of good luck and are hence also called lucky fish. Flowerhorns are generally selected for creating a happy environment in tense households and also for the better health of the family members at home.
Variety
Flowerhorns are not just famous for their variety in colors but the variety in types as well. There are a plethora of different flowerhorns out there, but these ten are the most famous ones.
Kamfa
Kamfas have a square-shaped body with round lips, no under or overbites, strong wrapped dorsal and anal fins, and a strong and upright caudal tail.
King Kamfa
King Kamfa possesses all of Kanfas’s traits plus more vibrant colors and vivid patterns. These cichlids are pretty rare, which is why they are so high in demand.
Only less than 10% of Kamfas will be turned into King Kamfas.
Zhen Zhu
Zhen Zhu has rounded tails, a large mouth, a red protruding pair of eyes, and a big nuchal hump. The meaning of Zhen Zhu is ‘pearl Flowerhorn.’ Pearling is the strongest characteristic of this variety. Zhen Zhus are popular among fish breeders because they breed easily as well. They can, however, have weak tails.
Golden Base
Golden base cichlids are a group of multiple varieties of flowerhorns, including the golden trimac and the Faders. The golden base is called the golden base because they lose its color and go completely black in its juvenile phase and the black fades away, eventually leaving a vibrant yellow or red color.
Kamfa Malau
Kamfa Malau is a cross of Malau female and a kamfa male. The face and body resemble a basic Kamfa. The sunken eyes and fins also reflect the Kamfa attributes. The pearling is the main feature of a Kamfa Malau. Fins mostly give a “frosted” pearl look that is not commonly found in other types of flowerhorn. Pearling in Kamfa Malaus mostly crosses all over the head bump, which is another rare thing in Kamfa Malaus. This strain mostly displays the best attributes of both Malau and Kamfa.
Thai Silk
The Thai Silk is also known as The Titanium which is a relatively new type of flowerhorn cichlid. Thai Silk is almost fully metallic blue, white, or gold. With unclear origins, this new strain of Thai Silk has developed a rather square-like body shape like those of a Kamfa, but their eyes can be yellow, white, and red.
Super Red Dragon
The Red Dragon Flower Horn is a farm-raised cichlid that was raised in the U.S.A. Super Red Dragons are the result of crossbreeding various Central American Cichlids. These cichlids have an elongated body with large anal and dorsal fins. They are silver in color in their juvenile phase, and they turn into a bright red color as they mature.
Indo Malau
Indo Malau cichlid was made by the Indonesian Luohan Club. They cross-bred a Malau female and a Zhen Zhu male. This cichlid is known for its extensive pearling all over the face, body, and head. Its body is very tall and wide. This cichlid has a very defined chin. Its head is mostly forward-protruding. Its tail is fan-shaped, almost like a Kamfa.
Tan King
This cichlid was created by a Mr. Tan from Vietnam by cross-breeding a Zhen Zhu with a Kamfa. It has a flowerline and pearls like a King Kamfa, but the fins and body are more related to the body of Zhen Zhu. Most of these cichlids have protruding eyes and a relatively rounded tail like those of Zhen Zhus.
Down-sides of Flowerhorns
Here are some of the things to think about twice or thrice before getting a flowerhorn. There are a variety of things people complain about after getting a flowerhorn, but I have listed the things that stood out to me the most.
Temperament
Flowerhorns are very territorial and aggressive fish that find it difficult to get along with other fish, even other flowerhorns. Flowerhorns will attack anyone or anything that feels like a danger to their territory. They get more aggressive during feeding time. They might attack other fish the most while being fed.
Flowerhorn Might Bite
Even though they like being pets, it takes a while to get on their good side. Don’t even think of touching them if you have not had them for a bite. They can and will bite you. And yes, their bites hurt because of their sharp, strong teeth. Flowerhorns are sometimes even compared to piranhas. You are more likely to get bitten because of their terrible temper.
Difficult To Mate
Their aggressive nature gets in the way of their mating because they are likely to attack and, even worse, eat a newly introduced fish if not compatible with them. It can sometimes be very difficult and complicated to get the right match for them, and the fails can sometimes be very devastating to witness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Type Of Water And Temperature Are Best For Flower Horns?
Flowerhorns cichlids prosper in all clean water. This cichlid is very strong and can mostly endure all sorts of water conditions that are usually not suitable for most types of aquarium fish. This is also partly why Flowerhoirns are so popular among fish keepers. The ideal pH level for flowerhorns should be around 7 to 7.8, and water temperature should be around 27 degrees C to 32 degrees C.
Can We Breed Other Fishes Together With Flower Horns In The Same Aquarium?
Yes, but at your own risks, as flowerhorns are pretty aggressive. Try it once and if it does not work out, just try artificial incubation.
How Big Can Flower Horns Grow To, And How Long Do They Live?
Flowerhoorns can grow up to 12 inches, depending on the breed. Some Flowerhorns are known to grow about 16 inches.
Are Flowerhorns Easy To Take Care Of?
Yes, flowerhorns are pretty easy to take care of if provided with the right living conditions. They are very hardy fish that can survive in moderate to high flows of water.
Is Flowerhorn Aggressive?
Indeed. Flowerhorns are very aggressive and territorial fish that can attack anything in sight sometimes. It is very difficult for them to get along with other fish, including other Flowerhorns and especially smaller fish.
Will My Flowerhorn Die If It Is Not Fed For Two To Three Days?
Don’t worry. The fish will last for about a week without being fed. Do not stock the tank up with one week’s amount of food. Just make sure that the water quality is at its best.
Why Does My Flowerhorn Jump?
It could have spotted some insects flying on the tank’s surface, or maybe the water quality in the aquarium is bad. Check the water quality immediately if it happens too many times, or it might result in some disease.
Why Is My Newly Bought Flowerhorn Not Lively And Very Timid?
It is a very normal reaction. It takes time for the flowerhorn to adjust to a new environment and once it does, it will start being aggressive and playful again. Feed the fish less during this sad phase as it will lose its appetite as well.
How Long Does It Take For My Fish To Get Used To Its New Environment?
It will usually take between one to two weeks. It is advised to get your fish checked if it takes longer than a week for it to adjust to its new environment.
How Often Do I Feed My Flowerhorn Cichlid?
Feeding mostly depends on your lifestyle. Ideally, the Flowerhorn cichlid should be fed at least twice a day. But they can survive a week without being fed.
Conclusion
I think flowerhorns do deserve the hype they get, even with some of their bad qualities. These fish have vibrant colors and vivid patterns, their humps are absolutely adorable, their playfulness is so cute, and the variety in their types is fascinating. I totally get why people would be obsessed with these cichlids. I hope this article helped you with your curiosities. Cheers!