Flowerhorn Fish is a multicolored, vibrant, energetic, and playful pet that anyone would love to keep at home to enhance the ambiance. How cannot the vibrant color and its unique hump pull the fishkeeper like you towards them? Yet, despite adhering to its beauty, you might wonder why Flowerhorn has a head hump? Do you ever want to know the reason behind this?
The most important reason Flowerhorn has a head hump is the storage of fat, which serves your pretty Flowerhorn to overcome extreme starvation. Also, it has a hump on its head to look good, which also helps them in mechanical advantage and attracts females. Anti-predation and hydrodynamics are the other two special benefits hump provide to your beloved Flowerhorn.
Let’s learn more about these reasons behind Flowerhorn having a head hump or the Kok or the nuchal hump. Here we go!
Do Flowerhorn Have Head Hump?
Yes, they possess a head hump which is one of the extraordinary features. Humps are rare in most fish. Thus, fish lovers like you and I see the Flowerhorn is a unique breed.
Your Flowerhorns’ Head hump aids in their beauty and has an effective role in fat storage and mechanical advantages. Flowerhorn has vibrant colors; in addition to that, their hump is a center of attraction.
Why Do Flowerhorn Have Head Hump?
Flowerhorns are one of the expensive fish species, artificial in origin, crossed with so many different varieties to obtain the species of excellence. Head humps are the most distinctive features possessed by Flowerhorn. These characters make them unique and have so many beneficial uses. Let’s learn in detail the importance of head humps.
Storage Of Fat
The nuchal hump or head hump or the Kok is made up of fat and water. The Hump gets bigger and smaller depending upon the quality of food, amount of feed, stress, and pressure. When you provide the proper diet quality with the proper amount, the humps get bigger.
Similarly, stress on the Flowerhorn decreases the size of the hump. The hump is made mostly of fat. This fat releases energy when there is a necessity for energy. In other words, these humps help to cope with extreme starvation conditions.
Thus, Flowerhorn can survive for 14 days to a month without food. Flowerhorn is one of the strongest fish that can survive in extreme food scarcity, and the reason behind it is the Nuchal Hump or the Kok.
Sex recognitions
The male Flowerhorn possesses a larger head hump than a female in most cases. This is an easy way to distinguish between male and female Flowerhorn. The actual reason behind this is still in research, but there is a reason most fishkeepers and Flowerhorn experts suggest.
A male Flowerhorn has a bigger head hump to take care of the eggs while spawning. This is because they are more conscious of the eggs than the female. Male Flowerhorn possesses this character naturally. Thus, it does not leave the spawning place even for a minute and does not care about the food in the tank.
The dedication male Flowerhorn show to continue the generation is remarkable. To cope with hunger during the spawning period, the male has a distinctively larger head hump. However, this is not a scientifically proven theory, yet most fish experts suggest this.
Mechanical Advantage
Having a Flowerhorn as a pet, you guys are already aware of your Flowerhorn’s aggressiveness. Flowerhorns are one of the most aggressive species of fish. Even if it sounds odd, aggressiveness is one factor that makes your Flowerhorn unique.
You, too, might love how these cute little pets fight against each other. Here, the hump or the Kok is used to fight against each other. The nuchal hump shows them larger than they are.
Your Flowerhorn uses this as its tool to fight against other smaller or same-sized fishes. The hump does benefit the Flowerhorn during the fight and makes them superior among all the tank companions.
The nuchal hump of your Flowerhorn is the first exposed body part during the fights. Therefore, the hump helps them fight efficiently and protects them.
Hydrodynamics
One of the hypotheses regarding the nuchal hump of the Flowerhorn is that the hump aids in hydrodynamics and helps the Flowerhorn swim efficiently. The research regarding this particular theory is a little less. Thus, the head hump helps Flowerhorn in hydrodynamics. We frequently hear about gills playing a role in hydrodynamics, but the head hump is quite mysterious. More research is yet to come.
Anti-predation
Flowerhorn’s hump plays a great role during the fight and keeps them away from injuries. Aquarium fish are normally safe from predators like bigger fish, snakes, etc. However, fishkeepers like you are aware of the consequences of keeping them with the predators.
In the worst-case scenario, you might unknowingly keep the bigger fish with the Flowerhorn, which creates a problem. In such cases, the hump aids them in repelling the predators, fighting against them, and making themselves safe.
The hump even saves your Flowerhorn from the unexpected attack from the tankmates. Flowerhorn seems bigger than they are in the presence of a hump, which becomes a plus point to scare the predators. Hump makes your Flowerhorn feel superior, builds confidence in them, and fights efficiently against the predators.
Attracting Females
Male Flowerhorn possesses a big hum\p in comparison to female. Therefore, the male with a hump is capable enough to attract the female for reproduction. Furthermore, it is believed that the female Flowerhorns are attracted by the head hump of the male and agree to the reproduction. Thus the hump is quite important for breeding and multiplication.
What Causes Flowerhorn Head Hump To Shrink?
As a flowerhorn keeper, you all have noticed the change in the size of the flowerhorn. Sometimes flowerhorn is bright with huge head humps adding to their beauty. While sometimes, the fish is dull, and the head hump shrinks.
We all know the head hump and vibrant color of the fish make the whole aquarium lively and attractive. So what causes the lovely head to shrink?
Let’s learn in detail about the reasons for fluctuating the size of the head hump in the Flowerhorn.
Food Quality
Feeding poor quality food to your Flowerhorn causes a decrease in the size of the head hump to a great extent. In addition, foods low in protein, vitamins, and minerals also cause the head to shrink. Thus you need to take care of the diet you are feeding your dearest Flowerhorn.
Food Quantity
Not feeding the proper quantity of the food to meet the nutritional requirement of the Flowerhorn results in shrinkage of the hump. Likewise, feeding randomly at any time without a proper schedule hampers the head size. Thus, appropriate nutrition shrinks the head to a large extent in a short period.
- Hikari Flowerhorn Fish Food
- OKIKO flowerhorn Cichlid Fish
- Fluval A6581 Bug Bites Cichlid Pellets
- Amzey Dries Shrimp Fish Foods
- Appetizing Shrimp Mealworms
- Tetra Jumbokrill Jumbo Shrimp
- Ocean Pellets Humpy Xo Flowerhorn Food
Frequency Of Feeding
We all feed our flowerhorn three times a day with a small quantity every meal. If the feeding frequency is not maintained, the fish’s body will starve for nutrition. Overfeeding too causes more waste products.
Size Of The Tank
The joyful and active nature of your Flowerhorn enjoys a large-sized tank. However, it would help if you take caution before choosing the size of the tank for your Flowerhorn. Small tanks hinder the fish’s overall growth, resulting in shrinkage of the head. Therefore, it is best to keep the fish in a large tank during development.
Condition Of Water Of The Tank
The cleanliness of the water affects the health of the fish. Poor water quality infused with a large amount of waste product affects the overall health of your fish. Subsequently, the head hump of the fish shrinks due to poor water quality and improper filtration. Thus you need to ensure the water in the tank is not affecting your fish.
Natural Light
Not many flowerhorn parents know the importance of sunlight. Lack of sunlight decreases the size of the flowerhorn head hump. So, Flowerhorn keepers must know about the natural light to keep your fish attractive and healthy.
Nature Of The Fish
You need to know that the nature of the flowerhorn plays an important role in the size of the head hump. Less aggressive fishes have a smaller and shrunken head hump. In making the hump big, please dont overfeed the fish. First, please ensure the nature of fish, whether its nature is to
What Are The Types Of Head Hump In Flowerhorn?
You might wonder about the types of head humps in Flowerhorn. Yes, head humps are also of various types. However, the most common types are generally of three types.
Hard Kok
These are small protrusions on the head of the Flowerhorn. It is hard to touch as it is a compact layer of fat. It is because the Kok has a small amount of fat. The fat is responsible for making the Kok either large or small. Because it has less fat, the hump is hard to touch and appears small.
Semi Water Kok
The combination of fat and water makes the Kok Semi Water Kok. It is also known as a “Bone Head.” These are neither small nor grow big. Instead, it grows up to a certain size and ceases growth.
Water Kok
The last type of Kok is Water Kok. These are soft and squishy. These grow enormously big and attract the buyer. Most of the Flowerhorn lovers wish to buy the Flowerhorn possessing Water Kok. This Kok keeps growing big depending upon the food quality and the gene. Flowerhorn acquiring healthy genes, no doubt, will have a bigger hump. In addition to this, proper tank size, temperature, healthy tank environment, and a less crowded environment too aid in the development and growth of the hump. Above all, three times varied feed is the must.
What Are The Different Shapes Of A Head Hump In Flowerhorn?
Different people have different perceptions regarding shape and structure. For example, some might call the particular shape oval, while others describe it as egg-shaped. Despite the differences in perception, I have listed some major shapes frequently uttered from people’s mouths.
Egg Shaped-Kidney Shaped Head Hump In Flowerhorn
Here the shape of the hump resembles an egg entitled egg-shaped. Though naming the shape does not have any scientific logic but is based on people’s perception. You can easily notice this shape as this is the most common shape one is familiar with.
Helmet Shaped Head Hump In Flowerhorn
I am sure that you people are aware of the shape of a helmet. Even though the shapes vary, the generalized one is an oval: round oval, intermediate oval, or long oval. Thus, you can now easily find out what sort of oval is the hump of your Flowerhorn if it has a helmet-shaped Kok.
Ball-Shaped Head Hump In Flowerhorn
As the title itself is self-explanatory, the ball-shaped Kok is similar to the ball, which is round in shape. Therefore, you guys will not have difficulty distinguishing the ball-shaped hump from any other shape.
Mountain Peak Or Pointed Kok
Some humps of the Flowerhorn are somewhat like the mountain peak: pointed in nature. Quite resembling an inverted “V” shape, which seems like a peak. You guys can easily figure out this shape.
Half Dome Kok
This type of Kok resembles the shape of a dome cut in half. Half Dome is a granite dome known for its well-known shape in Yosemite National Park, California. Thus, the half-dome name is given to the Kok, which is pretty like granite.
What Affects The Size Of The Head Hump In Flowerhorn?
Flowerhorn’s Kok’s size keeps fluctuating depending on the environment. When Flowerhorn gets a favorable environment with a quality diet and timely feeding, the hump increases its size to the optimum.
Even a slight carelessness while taking care of your Flowerhorn might shrink the hump. The main factor is the food and its quality and quantity. Little negligent in timely feeding: a maximum of three times a day might result in shrinkage of humps.
The stress, too, is responsible for reducing the size of the hump. Overcrowding in the tank and the tank’s abnormal temperature acts as stressors. More aggressive fishes in the same tank also aid in stress and impact, reducing the hump.
An unhealthy environment in the tank aids in a decrease in the size of the head hump.
Does A Female Flowerhorn Have A Head Hump?
Flowerhorn possesses a head hump or the nuchal hump despite its sex. The main point is that the female Flowerhorn has a comparatively smaller hump than the male. Therefore, the hump of the female Flowerhorn often remains unnoticed, concluding the female lacks humps.
The female, too, has humps, but they have smaller ones. The nuchal hump in males helps attract females, and females tend to get attracted to them. If you are a parent of a female Flowerhorn, you can easily notice the hump but comparatively smaller than that of a male.
What Is The Head Hump Of Flowerhorn Made?
The head hump is one of the mysterious parts of the Flowerhorn that everyone wants to know about. Though the hump seems suspicious, the reality about the hump is not such.
The head hump is made up of fat and water. They are usually soft and spongy to touch. The fat on the nuchal hump acts as a storage for fat that comes in use during an emergency.
Your Flowerhorn’s body uses this fat during abnormal situations like extreme hunger and starvation. Hence, besides attracting fish lovers, the head hump is a lifesaver for the Flowerhorn.
Does Any Other Fish Have A Head Hump Beside Flowerhorn?
Flowerhorn is one of the cichlids which possesses a head hump or the Kok. Apart from Flowerhorn, there are a lot of other fishes and cichlids which too possess hump. These too get special attention from the fish lovers. Let me give you some of the species of fish having head humps.
Black Nasty, Frontosa, Dovii, Midas, and Balazani, are some of the cichlids except Flowerhorn, which has head humps. The humps are of various sizes, including unnoticeable to distinct ones.
Likewise, some other cichlids having Kok are Red Mammon, Green Terror, Blue Dolphin, Vieja, Peacock Bass, Buffalo Head, and Convict.
Despite these numerous varieties of humps in other cichlids, Flowerhorn has the most lovely and big hump, which is the center of attraction for all fish lovers.
What Is Inside The Head Hump In Flowerhorn?
The humps are the main factor the buyer sees before making a purchase. The bigger the hump, the more people get attracted to the Flowerhorn. The people believe in Flowerhorn bringing luck to the home. Flowerhorn is a lucky fish one adores to keep at home.
The hump of Flowerhorn is made up of water and fat. Therefore, the hump is also a storage house of fat in Flowerhorn, utilized during extreme conditions.
FAQs
I have some queries related to the hump of Flowerhorn. You, too, want to know about these frequently hovered questions around your head.
How Often Can You Feed Your Flowerhorn?
Feeding a day thrice is ideal for your Flowerhorn as both overfeeding and underfeeding harm them. First, you need to ensure the proper amount that your fish needs, then schedule accordingly. You need to make eight hours of gap between the two feeds to reduce the workload of the gut.
Feeding excessive meals without any gap harms the functioning of the gut resulting in indigestion, constipation, and bloating. Thus feeding three times a day is perfect for your beloved Flowerhorn.
How Long Can A Flowerhorn Live Without Food?
The researches show that Flowerhorn is strong enough to combat the extreme situation of hunger by surviving for 14 days to a month. But it’s better not to leave them for such long in your absence.
Skipping a single meal a day once a blue moon does no harm to your fish but leaving them for a week or beyond is worth risky. Thus I request you not to leave your pet to starve for a long period.
Does Flowerhorn Eat Fruits?
Yes, your Flowerhorn eats a variety of fruits. Having an omnivore gut, Flowerhorn wants vegetables and fruits. You can feed a wide range of fruits like apples, bananas, mango, melons, etc. You need to ensure to wash, peel, cut, and blanch before feeding them. Blanching enhances the digestibility of the fruits.
The other most important thing one must consider before feeding is to take the seeds out and cut them into the size of Flowerhorn’s mouth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, head hump not only attracts people and has beauty purposes but has numerous benefits. Head hump, especially prominent in male species of Flowerhorn, attracts females with the help of the hump. The bigger the hump, the more females are attracted. Likewise, the hump aids in mechanical advantage and helps in fighting. Above all hump is the energy source for extreme hunger as it serves as a reservoir of fat. The head hump also plays a great role in maintaining hydrodynamics and helps repel predators.
Thus, head hump is not only for fancy purposes, not has actual use. Hope you find this article useful.
Take care of your flowerhorn, and it will bless you with all its beauty and unique feature every day. For more articles like this, please do visit our website.
Happy Fishkeeping!