Maintaining the right water levels is essential when it comes to flowerhorn cichlid care. Giving them a little bit of extra space can go a long way in making sure they can comfortably turn around in the tank. These fish like to roam and will often run gentle but steady laps around your tank. These are one of the most aggressive and territorial fish out there, and the extra space can be a life-saver here (literally).Īnother reason why you need to provide enough space is for the sake of enrichment and comfort. If you want to keep two flowerhorn fish in the same tank you’ll want to add at least another 70 gallons to that minimum number if you want them to thrive.Īuthor Note: While these numbers are the recommended minimum, we highly encourage you to go even bigger if possible. If you’re looking for a freshwater fish that can fit in an average-sized tank, this is not the fish for you. The minimum recommended tank size for one flowerhorn cichlid is 70 gallons. That’s something we’ll dive into a bit later so for now let’s examine the ideal tank setup. Most of the difficulty with this fish comes from their temperament and interactions with other fish. As long as you give them the appropriate amount of space and make sure the water conditions are stable, you’re going to be fine. When it comes to providing a suitable tank, Flowerhorn cichlid care is not that challenging. Not only does this mean you’ll need more space for them, but it affects everything from feeding to tank mates. ![]() You need to be aware of the size of this aquarium fish when planning their tank setup. Males are typically larger than the female flowerhorns and will weigh a bit more too. Sizeįlowerhorn cichlids can grow to be anywhere from 12 to 16 inches in length (Kamfas are on the larger end of this). The main type that you see most often is the Red Dragon Flowerhorn. ![]() The face and hump bring quite a unique look to your tank!Īuthor Note: There are a number of different types of this fish such as the Zhen Zhu, Thai silk, and Golden Monkey. This is one of the reasons why they became so popular when they were first bred. Male flowerhorn cichlids have very prominent lips that really give them an expressive face. You’ll definitely get the impression that they’re studying you and trying to figure you out. These fish have rather planted eyes that really stand out on their heads. The ventral fins are fairly thin and begin a third of the way down their bodies. At the end of their dorsal and anal fins, you’ll also find a long thin strand of tissue.įlowerhorn cichlids have a lumpy “chin” area that leads right into their ventral fins. The bulk of their dorsal fin matches their anal fin and begins about two-thirds of the way back on the body of the fish.īoth of these fins extend back quite a way and really dwarf their caudal fin which is rather stubby be comparison. Their body shape is long, tall, and thin with a relatively symmetrical appearance. The rest of the fish a little more standard, but still unique in a lot of respects. The hump on their head is easily the most noteworthy feature of this fish This is called a nuchal hump or kok and it can expand or shrink in the span of a few days depending on the situation. The first thing you’ll notice about this colorful freshwater fish is the hump on their head (especially with males). ![]() Overall these fish aren’t very difficult to take care of as long as you manage their potential aggression. Their lifespan can shift significantly depending on the quality of care you provide and how suitable their tank conditions are. If you take care of it you’ll likely have it for a while! This is quite a long period of time and that’s definitely something to consider before buying one. The average lifespan of a flowerhorn cichlid is 11-12 years. These fish consistently fetch a high price from breeders and the interest doesn’t seem to be dying down any time soon. They’re fish that have been released by people into the wild and have quickly become an invasive species in a number of countries.ĭespite this, the demand for this fish is still quite high around the world. Over time the interest in this fish spread to other parts of Asia, Central America, and eventually the United States and Europe.Īny flowerhorn cichlids that can be found in the wild are not meant to be there. The first instances of this occurred in Thailand, Taiwan, and Malaysia. This is because this fish has been bred entirely in captivity over the years.Īuthor Note: The combination of the blood parrot cichlid and red devil cichlid is what led to the creation of the flowerhorn. ![]() The flowerhorn cichlid is a fish that does not exist naturally in the wild.
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