Helpful Suggestions on Feeding Your Flowerhorn Fish

Flowerhorn fish cichlids is a type of breed that was genetically engineered in South East Asia throughout the early 1990s. The result was made by means of crossbreeding several kinds of flowerhorn cichlids. It is not known exactly which species were crossbred to produce these flower horn fishes. Until now, the facts and information are only known by the people and hobbyists who engineered this kind of tropical fish. But, many people say that they most likely produced it by using Amhilophous Trimaculatus or of the genus trimacs and other Southern species such as Amphilophus Citrinellum. Flowerhorn fishes are different from many other types of hybrids. People nowadays can breed flower horn fish fish tanks and indoor aquariums. These types of fish are not difficult to keep. In fact they can be kept with minimal supervision. However, proper maintenance is necessary and proper procedures on feeding and setting up tanks should be on top of the list. The only essential requirement is a spacious fish tank or aquarium to provide enough space once it develops into adolescent.

After setting up you flowerhorn fish aquarium, you are now on the brink of asking the next questions – how often do you need to feed your flowerhorn fish? Hobbyists tend to commit almost the same mistake, over feeding the fish in the aquarium. In this situation, the unnecessary food intoxicates the water and mess up the filtration system. When this happens, diseases take place and complication occurs. This is one thing that we should focus on to ensure our success in breeding flowerhorns. Once a hobbyist finished setting up his tank for the first time, he must be sure no to get this error to prevent excess food jamming up the filtration system.

If you buy fish food on the local pet shop store, be sure to read the labels about over-feeding the flowerhorns. You will find warnings and detailed information on the package on how to properly feed your pet fish. Do not take for granted the manufacturer’s insight about providing them the correct nutrition.

How many times can you feed your flowerhorn fish?

Serving food for the flowerhorn fish will depend on the type of flowerhorn you are keeping. Generally, feeding your fish once a day is alright. However, fish keepers give them food twice a day, once in the morning and again in the afternoon. In this situation, the quantity of food is essential. IF you feed them once a day, give them enough food that they can consume on a daily basis. On the other hand, if you are decided to provide them food two times a day, grant them a sufficient amount on the first time that they can consume before the second feeding.

Flowerhorn fish get their colors and physical characteristics from cells. However, flowerhorn fishes cannot produce certain colored pigments therefore these color should come from the food they eat. Generally, artificial food fish manufacturer can provide these pigments by mixing them in the food they make. Significantly, the right kind of food for your flowerhorns can improve their breeding conditions and can help them to reproduce efficiently. There are many kinds of food that can be given to your pet fish. Here are some:

3 Types of Food of Flowerhorn Fish

Shrimps 

Newly hatched salt water prawns are the most common food that hobbyists provide their flowerhorns. These type of food is probably the most safe food because the shrimps are cultured in a clean environment. Combine with the right timing of feeding, these shrimps can provide the nutrients your flowerhorn needs in breeding.

Mosquitoes and Insects

Even though mosquitoes and small insects are not easily digested, these type of food can provide proteins that promote rapid growth. When giving mosquitoes and insects to your flowerhorn pairs, be sure they are well cleaned.  Get rid of the large one as these have already hard-bitten and can cause indigestions on the part of the flowerhorn.

Worms and Lizards

If your cichlids reached adulthood, worms and small house lizards can be given to them. Frozen Bloodworms are also recommended because they are easily absorbed by the fish. This type of food can cause rapid growth and boost up the immune system.

Feeding your flowerhorn is an enjoyable task. While you are providing them the correct food and diet, you are also providing yourself some pleasurable moments with your pet fish while you are feeding them.

How Often Can You Feed Your Flowerhorn Fish

Feeding Flowerhorn Fish

Feeding your flowerhorn fish is one of the most important tasks when it comes to your hobby. If you want a successful breeding procedure, your male and female flowerhorn fish should be fed with the proper amount and on the right time. Without proper knowledge, overfeeding your pet fish will result to certain disorders and will eventually cause problems in breeding. On the other hand, missing the allowable time of feeding can cause the flowerhorn parents suffer from starvation.

Many people are making mistakes on this over and over again because lacking of know-how regarding the right techniques and seem to take the subject for granted. It can obviously affects the breeding process, cost you to spend more money and waste some of your valuable time. Learn the techniques on how often you can feed your flowerhorn fish and how much food is allowable.

Flowerhorn fish has a big appetite. It can be fed with a variety of food such as insects, shrimps, worms and small fishes. Although they are more carnivorous than herbivorous, they can also be given processed herbs and/or veggie flakes which is good for the strengthening of the eggs’ natural characteristics. Their food is the only basic source of nutrition so it should be well fed with the right food containing nutrients that they need.

According to research, there is no specific time required for feeding but it is advisable that flowerhorns be fed two times a day, preferably early in the morning and later in the afternoon. A twelve-hour time duration will allow them to fully digest their intake. It will prevent putrefaction which is the cause of water contamination. If this happens, changing the water regularly will prevent bacteria and other bad elements in the fish tanks. However, if they had already lay eggs, it is advisable to wait for the fish to hatch before changing the water.

The food you give your flowerhorn fish influence their appearance. In other words what they get is what you see. If they are breeders, they need a lot of energy to produce eggs and lack of food intake will deteriorate the process.

In the case of young fries, they can be fed small amounts of food scattered in different hours throughout the day. It would also be best to administer the fries with processed pellet food.

If you are preparing your parents for breeding purposes, giving them the right and nutritious food allows them to breed accordingly.

Identifying Male from Female Flowerhorn Fish

How to Tell if your Flowerhorn Fish is Male or a Female

If you want to know whether your flowerhorn fish is male or female, there are basic methods to do. Identifying their genders can be an easy task for experts but for people who are just starting the hobby, it may be a difficult job. Here are some techniques on how you can classify the gender of your flowerhorn fish.

Even though they are hybrid fish, which means they are bred through experimental (trial and error as it is) and they are genetically engineered, there are several signs that tell whether your flower horn fish is a male or female. In the early years, it is almost impossible to detect the sexuality because it is still in the early stage of studying the species. As the years go by, scientists and ichthyologists discover certain procedures on how they can identify the gender of flowerhorns.

Scarlet Fashion Flowerhorn Fish

Male and female flowerhorn fish look almost exactly the same when they are young. It is for hobbyist to wait until they reach their puberty before they can conduct a gender test.

After your flowerhorn fish (or before you begin your breeding procedure) reached at least 4-5 inches in size, you can try to identify their sexuality. By this time, their characteristics have fully developed. Below this line, it is difficult to tell whether it is a male or female. You can start by looking at the shape of the anal pore of each fish. A male flowerhorn fish has a “U” shaped pore while the counterpart has a “V” shape pore.

In other words, a male reproductive organ is much more thinner and pointed while in female, it has a broader or rounded reproductive organ.

Flowerhorns are known to have large hump on the top of its head. Each group of gender has its own unique hump sizes. The male fish has a bigger hump on his head. It can develop a translucent bump unlike the female that only increase its size later in their life span.

You can also observe the movements of each flowerhorns during this time. Once you are on the breeding process, you can easily recognize the female from the male as she is more dominant than her counterpart. The male will be providing the safeguarding of the eggs. He will look for predators, other fish and other unnecessary elements that go near the eggs. He will make sure that the eggs reached their hatching level and that the fries will survive in any circumstances. That is basic animal instinct!

Note: If you have to conduct this at the verge of breeding process and you have to look closely at the fish tank or aquarium, you should refrain from making unnecessary movements. Always remember that a pair of breeding flowerhorn fish is very sensitive to its environments.

Hope this helps!

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Flowerhorn Fish Loss of Appetite

This is to answer a question sent via email by Miss M. Fernandez of the Philippines.

“Why does my flowerhorn fish won’t eat?”

There are many reasons why flowerhorns may not eat. But the first and foremost, this event should not be taken for granted. The “inability” to eat will obviously cause huge problems and lead your flower horn fishes to starvation and eventually, death. Reasons and issues may depend on case-to-case basis, depending on the environment, type of flowerhorn and/ or the familiarity of the hobbyist to fish keeping. These three issues can also be the foundation of the results. Solutions can generally be obtained through the process of elimination. Hobbyists should consider all issues on why their flower horns won’t eat because even a small ground can be a great source for answer. It is best not to disregard any details and be observant to totally tackle the problem.

While most species of flowerhorn fishes have become accustomed to their unnatural habitat, there are many fish group who have not been familiariazed causing them to be disoriented which can be a reasonwhy they are not eating.

One major issue that should be considered is the water temperature. Changes in temperature of the habitat may be one of the main causes. Flowerhorn fishes are ectothermic or cold-blooded, just like all other species of fish. Their energy, actions and appetite are generally based on water temperature. If a sudden change in temperature has occurred, it will not only make flowerhorns disturbed and irritable, but will cause them to lose their appetite. Invest on water-proof thermometer to monitor water temperature. See your local pet shop. Take notice of the changes and see if your flowerhorn reacts with the steady temperature of their habitat.

Another reason may be a change in food supply. If you are providing them a specific diet, and suddenly switch to another kind of food, it can cause them to react negatively. They may not immediately adapt the new diet as they are accustomed to the old one.

Unnecessary movements outside its habitat (fish tanks) such as people watching them, or other animals like pet cats and dogs can negatively influence their appetite. A flowerhorn fish responds to their environment and unwanted activities cause by these incidents can be a threat. It can make them feel they are in danger.

Cleanliness is the third on the list. Water quality is a big factor when it comes to their appetite. If their environment is contaminated, it is likely to affect its behavior. Water condition should be well preserved. Setting up of a good filtration system is a good idea. A regular monitoring of pH and rises of ammonia and algae is advisable as well.

If your flowerhorn has lost its appetite and basically would not it, considering these tips can be a great help. Nevertheless, always keep an eye to your breeders with any changes and be sure to be alert all the time to ensure proper flowerhorn fish keeping. A keen eye and the passion to your hobby is always the best tool in succeeding.

Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Post-19-1231048922.jpg

How to Properly Manage Your Flowerhorn Fish Aquarium

Proper Fish Tank Management

Success in breeding flowerhorns
is a result of proper
fish tank management.

Introduction (Cichlids)

The practice of managing a fish tank, particularly the aquarium you will use in breeding your flowerhorn pairs, is far more important than choosing the correct fish. Choosing a good pair of flowerhorn is also essential but if you have not educated yourself in accurate fish tank management, your pair will suffer and the breeding procedure will be wasted. When it comes to keeping your flower horns in good quality condition, you must be aware of the dos and don’ts of fish tank management. You must be knowledgeable about how you can maintain the cleanliness of your aquariums and how you can provide a great home for your breeders as well. A dedicated hobbyist takes time to learn the basic and the advance of keeping the flowerhorn parents in a wealthy and healthy condition to produce baby flowerhorn fish.

A well-maintained aquarium and choosing the right parent to be bred go together in harmony to produce good results. It is safe to say that it is vital for us to become skilled when these procedures are concerned. While it is very important for us hobbyists to have a good knowledge in breeding flowerhorn fish, it is also essential that we should have the proper knowledge in fish tank management.

Managing your Flowerhorn Fish Aquarium

It is advisable to place your fish tank closely to natural habitat of flowerhorns. It will not only benefit the pair breeder but it is also provides good, natural view for your eyes. As the fish descendants started on Asia, it is indeed great for them to inhabit a place where they can simulate a good natural habintat. There are many sizes and designs of aquariums which are available at the local pet shop. You may begin your journey by choosing a size that will allow your fish to grow, Assuming that your flowerhorn fish will develop its size into about 600-700 mm in length, you may want to choose a fish tank that is 2 and a half to 3 feet in length. That is about 20 to 26 gallons of water. If possible, purchase a fiber glass fish tank as these aquariums are light in weight and durable.

Place the aquarium in a flat rack preferably with steel support for durability and stability. Never put the stand in a curved surface as this will cause problems in the future. Put a Styrofoam or a rubber sheet on the rack before positioning the fish tank. The rubber material will provide cushion for the aquarium.

Once you have placed the fish tank in proper position, you may want to consider putting attractive background. There are several backgrounds that you can choose from and can be purchased at your local fish store. Colored pebbles, gravels and ocean stones are few of many decorations you can buy. It is a good idea to consider about your budget and your taste when buying tank accessories.

Stones and pebbles in your fish tank will not only provide as natural filtration but will also serve as a tool to help flowerhorn fish smoothen their teeth. Always remember that adult flowerhorn have sharp teeth and when they begin to breed, this may cause them to accidentally injure each other. Stones will somehow polish their teeth allowing them to take those sharp edges a bit. These stones will also provide them materials when they start to build their nest for the breeding procedure.

Be sure to distribute the stones and pebbles evenly on the surface of the fish tank so as to promote a good habitat for your flowerhorn pair. However, putting plastic ornamental plants and other hard objects is not a good idea as these decorations will only provide obstacles and might damage the flowerhorn’s fins and scales as well as their overall appearance.

Lighting is very important when it comes to flowerhorn fish tank management and its general requirements. Appropriate aquarium light will improve flowerhorn’s coloration and physical enhancement. It is advisable to put your tank in a place where it can get indirect sunlight. Installing a full scale light is a good idea when sunlight is not possible.

The quality of the water is one thing to consider as well. While flowerhorn fishes are flexible and can adapt several conditions of water, this does not indicate that you can ignore water quality. Proper water management should be a priority and must be deal with care. A regular water change is recommended to promote healthier fishes and better quality of breeds. Hobbyists should see water conditions every now and then.

Water temperature should also be taken with caution as it a crucial necessity in breeding flowerhorn as well as fish tank management. It is a fact that flowerhorn fishes are tropical in nature and they can survive in water with different temperature but it is also a fact that they should be kept in water ranging from 26 to 28 degree centigrade. If you think your flowerhorn is sick, I advise to raised the temperature of the water a bit higher, 30 degree centigrade but not higher than 32 degree centigrade. You can monitor the changes and the temperature of the water by installing a water proof thermometer.

Flowerhorn’s simulated habitat needs a great filtration system to avoid certain algae from forming in. Large amount of dirt and wastes from the water will cause diseases and biological problems. Electronic filters and screen mechanism can solve these problems. Invest on filtration filters that are highly durable and is suitable for the size and capacity of your fish tank. It may cost you a bit more higher but will constantly provide you filtration system that you need in proper fish tank management.