Flower Horn Fish Facts

The Flower Horn is a type of fish that was first bred back in the early 1990s. It is a popular species of fish that is known for its colors, body markings and unusually shaped head. When considering the Flower Head for your tank, it is important to know the facts on your potential new pet to help determine if it is right for you.

• The Flower Horn is fish that goes by several names. In addition to Flower Horn it is also known as the Luo Han, Flowerhorn, Malaysia Rajah Cichlasoma, or Lump Head Cichlid. It does not have a scientific name, as its existence is a result of multiple cross breeding. It is considered “man-made” and does not naturally exist in nature. There are no definitive facts on which fish were bred to produce the Flower Horn, although there is much speculation. The most common belief is that it is a crossbreed of many different South American Cichlids.


• The Flower Horn is typically orange, grey or red with black horizontal markings on its body. It is roughly 12 to 16 inches long and can weigh up to six pounds. It is characterized by the hump, or lump, that sits on its head.


• When it comes to feeding, the Flower Horn is omnivorous, which means it does not have discriminating tastes. Examples of the foods that it will eat include chopped meat, shrimp, mealworms, and bloodworms, as well as spinach, peas and fish pellets.


• The Flower Horn has a lifespan of up to 10 years.


• They are aggressive and territorial with other fish, particularly other Flower Horns, and are best kept in tanks alone. Two fish of the same sex should be kept in separate tanks, to avoid the risk of injury or death.


• It is a very hardy fish that has the ability to survive under harsh conditions. For maximum health, however, it should be kept in a tank that is approximately 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit with a 7 to 7.8 pH level.


• When breeding the Flower Horn fish, it can give birth to 200 fry approximately every six months.