How to Breed Flowerhorn Fish
Flowerhorn fish are revered in some Asian countries for the protuberance on their head and their long tails, which Asians believe brings good luck. Not occurring naturally, these colorful fish were the result of crossbreeding in the early 1990s. Learn how to safely breed your own flowerhorn fish.
Flowerhorn Fish, or Hua Luo Han, a Chinese hybrid borne of crossbreeding of cichlids of South America, is a unique aquarium fish covered by light blue or green scales, a hump on its forehead, black marks and widespread fins and tails. Breeding is fairly easy when the fish have reached between 10 to 12 centimeters. Females lay eggs on rocks or other flat surfaces while males stand guard. In three to four days, fry are hatched and both parents take them to more hidden locations for raising.
- Purchase a large aquarium; at least a 200-liter tank as flowerhorns need room to grow.
- Place at least one male and one female into the tank for breeding purposes.
- Maintain the water temperature between 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. Keep the water pH between 7 and 8.
- Purchase a decent water filtration system for the high nitrite/nitrate levels in the mass amount of waste these fish produce.
- Keep the water current slow for flowerhorn fish as it provides the best oxygenation.
- Purchase decorations, such as gravel and rocks, to provide a homey environment, as well as live and plastic plants.
- Feed your flowerhorn fish with a combination of live food such as newly hatched brine, frozen food, and dry fish food, such as earthworms and meal worms, chironomus and pellets.