How to Care for a Red Dragon Flowerhorn

The Flowerhorn is a hybrid cichlid that was originally bred in Malaysia. This attractive fresh water fish was bred by crossing a number of different cichlid species, including the Festae and the Jingang blood parrot cichlids. The flowerhorn is a hardy fish with a definite personality, but aggressive nature. For this reason, this fish type is normally housed alone. The flowerhorn prefers a slightly alkaline pH and warm water. Provided the flowerhorn is correctly cared for, this cichlid has a life span up to 10 years.

Things You'll Need

  • 120-gallon aquarium
  • Canister filter, incorporating biological, mechanical and chemical filtration material
  • Aquarium heater
  • Thermostat
  • Test kit to measure pH, including products to raise or lower the pH value
  • Balanced cichlid pellet
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Select an aquarium with a volume of at least 120 gallons. Flowerhorns grow in excess of 16 inches and are active fish. Flowerhorns also consume a large amount of food daily, and a larger amount of water will help keep the water cleaner.

    • 2

      Attach a canister filter to the aquarium. These filters typically stand below the aquarium and are attached to it via outflow and inflow tubing.

    • 3

      Place mechanical filter material in the canister filter. This can consist of either aquarium floss or mechanical filter pads. Mechanical filter material traps large pieces of dirt and decaying aquatic vegetation, thereby removing it from the water column.

    • 4

      Include biological filter material in the canister filter. This material provides a home in which beneficial bacteria can live and convert toxic metabolic in less harmful substances.

    • 5

      Place chemical filtration material, such as activated charcoal, in the canister filter to remove additional unwanted metabolic byproducts and waste materials.

    • 6

      Place an aquarium heater in the tank, and set its thermostat between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 7

      Adjust the pH of the water to between 7 and 7.8. Use a pH test kit to gauge the value, and then add a product to raise or lower the pH as necessary.

    • 8

      House your flowerhorn alone, as it is an aggressive fish, capable of fatally wounding many other fish species.

    • 9

      Feed your flowerhorn a balanced cichlid pellet twice daily.

    • 10

      Place a canopy over the aquarium to prevent your flowerhorn from jumping out.