DIY Cichlid Flowerhorn

Flowerhorn Cichlids are a hybrid species of cichlid known for their distinctive protruding head. The flowerhorn cichlid is believed to be a lucky fish; owners of these creatures are said to be given luck and good feng shui. The fish was developed in Malaysia in the 1990s; exactly what species of cichlids were bred to form the Flowerhorn Cichlid is still not widely known. Although, according to aquaticcommunity.com, this fish was formed by breeding Trimac cichlids and other South American cichlids.

  1. Breeding a Flowerhorn Cichlid

    • Breeding high-quality Flowerhorn Cichlids is difficult; the secret has become something of a trade secret among the commercial breeders. Nonetheless, you can still try your hand at it by crossing different breeds of cichlid's and doing some experimentation of your own.

      To begin with, understand that cichlids are an aggressive fish; this means they need to be kept with other aggressive species of the same sex. This will obviously make breeding even more difficult, as Flowerhorn Cichlids are aggressive toward the opposite sex. Use a divider screen if your cichlids are particularly aggressive.

      Ensure further that your aquarium contains the proper breeding environment. The water temperature should be around 28°C/82°F. Equip your aquarium with natural-looking surroundings, such as rock formations, to put the fish at ease. Feed the fish well and make sure the water remains clean (keeping the fish well fed will result in the need for more frequent water changes due to the amount of waste the fish will put in the water after eating).

      Start experimenting with different cichlids. This process could take a long time; years, in fact. Since the exact secret is guarded, you will need to work with what is known: Trimac cichlids are bred with different South American species such as Cichlasoma Festae, Amphilophus citrinellum and Vieja synspila. Acquire a male or female Trimac and breed it with the opposite sex of a South American species. In turn, breed the new species with another Trimac or a different South American species. Keep track of your results and adapt your theory to changes. Use multiple tanks for speedier results.

    Raising Flowerhorn Cichlids

    • The easiest way to breed a Flowerhorn Cichlid is to actually get a male and female Flowerhorn Cichlid and breed them. The fish needs a large tank as it can grow between 12 and 16 inches long. Due to their aggressive nature, the Flowerhorn Cichlid needs to feed often (between two and three times daily). Feed the fish high-quality cichlid pellets, krill, frozen bloodworms, earthworms, night crawlers, crickets and carotene-enhanced supplements. The tank should have rock formations and gravel in it to provide the fish with places to hide. Raising the fish in this manner will allow you to breed two Flowerhorn Cichlids, which you can then raise the offspring according to these guidelines.