How to Breed Flowerhorns

Flowerhorn cichlids are beautiful freshwater fish that make great tank mates to other cichlid varieties. Getting them to spawn is easy and requires almost no work on your part--one flowerhorn female can produce hundreds of fry.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 juvenile flowerhorn cichlid fish (one male and one female)
  • 1 50-gallon aquarium (properly set up for cichlid fish)
  • 1 aquatic water heater (250 watts)
  • 5-lb. bag of aquarium gravel
  • 3 Siamese algae eaters
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Instructions

    • 1

      Introduce the juvenile male and female to a 50-gallon aquarium. Keep tank mates limited to only cichlid species such as Oscars and parrot cichlids. The flowerhorns need time to become acquainted and to bond to one another.

    • 2

      Add an additional water heater to the opposite side of the tank to keep the other fish warm without having to invade the flowerhorns' territory. Upon adulthood, you will notice the flowerhorn cichlids sticking together nearest the water heater, rarely leaving that spot. This is a sign of the female becoming gravid with eggs, as they will both crave the warmth.

    • 3

      Add the 5-lb. bag of aquarium rock to the side of the tank where the flowerhorns are staying. This will provide them with extra nesting material, as they like to dig.

    • 4

      Introduce the three Siamese algae eaters to the aquarium. The purpose of the algae eaters is to keep the tank clean without disturbing the eggs and parents. Other types of algae eaters grow too large and are clumsy.

    • 5

      Simply sit back and let nature run its course. Cichlids are extremely easy to breed because they thrive in practically any quality of water. One flowerhorn will produce hundreds of fry, and about half of the clutch will survive when in natural conditions or living with other aggressive tank mates.