Flowerhorn Identification

The flowerhorn cichlid fish is a hybrid of South American cichlids that was developed in Malaysia in the second half of the 1990s. Once a craze in Asia, in the United States the flowerhorn fish is mostly found in Chinese-American communities across the country.

  1. Appearance

    • The flowerhorn is a big fish that can exceed 11 inches in length. Its body shape is generally oval and thick, with a fully belly and stomach, although some newer variants have a more rounded shape. The flowerhorn can also be recognized by the large lump on its forehead. Often the fish has a predominately red coloration, with thick, well-defined black markings on its body.

    Behavior

    • The flowerhorn is not only large but territorial and aggressive. It will not tolerate other fish and will eat smaller fish that fit in its mouth. To house more than one flowerhorn, divide a large tank with accessories to let the fish divide the territory, but keeping more than two or three is not recommended, according to the Aqua-fish website.

    Care

    • The flowerhorn is a hardy fish that can endure water conditions not suitable for some types of aquarium fish. Water with a pH in the range of 7 to 7.8 and temperature between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit is probably ideal, according to the AquariumFish website. The aquarium should hold at least 120 gallons of water. AquariumFish recommends pellet food, available in pet stores, although Aqua-fish suggests live food integration for best health.