Instructions
Look for a fish that has a large oval-shaped body. An adult flowerhorn can grow to be up to 30 cm in length and the shape of the body, when viewed from the side, is an almost perfect oval.
Look for a prominent hump located on the fish's forehead, just above the eyes. This is called the nuchal hump and is the most identifiable feature of the flowerhorn fish. When fish are young the hump may appear as a slightly pronounced brow bone. Once adulthood is reached, the hump can equal the size of the fish's head.
Inspect the side of the fish's body for thick, black vertical stripes. In some flowerhorns these marks look more like splotches than stripes, but each black mark must be separate from the others.
Examine the overall color of the fish. Although flowerhorns can have several different colors in their bodies, there will be an overall reddish tint to the majority of the body. This color is especially evident on the fins of the fish.
Examine the scales on the fish to make sure that they are a light blue or green color. You will need to closely examine the fish to see the scales. If looking at the fish from a distance, the scales will occasionally give off blue flashes of color when the fish swims near a light.
How to Identify Flowerhorn Species
The flowerhorn fish species, also known as the Hua Luo Han, originated in China and is actually the result of cross breeding several species of cichlid fish. In China the fish is believed to bring health and prosperity to its owners, according to Flowerfish.com. Because it is a hybrid species, the flowerhorn is not found in the wild, only in aquariums. When purchased for aquariums, care should be taken as the flowerhorn is very aggressive and will chase other fish from its territory.