Newly Acquired Young Flowerhorn

So I’ve acquired what I now know is a young flowerhorn from my brother (my nieces decided they didn’t want a fish). I keep a 29 gallon tank of mollies so I’m not entirely knowledgeable about FHs but it is already stealing my heart. It’s so active and inquisitive...even swims against my finger when I feed it, letting me pet it. So far it loves frozen brine shrimp and super color cichlid pellets the most. Tends to spit out flakes. Also loves veggie wafers...carries them around the tank and takes bits off here and there, and continues to carry it til it’s gone lol. Threw a house spider in there the other day and it went nuts; it was excited for an hour, awaiting more food lol

I’m not sure what kind of FH or the sex; I have been keeping it in a spare 20 gallon that I had cycling for the occasional fry from my molly (got the tank parameters up to par before I took it in from my brother). I plan to cycle a 55 gallon and put it in there....as I’ve always wanted a bigger tank (and eventually more fish —- so acceptable tank mate suggestions would be welcome for down the line!)

Any advice on keeping this little fish (for now) happy is welcome — and if you can ID/sex it.....thatd be great too!

thanks!!

 

Flowerhorn varieties usually get names from the adult color patterns. That one is way to young to sex, as well. As far as acceptable tank mates - none. At least, not in the size tank you have planned. A 55 is even a bit small for many types of Flowerhorns. Growing him out in a smaller tank won't last very long, as they tend to grow very quickly. But those who love these things seem to enjoy interacting with them.

 

Thank you! Maybe I’ll look into a 75 then! That might be the biggest I can go

 

A 90 would be ideal, they are only 4 inches taller than a 75, but if you live in an apartment then there could be an issue with weight. This being said, depending on the type of flowerhorn, 75 should be good long term.

 

I live in a house, I can put the tank in my basement — there’s plenty of traffic and my work area is there so it should be a good option! Thanks for your input. I’m excited to see this little fish grow!

 

I live in a house, I can put the tank in my basement — there’s plenty of traffic and my work area is there so it should be a good option! Thanks for your input. I’m excited to see this little fish grow!

No problem, keep us updated as it grows! Also, do you know how much your brother paid for the fish? That could be a decent indicator as to what kind of flowerhorn it is.

 

I believe he got it from petco or something. He said the associate wasn’t a fish person, they had a groomer helping due to the covid crisis (we’re in NJ). They sold it to him as an assorted for $3.49. I went to my local petco to pick up food and saw they recently had red dragon and a red texas (were already sold) for $19.99 on two of the tanks so maybe one of those?

I’ll be pleasantly surprised if this little fish turns out to be a bright red stunner lol

 

I believe he got it from petco or something. He said the associate wasn’t a fish person, they had a groomer helping due to the covid crisis (we’re in NJ). They sold it to him as an assorted for $3.49. I went to my local petco to pick up food and saw they recently had red dragon and a red texas (were already sold) for $19.99 on two of the tanks so maybe one of those?

I’ll be pleasantly surprised if this little fish turns out to be a bright red stunner lol

It has the same black horizontal "stripe" as the red dragon as well as the same general tail shape, so it could be one of those. Although those markings are pretty common for flowerhorns lol. It'll of course be easier to tell once he colors up more so I guess we'll see!

 

It has the same black horizontal "stripe" as the red dragon as well as the same general tail shape, so it could be one of those. Although those markings are pretty common for flowerhorns lol. It'll of course be easier to tell once he colors up more so I guess we'll see!

I can’t wait to find out. It’s already grown at least half an inch since I’ve had it. Seems to be very happy. I just vacuumed the room and it was extremely interested in “whatever it was I was doing”
It loves when my dog comes in the room too.

I have also heard cichlids dont like live plants in their tanks; that they tear them up. Is that true for flowerhorns as well?...i was thinking of putting some in the bigger tank when I set it up.

Any preferable tank set up tips? this fish will most likely be the only one in there.

I’ve attached some photos of the little guy from today! Hopefully I can start cycling a new tank this week!

 

All the flowerhorn setups I've personally seen are barebottom and have a rocky scape (just make sure you put some kind of barrier, egg crate or a plastic stand is common, between the rock and the glass) although I'm sure there's probably some wiggle room there. They are of course, big fish, so I'd think they'd be a little too clumsy to really benefit from plants in their tank, but I'm no flowerhorn expert so don't quote me on that.

 

Of course it could just as easily be female.

I feel it might like some gravel on the bottom to move around as I think these like to dig and rearrange their decor. Better make heaters and filters etc. safe.

Make sure the glass is thick as they have been know to break cheapo tanks.

I know owners think these are the greatest WET PETS.

As you say, one fish only per tank due to extreme aggression.

 

So I’ve acquired what I now know is a young flowerhorn from my brother (my nieces decided they didn’t want a fish). I keep a 29 gallon tank of mollies so I’m not entirely knowledgeable about FHs but it is already stealing my heart. It’s so active and inquisitive...even swims against my finger when I feed it, letting me pet it. So far it loves frozen brine shrimp and super color cichlid pellets the most. Tends to spit out flakes. Also loves veggie wafers...carries them around the tank and takes bits off here and there, and continues to carry it til it’s gone lol. Threw a house spider in there the other day and it went nuts; it was excited for an hour, awaiting more food lol

I’m not sure what kind of FH or the sex; I have been keeping it in a spare 20 gallon that I had cycling for the occasional fry from my molly (got the tank parameters up to par before I took it in from my brother). I plan to cycle a 55 gallon and put it in there....as I’ve always wanted a bigger tank (and eventually more fish —- so acceptable tank mate suggestions would be welcome for down the line!)

Any advice on keeping this little fish (for now) happy is welcome — and if you can ID/sex it.....thatd be great too!

thanks!!

I had one that looked like yours when I got it from petsmart.

 

I had one that looked like yours when I got it from petsmart.

Oh awesome!!!! Seems like they got darker and got more of those pearls! Beautiful fish!! How were they? Any issues with them??

 

Just an educated guess. IMO, your FH is a Kamfa female. Juvenile FH'S are often juiced at the hatchery in order to enhanced color. Its usually the colored up baby males that go first. The not so colorful females end up in the assorted cichlid tank.
Female FH's can be just as pretty as the males, but no XL nuchal hump, are a lot smaller & usually not as aggressive.
Tankmates are possible with female FH's. Not a good idea with males.
Here's a pic of a Petco female Kamfa FH I once kept.

 

Just an educated guess. IMO, your FH is a Kamfa female. Juvenile FH'S are often juiced at the hatchery in order to enhanced color. Its usually the colored up baby males that go first. The not so colorful females end up in the assorted cichlid tank.
Female FH's can be just as pretty as the males, but no XL nuchal hump, are a lot smaller & usually not as aggressive.
Tankmates are possible with female FH's. Not a good idea with males.
Here's a pic of a Petco female Kamfa FH I once kept.
View attachment 687483

thank you!! She’s still quite a stunner! I like the “a lot smaller” deal, as well!

my brother said it was in a tank with blue striped African cichlids and seemed fine. They watched the fish for about a half hour before choosing. So maybe it is a female, being less aggressive. It can see the molly tank I have —- theyre right next to each other and it doesn’t seem aggressive. The Mollies stop and stare more lol

I guess time will tell!

 

I really enjoyed my female FH. Had her in a 120 gal. for two years. I eventually traded her & a female Red Texas Cichlid for African Cichlids.
Be a good idea to feed a varied diet to your FH. They are prone to "Bloat". Don't use activated carbon in your power filter. FH's are suseptable to HITH disease. Activated carbon has been linked as a possible contributor to the disease.

 

Oh awesome!!!! Seems like they got darker and got more of those pearls! Beautiful fish!! How were they? Any issues with them??

Thanks. Yes he was very pale in color when I got him and his colors changed alot over the time I had him. He wasn't to bad with aggression he lived with a female parrot fish for months with no real aggression. The last video is of a breeding pair of kamfa I had they were more aggressive than the first guy but they would breed a lot you can see the eggs all over the tank bottom on the females side. She is the one with the red. She also always had more red colors than the male. I have raised quite a few flowerhorns and I don't believe females are more pale than males. When they are very small like yours they are all pale. Very fun to watch them grow and develop. Yours has a lot of pearls so that's always good at a early age.

thank you!! She’s still quite a stunner! I like the “a lot smaller” deal, as well!

my brother said it was in a tank with blue striped African cichlids and seemed fine. They watched the fish for about a half hour before choosing. So maybe it is a female, being less aggressive. It can see the molly tank I have —- theyre right next to each other and it doesn’t seem aggressive. The Mollies stop and stare more lol

I guess time will tell!

this is a picture of the breeding female when she was small

Oh awesome!!!! Seems like they got darker and got more of those pearls! Beautiful fish!! How were they? Any issues with them??

this is one of my favorite males at close to three inches.
the pictures are him a little over 5 inches

So I’ve acquired what I now know is a young flowerhorn from my brother (my nieces decided they didn’t want a fish). I keep a 29 gallon tank of mollies so I’m not entirely knowledgeable about FHs but it is already stealing my heart. It’s so active and inquisitive...even swims against my finger when I feed it, letting me pet it. So far it loves frozen brine shrimp and super color cichlid pellets the most. Tends to spit out flakes. Also loves veggie wafers...carries them around the tank and takes bits off here and there, and continues to carry it til it’s gone lol. Threw a house spider in there the other day and it went nuts; it was excited for an hour, awaiting more food lol

I’m not sure what kind of FH or the sex; I have been keeping it in a spare 20 gallon that I had cycling for the occasional fry from my molly (got the tank parameters up to par before I took it in from my brother). I plan to cycle a 55 gallon and put it in there....as I’ve always wanted a bigger tank (and eventually more fish —- so acceptable tank mate suggestions would be welcome for down the line!)

Any advice on keeping this little fish (for now) happy is welcome — and if you can ID/sex it.....thatd be great too!

thanks!!

some of my old flowerhorns two pictures of each fish. Second and last are females.



pictures of each fish second fish is a red Texas fading.

this was my favorite pair last two pictures were the female. Enjoy you flowerhorn I don't keep them anymore but they are very interesting fish. Clean water and a variety of food always worked for me.

 

this was my favorite pair last two pictures were the female. Enjoy you flowerhorn I don't keep them anymore but they are very interesting fish. Clean water and a variety of food always worked for me.

thank you so much for all your input! Such beautiful fish! So many shades and markings....I love that it’s a mystery when they’re so young.

I recently did an about 70% water change —- the little fish made such a mess and it was so happy afterwards. I’m actually going to head to the store today to get some frozen food for it. It truly despises flakes so I have been feeding just a tiny bit first thing in the morning when it’s ravenous—-it’ll eat anything. But it definitely prefers the brine shrimp but I wanna get the frozen instead of freeze dried.

Do you think a few crickets are wise? I have thrown two bugs in there over the time I’ve had it, and it got really excited lol seemed like it’s hunting skills popped out and made eating a little more fun. I’ve heard when they get larger, they’ll eat live goldfish??? Is that true???

 

Water changes regularly are a must. For a flowerhorn at least once a week. Frozen brine shrimp,frozen bloodworms,freeze dried shrimp and bloodworms would be great. I don't use pellets so I can't recommend any. Live insects like crickets,mealworms, live ghost and chopped earthworms are good live options. I use feeder goldfish to feed my piscivorous and highly predatory fish so I'm not a anti feeder fish person but I would never offer feeders to flowerhorns or any omnivorous type cichlid.

 

I would say stick with pellets only or frozen food + veggie pellets. Don't go for live food, it involves risk that's not worth it.

Foe veggie pellets something like NLS algaemax is best, next good option is northfin veggie pellets. It's important to feed some as flowerhorns are prone to gastrointestinal issues. I wouldn't feed random bugs as well, you don't know what pesticides or chemicals it carries.

Your fish is pretty, it would be stunner most probably. It's small to guess the gender, and looks like a red dragon to me, if it's body shape develops differently then he might be a kamfa.

 

I would say stick with pellets only or frozen food + veggie pellets. Don't go for live food, it involves risk that's not worth it.

Foe veggie pellets something like NLS algaemax is best, next good option is northfin veggie pellets. It's important to feed some as flowerhorns are prone to gastrointestinal issues. I wouldn't feed random bugs as well, you don't know what pesticides or chemicals it carries.

Your fish is pretty, it would be stunner most probably. It's small to guess the gender, and looks like a red dragon to me, if it's body shape develops differently then he might be a kamfa.

thank you!! The algaemax is what I’ve been feeding it! It loves them...carries them around the tank til it’s gone

it’s growing so fast!!! Today I noticed a slight red undertone, the pearls got brighter, and the orange on its dorsal fun is getting brighter — I showed it its reflection and it really showed off lol

I also found a great used 75 gallon tank that I’m picking up today! Finally going to start cycling that for it. I’m sure it’ll be happy to eventually have more room!

 

thank you!! The algaemax is what I’ve been feeding it! It loves them...carries them around the tank til it’s gone

it’s growing so fast!!! Today I noticed a slight red undertone, the pearls got brighter, and the orange on its dorsal fun is getting brighter — I showed it its reflection and it really showed off lol

I also found a great used 75 gallon tank that I’m picking up today! Finally going to start cycling that for it. I’m sure it’ll be happy to eventually have more room!

Growing a fish from that size is really fun, I enjoyed doing it for my first fish and I didn't know what to expect at that time, was very pleased with pearling and color changes. He should be getting 40-45% protein as he is growing, I assume frozen food will balance it out though if you feed it once a day. Since the fish is small I would say do 2-3 feedings, once frozen and once algaemax.

He sure would love 75, just transfer the media with him and you wouldn't need to cycle new tank. Wait till he is 3-4 inches before you move him.

 

Growing a fish from that size is really fun, I enjoyed doing it for my first fish and I didn't know what to expect at that time, was very pleased with pearling and color changes. He should be getting 40-45% protein as he is growing, I assume frozen food will balance it out though if you feed it once a day. Since the fish is small I would say do 2-3 feedings, once frozen and once algaemax.

He sure would love 75, just transfer the media with him and you wouldn't need to cycle new tank. Wait till he is 3-4 inches before you move him.

ah okay! 75 too much at the size now?

In the morning I do a pellet/shrimp and then at night a veggie wafer.

 

ah okay! 75 too much at the size now?

In the morning I do a pellet/shrimp and then at night a veggie wafer.

With a small tank he would be little more interactive when he is small.

Just try to average the protein, should be above 40%. Which pellets are you feeding? I assume veggie wafers are algaemax.

 

With a small tank he would be little more interactive when he is small.

Just try to average the protein, should be above 40%. Which pellets are you feeding? I assume veggie wafers are algaemax.

I feed these & frozen brine as well.

it really hates flakes so I sprinkle a little in there in the morning —- it’s kind of forced to eat them otherwise it spits them out.

the wafers & shrimp though? Loves them!

 

I feed these & frozen brine as well.

it really hates flakes so I sprinkle a little in there in the morning —- it’s kind of forced to eat them otherwise it spits them out.

the wafers & shrimp though? Loves them!

Looks good. Don't feed flakes, stick to pellets only.

Northfin and NLS make better pellets, switching to them would be a good idea. I feed frozen foods from hikari. NLS and northfin are cheaper when bought in bulk, try searching on Amazon.

 

I feed these & frozen brine as well.

it really hates flakes so I sprinkle a little in there in the morning —- it’s kind of forced to eat them otherwise it spits them out.

the wafers & shrimp though? Loves them!

Little guy has lots of pearls, nice fish.

 

Hi guys! Just an update on my guy here. It’s been a little over a month and he’s still kicking

Growing a lot!

However, there was an issue in his tank recently—the filter broke, I didn’t notice right away because it’s quiet anyways but he was acting strange, pointed downwards, he was quite dark, and then a few hours later his head and tail started getting extremely pale. I freaked out.

Finally noticed the filter stopped and threw a spare sponge filter in there with the filter media on top of it — and also a spare cobalt filter pump.
I tested the water and the nitrates and nitrites were ridiculously high.

I immediately removed him and placed him in a spare 10g. Did a 70-80% water change in his tank and treated it.Tested next day, levels were good.However I didn’t want to put him back until my new aquaclear filter arrived. It came a day later and i let it run for four or five hours.

the tank was crystal clear and the water tested great again. I left the sponge filter in there as well so now the tank has the aquaclear on top of the sponge. I’m kind of traumatized

anyways, my little guy started Showing signs he was on the mend. I shut off all his lights and would only put a small night light on a few hours a day so he could just take it easy.

approximately five days later he’s finally begging for food and acting like his old self. However, he spits out ALL his food...and hegoes around the tank eating it up and spitting it out for well over an hour. Like he’s hungry but just doesn’t swallow.
Mind you he is a bit thin after his ordeal. he hasn’t eaten in days.
Today, I got some little ghost shrimp to give him some food to hunt, make it fun for him. And those??? HE DEVOURED.

have I created a monster?? Do you think it’s just him getting back to normal that he won’t eat his old food? (Frozen brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms, pellets)

anyone have any experience with this kind of “poisoning”?

I’ve also attached some new photos of him. As you can see he’s a bit thin but he’s getting his little hump

 

Stick to pellets, may be use something like garlic guard or blood worm juice to soak them to make it more attractive.

 

Stick to pellets, may be use something like garlic guard or blood worm juice to soak them to make it more attractive.

definitely going to try that! Thanks.
I can’t go out and get him ghost shrimp every time he needs to eat haha

 

Hi guys! Just an update on my guy here. It’s been a little over a month and he’s still kicking

Growing a lot!

However, there was an issue in his tank recently—the filter broke, I didn’t notice right away because it’s quiet anyways but he was acting strange, pointed downwards, he was quite dark, and then a few hours later his head and tail started getting extremely pale. I freaked out.

Finally noticed the filter stopped and threw a spare sponge filter in there with the filter media on top of it — and also a spare cobalt filter pump.
I tested the water and the nitrates and nitrites were ridiculously high.

I immediately removed him and placed him in a spare 10g. Did a 70-80% water change in his tank and treated it.Tested next day, levels were good.However I didn’t want to put him back until my new aquaclear filter arrived. It came a day later and i let it run for four or five hours.

the tank was crystal clear and the water tested great again. I left the sponge filter in there as well so now the tank has the aquaclear on top of the sponge. I’m kind of traumatized

anyways, my little guy started Showing signs he was on the mend. I shut off all his lights and would only put a small night light on a few hours a day so he could just take it easy.

approximately five days later he’s finally begging for food and acting like his old self. However, he spits out ALL his food...and hegoes around the tank eating it up and spitting it out for well over an hour. Like he’s hungry but just doesn’t swallow.
Mind you he is a bit thin after his ordeal. he hasn’t eaten in days.
Today, I got some little ghost shrimp to give him some food to hunt, make it fun for him. And those??? HE DEVOURED.

have I created a monster?? Do you think it’s just him getting back to normal that he won’t eat his old food? (Frozen brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms, pellets)

anyone have any experience with this kind of “poisoning”?

I’ve also attached some new photos of him. As you can see he’s a bit thin but he’s getting his little hump

Clean water and aquarium salt always worked for me.