What Type of Flowerhorn Is This?

[JustAFishServant]

Hey my friends - sorry I've been gone for awhile. I recently visited a new pet store I've never been to before; a place called Pet Supplies Plus. The fish care was impeccable; 30 very clean tanks, hardly any algae, indicating they do water changes, only 1 dead fish (inevitable), no visible mulm and very low pest snail count, indicating low detritus and, therefore, they do water changes...they had huge goldfish, fed f/t and good quality sinking wafers, and fish/plants were an incredible deal. I bought a few plants, one of which I'd been trying to find since my only LFS closed (R.I.P. Plant and Polyp)

Anyway, I saw this amazing fish labeled as a Flowerhorn for only $13 USD (for reference, the ones at my really nice Petco are $60.) Certainly looked and acted like a Flowerhorn...difference was, the other youngsters looked "typical" with grey/green/red bodies but greenish iridescence, whilst this lil one was dark black with the entire front half of the body covered in white! The only variety I can think of that resembled this one is a Black Kamfa, but this one still differed greatly in appearance.

Anyone have an idea as to what variety this was? I'm very tempted to go back, get this lil one, bring them to a previous adopter with a 600G monster tank...I think he'd love this fish.

Also, any way to tell age/gender? This fish was one of the most vibrant in the Flowerhorn tank (the only black one) and was very territorial when "breakfast was served."

Thanks all

 

[fishywoo]

I honestly wouldn't know, but he is very lovely looking! I am a bit confused though. I thought flower horns have that large bulb on their heads?

 

[A201]

I don't think the pictured Cichlid is a Flowerhorn. It looks like a Texas Cichlid.
They get big & mean too.

 

[jackywacky]

could it maybe be a fader?

 

[A201]

I don't think so.

 

[86 ssinit]

Not sure what the fish is. But I’m seeing many fish labeled as flowerhorns lately. Being these are a man made fish I wonder if these could be bulbless flowerhorns. Maybe even culls that people are now selling? It definitely doesn’t look like a flowerhorn. Don’t think it should be with any other fish if of flowerhorn genetics. They tend to be vicious fish. Even in a 400g tank they would seek out and fight anything else in the tank.

 

[chromedome52]

That's breeding colors of a female Herichthys. Large spangles suggest carpintis, but could also be carpintis/cyanoguttatus hybrid, as those are commonly sold as "Texas" Cichlids.

 

[JustAFishServant]

That's breeding colors of a female Herichthys. Large spangles suggest carpintis, but could also be carpintis/cyanoguttatus hybrid, as those are commonly sold as "Texas" Cichlids.

Wow really? I've always wanted a Texas - they're fascinating; their colors amazing.

So if this is a female, will she require a male to keep these colors or will frozen/live foods keep her sunday's best?

Think she would thrive in the adopter's 600G? It's stocked with 2 CAEs and a red tailed black shark (both of which he adopted from me years back), and he's been wanting a few aggressive cichlids. The tank's kept in the 80's and has many arches and caves created via stone and slate. Giant anubias blankets the tank (one of which flowers frequently.) Substrate is a mix of sand and med pea gravel. Tank was established 7 years ago.

If not I'm sure he can find another fish...maybe a bichir or three?

 

[A201]

The males are more colorful & bigger than the females. The males develop a nuchal hump similar to Flowerhorns. Texas Cichlids are aggressive, especially the males. A pair can dominate a tank.
Tankmates need to be pretty rough customers.

 

[JustAFishServant]

The males are more colorful & bigger than the females. The males develop a nuchal hump similar to Flowerhorns. Texas Cichlids are aggressive, especially the males. A pair can dominate a tank.
Tankmates need to be pretty rough customers.

You think the CAEs and red tailed black shark could handle it? His CAEs are very aggressive

 

[A201]

I think a Texas Cichlid might ignor bottom feeders if they are big enough not to be considered food.
I've kept several Texas Cichlids as well as Texas Hybrids. They are very active, colorful Cichlids. They don't like conspecifics, so only one male per tank. They also are quite proficient breeders. Pic #1 is a male Carpintis Texas, pic #2 is a male Texas Flowerhorn. He was a true beast. Pic #3 is a female Texas hybrid. I really liked keeping them, but they were a handful.

I got the pics out of order. Pic #1 is the Flowerhorn, pic #2 is the Carpintis & pic #3 is the female Texas hybrid.

 

[JustAFishServant]

I think a Texas Cichlid might ignor bottom feeders if they are big enough not to be considered food.
I've kept several Texas Cichlids as well as Texas Hybrids. They are very active, colorful Cichlids. They don't like conspecifics, so only one male per tank. They also are quite proficient breeders. Pic #1 is a male Carpintis Texas, pic #2 is a male Texas Flowerhorn. He was a true beast. Pic #3 is a female Texas hybrid. I really liked keeping them, but they were a handful.
View attachment 892501View attachment 892491
I got the pics out of order. Pic #1 is the Flowerhorn, pic #2 is the Carpintis & pic #3 is the female Texas hybrid.

Stunning!