Flower horn, flower horn, or Thai silk is a hybrid fish, the result of crossing different types of cichlids in Malaysia. Which cichlids took part in the crossing is unknown to this day, but the result satisfied the breeders. It turned out bright, healthy and prolific offspring. As you know, after crossing, a sterile brood is obtained, but with a flower horn, the opposite is true - these are unusual, wayward representatives of the aquatic world, combining pompous appearance and active behavior.
They almost do not get sick and change color during their life, if you have already decided to buy a fish, get an adult one so that everything is clear with the color of the scales. The flower horn is acceptable to keep alone, they are quite aggressive territorial fish. Unless at exhibitions with 900-liter aquariums they are settled together with other fish. Otherwise, conflicts with neighbors cannot be avoided, as well as injuries.
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Does it live in nature?
In 1996 of the last century, the first flower horns were bred, they quickly ended up in aquariums in different countries. The breeders used cichlids from South America, perhaps it was the cichlid cichlid. There is a large outgrowth on the frontal part of the head, for which the fish was nicknamed the “warship”.
To this day, there are discussions about who the true ancestors of these fish are. It is known for sure that any cichlazoma living in the wild is a potential relative of this large "mutant". In the natural environment, you definitely will not meet a flower horn; they live in private aquariums. Modern aquarists do not deny that such beauties bring good luck and prosperity. Some copies are expensive - up to tens of thousands of dollars. But for our latitudes, it is also affordable, and much cheaper.
Appearance
The flower horn is a large fish whose scales can range from bluish metallic to shades of red or crimson. Of course, there is a large growth on the forehead, which the cichlazoma of another species will envy. Differs in large sizes, in captivity grows up to 30-40 cm in length. On the body there is a wide strip that forms irregularly shaped spots, sometimes they resemble a heart. They have elongated dorsal fins, pointed anal fins, and a rounded tail. Flower horns live for about 10 years.
Admire the horn flower with a bluish-metallic hue.
There are many species and variations, so it is very difficult to describe this representative of cichlids in a few words. Before embarking on this business, you need to examine the shape of the body, the size of the scales, the absence or presence of a strip along the body, the size of the fatty growth on the head, the eyes and the shape of the fins. It is difficult to distinguish male from female.
Conditions of detention
Keeping a flower horn does not require special training, this fish gets used to the conditions from which other representatives of the aquatic fauna could suffer. They are omnivorous and live under strict water conditions. Unlike other cichlids, Thai silk, malau, campha and other species even attack the owner, although there have been cases when the fish allowed themselves to be stroked and even picked up for a while. Keeping with other fish and a large number of plants is not recommended, rather, it is a solitary fish. She will definitely eat neighbors and plants in the aquarium.
One massive individual requires an aquarium with a volume of 150 cubic liters. Male flower horns show their temper more aggressively. When you populate fish of different sexes, monitor their behavior so that fights and territorial disputes do not occur.
Flower horns prefer water of high temperature, 24-30 o C, with an acidity of 6.5-7.8 pH, dH 10-20. They prefer slow flow and clean water, it is recommended to refresh 1/3 of the water once a week, siphon the bottom, because during the meal they clog the water. The external filter must be with strong power. He does not like plants, he can eat them, but there should be enough soil at the bottom where the fish will flounder. Gravel, stones are suitable for soil and will also look good, but they must be firmly pressed to the bottom. Her character is open and active, she is unlikely to hide.
Look at the titled representative of the flower horn.
Breeding
Flowerhorns are fertile fish despite their hybrid origin. To get the offspring of the same color as the parents, you need to study their pedigree well. You can breed in the same aquarium where they live, just keep in mind that sometimes the female can be the object of attacks by the male. Experienced aquarists supply the aquarium with a net that divides the space into two parts, or temporarily plant shelters where the female will hide from pestering.
Spawning stimulation is possible at a water temperature of 28 o C and an acidity of 7.0 pH. It is necessary to feed the parents abundantly, not forgetting to renew the water. After spawning, the parents will protect her, sometimes the male will consider that the female is superfluous here and will attack her. Again, you will have to evict the female flower horn, or divide the territory of the aquarium.
The female lays about 1000 eggs on a small stone. In order to avoid conflicts, it is recommended to substitute a stone with caviar on the territory of the male. On the third day, larvae are born, after two days they already swim and feed on live dust. Dry egg white and brine shrimp can be added to the diet of young animals. Parents take care of the offspring for about a month; at the age of six months, the color of a young flower horn is visible.
Such an impressive flower horn will become a real property of the aquarium, bringing good luck, love and prosperity to its owner!
An aquarium with exotic fish looks fascinating. Its multi-colored inhabitants of all shapes and sizes attract attention, while the measured glow of the backlight and the “rustling” sound from the running compressor contribute to relaxation. A flower horn aquarium is a little different from an aquarium with other aquarium fish, and not only because of the size of the fish and its unusual appearance, but also because of its temperament and sociability.
Habitat
Flower horn (or flower horn) belongs to the family of cichlids, which is part of the perch order. (more than 1900 species) live in salt and fresh water bodies of North, Central and South America, Asia and Madagascar, but you will not be able to meet the flowerer in the wild, since this fish was bred by Malaysian geneticists by crossing different species of the cichlid family.
Together with a bright appearance, the hybrid inherited from his ancestors an unusual ability to change body color throughout his life and give offspring, both with representatives of his own species and with other cichlids.
Description and appearance
Flower horn or Flower horn (literally “flower” and “horn”, English) got its name due to the two most characteristic features of its appearance - bright coloring and a large (especially in males) fat bump in the head area. These are quite large, predatory fish. 
Their body length is in the range of 30-40 cm, and their weight is around 1 kg. The colors are very variable: from gray-brown and inconspicuous fish to handsome men painted with bright colors.
The colors are rarely solid, although the dominant color is always identifiable, and in most cases it is crimson or red. As they grow older, spots of regular or arbitrary shape appear on the body of the flovers, sometimes resembling hieroglyphs, which gives the fish a mystical look.
Did you know? The flower horn entered the TOP 10 most beautiful aquarium fish of 2015 according to the Indian media resource Trending News.
Despite the fact that the flowers are quite undemanding to the conditions of keeping and food, beginner aquarists are still advised to start with something simpler, arguing that it is difficult to care for a large aquarium (100-150 liters per individual). But if big undertakings do not scare you - then go ahead! 
aquarium requirements
For fish with dimensions of 30-40 cm and weighing a kilogram, you need an aquarium with a volume of at least 100 l / individual, and to keep a couple, the volume should double. In addition, complete equipment is required, including a compressor, lighting and a thermostat.
If you are just going to start fish, it is better to buy everything you need to keep them at the same time in one store, so consultants will help you choose the right equipment, and possibly make a good discount.
Important! Flovers are quite heat-loving fish. It makes perfect sense to apply the idea of a "smart home" to an aquarium. Aquariums made from plexiglass, they retain heat better, which is very useful in the cold season and in cases of power outages.
The water temperature should be in the region of 27 ... 30 ° C, the pH reaction should be neutral or slightly alkaline.
Care and hygiene
The issue of hygiene when keeping this fish requires a lot of attention, mainly due to the need for 3 meals a day and the protein nature of the food. Replacing the water in the aquarium can be complete and partial.
- Partial or regular water change is a weekly change of 15-20% of its total volume. This approach allows you to maintain a constant chemical composition of the liquid, avoiding sudden changes, and allowing you to get rid of excess nitrites and nitrates, as well as other decomposition products of organic substances.
- Complete water change. It is produced mainly on demand, for example, with extremely high levels of ammonium and nitrates in the water. In this case, the water change lasts 2 days in 2 trips, for each of which 50% of the water is replaced in the aquarium. After a complete replacement, the level of nitrites is measured again - it should not exceed 0.1-0.2 mg / l. For measurement, use a special test strip (photo below), which is sold in most pet stores.
Feeding
The florists have an excellent appetite. Healthy fish are happy to eat 2-3 times a day and need protein food, preferably live or frozen. It can be shrimp meat, bloodworms, grasshoppers, worms, small forage fish, fish fillets.
Feeding on meat from mammals and birds was practiced at one time, but showed poor results in the form of fat fish and digestive problems. The thing is that there is no enzyme in the intestines of fish that can break down animal fat and protein into easily digestible compounds, so it is not recommended to give such food more than once a week.
Compatibility
Like most cichlids, horns have a very developed sense of their own territory. Sometimes they do not get along well even with representatives of their own species and agree to tolerate a neighbor only during the spawning period. 
When choosing a neighbor for your fish, you need to take care that:
- both fish were proportionate;
- had a similar temperament;
- there was enough room for two in the aquarium.
Important! In the event of a fight between fish and causing serious damage, it is worth doing the prevention of infection, which can easily get inside through wounds. For this, antibiotics are used: nifurpyrinol or kanamycin.
Behavior and lifestyle
As mentioned earlier, the horn fish is a very territorial animal, so it is reluctant to share an aquarium with its other inhabitants. It leads a daytime lifestyle and in the cold season requires an extension of daylight hours by at least 5 hours. 
Among the advantages of this animal can be called a high level of intelligence: after a while, the fish begins to recognize its owner, to identify him in a group of other people.
Moreover, as studies have shown, the fish really remembers rather subtle features of the owner's appearance, since the ability to recognize is not lost with a change of clothes.
A well-fed and unexcited flowerer gladly allows himself to be stroked and makes contact with a person: he rubs against the palm of his hand, follows the movement of a person in the aquarium, when the aquarium cover is removed, he rises to the surface and sticks his head out of the water.
But we should not forget about precautions: the feeding time and the spawning period are not the best time to communicate with fish.
Horns love to dig, turn over driftwood and other items in the aquarium. A powerful head and a strong body are wonderful for this activity. So, when setting up an aquarium for a flowerer, it would be wise to choose pebbles instead of soil, and securely fix all decor items. 
Reproduction and breeding
Despite their breeding origin, florists are very prolific. The female during spawning is able to lay from 700 to 1000 eggs. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 1 year, but in order to obtain better offspring, experienced breeders and aquarists advise starting breeding work when the fish reach 2 years old, this is especially important for females.
Did you know? The history of aquarism has more than one century: for example, ornamental fish began to be bred in ancient China around the 7th-8th centuries. China is also the birthplace of goldfish, they were kept in special baskets, which made it possible to admire pets only from above, therefore, during selection at that time, emphasis was placed on the attractiveness of the upper part of the fish.
Spawning in these fish occurs under the condition of favorable environmental factors, such as water temperature and quality, daylight hours, and an abundance of food supply. 
- The water temperature for spawning should not fall below 28 °C.
- The diet should contain a lot of protein and at least 60% consist of live or frozen food.
- The aquarium should be spacious - at least 150 liters for 2 individuals.
- Inside the aquarium, it is necessary to build a shelter for the female. This can be a snag of a certain shape or a transparent mesh that divides the aquarium in half.
The net is set at a height of about 7-10 cm from the bottom of the aquarium, and the masonry bed (flat smooth stone or ordinary ceramic plate) is placed under the net, with a shift towards the female. The male releases a cloud of sperm onto the laid eggs, thus fertilization occurs.
In order to facilitate the process and increase the percentage of fertilized eggs, aquarists advise using a filter to adjust the flow of water in the direction from male to female. Such natural measures are very effective in aquarium maintenance. 
The incubation period lasts 3 days, after which the fry hatch into the light. At birth, their size is only 7-10 mm. Both parents protect and take care of the offspring, so there is no need to put the female with the young in a separate box.
This care lasts about 3-4 weeks. By this age, the size of the fry is already 2-3 cm, and it is time for them to move to their own aquarium, since around this time the parental instincts of the breeding couple weaken and cases of cannibalism are possible.
Health and disease
Horns have fairly good health and are resistant to minor changes in the environment.
Important! Beginning aquarists should be aware of New Aquarium Syndrome. Before introducing fish into the aquarium, the water (already poured into the equipped aquarium) must stand for at least 2 weeks to establish biological equilibrium. It is not scary if the water becomes a little cloudy - this is an indicator of the course of natural processes and you should not interfere with it (change water, etc.).
Let's take a look at some of the most common problems encountered by flowers.
On the other hand, the aquarium is a great example of a closed ecosystem, illustrating the laws by which the whole planet lives by the example of a 100-liter box, and there is something beautiful about it. Take care of your pets and be competent creators of their little worlds.
Flower Horn is a selectively bred fish. She is a descendant of African cichlids. For a standard urban dwelling, an aquarium with such a tenant is hardly suitable. But if you are the owner of a large living space, whether in the city or outside the city, you may like this creation of Chinese breeders. Also, there may be enough space for an aquarium with these fish in offices, hotel lobbies, and enterprise lobbies.
Synonyms, names in other languages:
In nature, this species does not exist. This is a hybrid that is the result of long-term selection by cross-breeding. Introduced to the general public in 1996. Since then, due to some features of color, behavior and variability of forms, it has been steadily gaining popularity. When breeding this hybrid, according to its creators, modern technologies of molecular biology and genetic engineering were not used.
Description Flower Horn
Flower Horns are descendants of South African cichlids, which is reflected in their appearance and behavior. The body of the fish is elongated (but there are varieties with a short body, approaching the disk in shape). The dorsal and anal fins extend to the base of the tail. In their back part they have a large width and end with a pigtail. The pelvic fins are graceful and resemble feathers in shape. One of the distinguishing features is a strongly pronounced frontal outgrowth. The color is bright and highly variable. The background color can be of various shades, more often red prevails. A number of spots with irregular outlines appear on the background. Often these spots, merging, resemble Chinese or Arabic characters. Giving the fish the status of a verb of fate.
Sex Differences: Body length in males can reach 30 - 40
in the female, the fatty outgrowth is less pronounced centimeters. Females are usually somewhat more modest both in size 20 - 30 centimeters, and in colors. She is paler in females. Also, the frontal growth in females is not as pronounced as in males, and in some cases may be completely absent.
Flower Horn content
The breeders did their best. Their creation is unpretentious. It is only necessary to observe a few simple conditions. Namely:
The aquarium should be at least 150 liters per couple. 150 liters per pair is a minimum, if you plan to keep with other species or keep several pairs in one aquarium, then you need an aquarium of 300 liters or more. With insufficient living space cichlazoma Flower Horn turns into a feud in the communal kitchen. Fights will be inevitable.
Large, well-washed gravel or pebbles are suitable as soil. Be sure to build several grottoes from larger stones so that the female can hide in them when the male is sad ... Also, when keeping several pairs or with representatives of other species, rocks and ridges should be built that would help the residents to properly divide the territory, which will reduce the possibility of endless skirmishes. All these engineering structures need to be properly strengthened. After all, we are dealing with the descendants of South African cichlids. Digging a pit in the ground is a trifle for them. The main thing is that during this socially useful work, the grotto, poorly fortified by you, does not collapse, burying the fish hiding in it under its debris.
Plants can only be used with large mechanically resistant leaves and a well-developed root system.
The water temperature should be between 27 and 30°C. The reaction of water should be neutral or slightly alkaline (pH= 7-8). Hardness 9 - 20 dGH.
Lighting is not demanding. It should be selected based on the needs of the plants if you use them. If not, then play with the light, choosing the brightness at which the fish will look its best. At the same time, keep in mind that a lack of lighting, as well as an excess of it, will lead to a loss of colors in the color. In the first case, the colors will be too dark. The second one is too faded.
Aeration and enhanced filtration, both mechanical and biological, are necessary, since the metabolism of the cichlazoma Flower Horn is enhanced and it is not deprived of appetite.
Joint maintenance with other species is quite possible in containers of sufficient size. Aggressiveness can also be reduced by co-raising fish from a young age. Neighbors should be comparable in size and similar in temperament. Smaller fish are best avoided unless you want to use them as live food. The best candidates for the Flower Horn neighbors may be Astronotus, Pterygoplicht.
You can feed large, clams, shrimps, earthworms, dry and frozen food. There are foods specifically designed for these fish. The manufacturer promises unusually bright saturated colors if you use its products. But the same results can be achieved by simply alternating the above types of food. It is better to feed more often in small portions. At the same time, without forgetting the main rule - it is better not to overfeed than to overfeed. True, keeping them on a starvation diet all the time is also not worth it. When Flower Horn full and neighbors calmer.
Breeding Flower Horn
Flower Horn Champion Breeding is relatively easy. Again, for the peace of mind of the neighbors, it is better to deposit the formed pair in a separate spawning container with a volume of about 150-200 liters. At the bottom, it is also necessary to equip several grottoes. The female must have places for political asylum, while the spouse decides which end of the egg should be broken. The water parameters in the spawning ground are the same as in the reservoir for permanent keeping. If the general aquarium has sufficient capacity, then the fish Flower Horn can spawn in it. Having chosen and chosen a suitable stone, driftwood or flower pot, which you carefully put on the bottom in advance, the spouses will clean it. And then they will lay on its surface about 1000 large, up to 2 millimeters in diameter, pinkish transparent eggs. Incubation lasts about 72 hours. After that, the fry will swim and they will need to be fed. Well, here again, about a thousand hungry mouths ... Fortunately, not too fastidious. Starter food - small crustaceans, brine shrimp nauplii, powdered dry food for fry, some sources even indicate egg yolk. Parents quite carefully protect their offspring from time to time taking this kindergarten for a walk. But after three to four weeks, it is better to drain the fry through a wide hose into a growing tank filled with water with the same temperature, hardness and reaction of the environment as in the spawning ground. As they grow, juveniles should preferably be sorted by size to prevent cannibalism. Gradually they need to be transferred to larger types of food.
Additional information:
Spots on the body of cichlazoma Flower Horn form almost the same individual pattern on their body as a human fingerprint. Moreover, as already mentioned above, they can form such a bizarre pattern that a Chinese character or Arabic words can be guessed or read in them ... For some reason, they did not reach the Cyrillic alphabet. The Chinese must have been breeders. These same inscriptions, encoded at the genetic level, and manifested in the phenotype as the organism grows, make them "fortune tellers" and contribute to the growth of their popularity. So the Flower Horn fish was recognized as a Feng Shui fish of the 8th period (which began in 2004). The second fish awarded the same honor or sacred duty was Arowana (dragon fish). Both species are considered wealth inducers and are quite popular among the millionaires of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia, who believe that the fish brings good luck in business to its owner. Adult individuals with manifested hieroglyphs are especially valued. If the inscription on the body of the fish is favorable, then such an individual can cost several thousand dollars. Red inscriptions are believed to bring good luck in love.
Attention! Adult specimens may be unsafe for children (however, for adults too) out of curiosity, sticking their hand into the aquarium. Their jaws easily tear through the chitinous shell of a living adult cancer.
Thanks to careful selection selection, which Flower Horn went through for many decades, an amazing representative of cichlids was born. Most breeders go to great lengths to ensure that they produce a fish with the most intense color and wide body. Males have a hefty hump on their foreheads, there are dark spots on their bodies, somewhat similar to hieroglyphs. If you thought that this is a mutant fish, then you are mistaken. As a result of long-term breeding research, various chemicals or biogenetic developments were not used.
If you look closely, then in one generation you will not find absolutely identical individuals. Today, several variations of the Flower Horn are known: Kamalau (KML), Thai Silk (Titanium Flower Horn), Zhen Zhu (ZZ) and KamFa (abbreviated KF). Flowers are quite beautiful aquarium fish. Males and females have some anatomical differences. In males, the color is brighter and more saturated, and there is a large hump on the forehead. The dorsal and anal fins end in long pigtails. If the fish are on the eve of spawning or they have received stress, then the outlines of dark transverse stripes will appear on the body, which are especially pronounced in females. In aquarium conditions, the fish can reach 30-40 cm in length. The average size of males is 20-40 centimeters, and females 15-20. The life expectancy of a fish in captivity is 8-10 years.
Origin
Yes, indeed, Flower Horn is artificially bred and is a hybrid. Apparently, now no one will definitely name the name of the breeder and the living material from which this cichlazoma was derived, reaching sizes up to 40 cm.
The real pedigree is known only to the one who did it. It is only known that work on breeding a new species was carried out in Malaysia, and aquarists-breeders are inclined to believe that its ancestors are Central American cichlomas: spotted, citron, lipped and rainbow.
Why exactly these fish were selected?
The thing is that representatives of the cichlaz family are not very picky in creating married couples and can interbreed with partners of a different species. This was used by unknown Malaysian experimenters who wished to keep a trade secret.
And the result exceeded all expectations! Not only did the artificial cichlomas turn out beautiful, they are also prolific, rarely sick and almost omnivorous.
The first individuals of the flower horn appeared relatively recently, in 1996. In less than 20 years, these decorative beauties have become inhabitants of many aquariums around the world. Now there are already several varieties of Flower Horn:
- campha,
- malau (or kamalau),
- zhu wives,
- thai silk (Thai silk).
Conditions of detention
Keeping a flower horn does not require special training, this fish gets used to the conditions from which other representatives of the aquatic fauna could suffer. They are omnivorous and live under strict water conditions. Unlike other cichlids, Thai silk, malau, campha and other species even attack the owner, although there have been cases when the fish allowed themselves to be stroked and even picked up for a while. Keeping with other fish and a large number of plants is not recommended, rather, it is a solitary fish. She will definitely eat neighbors and plants in the aquarium.
One massive individual requires an aquarium with a volume of 150 cubic liters. Male flower horns show their temper more aggressively. When you populate fish of different sexes, monitor their behavior so that fights and territorial disputes do not occur.
Flower horns prefer water of high temperature, 24-30 o C, with an acidity of 6.5-7.8 pH, dH 10-20. They prefer slow flow and clean water, it is recommended to refresh 1/3 of the water once a week, siphon the bottom, because cichlids clog the water during the meal. The external filter must be with strong power. He does not like plants, he can eat them, but there should be enough soil at the bottom where the fish will flounder. Gravel is suitable for the ground, stones and driftwood will also look good, but they must be firmly pressed to the bottom. Her character is open and active, she is unlikely to hide.
Breeding
Flowerhorns are fertile fish despite their hybrid origin. To get the offspring of the same color as the parents, you need to study their pedigree well. You can breed in the same aquarium where they live, just keep in mind that sometimes the female can be the object of attacks by the male. Experienced aquarists supply the aquarium with a net that divides the space into two parts, or temporarily plant shelters where the female will hide from pestering. 
Spawning stimulation is possible at a water temperature of 28 o C and an acidity of 7.0 pH. It is necessary to feed the parents abundantly, not forgetting to renew the water. After spawning, the parents will protect her, sometimes the male will consider that the female is superfluous here and will attack her. Again, you will have to evict the female flower horn, or divide the territory of the aquarium.
The female lays about 1000 eggs on a small stone. In order to avoid conflicts, it is recommended to substitute a stone with caviar on the territory of the male. On the third day, larvae are born, after two days they already swim and feed on live dust. Dry egg white and brine shrimp can be added to the diet of young animals. Parents take care of the offspring for about a month; at the age of six months, the color of a young flower horn is visible.
Such an impressive flower horn will become a real property of the aquarium, bringing good luck, love and prosperity to its owner!
FEEDING FLOWER HORN
It is an omnivorous fish with a huge appetite that is difficult to feed. They eat all kinds of live, frozen or artificial foods, as long as they contain a high amount of protein. Food variety is just as important as nutrition and quality, so it is best to give: high quality food for large cichlids, shrimp meat, bloodworms, worms, crickets, flies, grasshoppers, small fish, fish fillets, gammarus. You need to feed two to three times a day, especially if you are feeding food that leaves a lot of waste.
It is important to know that feeding on the meat of mammals, so popular in past years, is now considered harmful. Such meat contains a large amount of proteins and fats, which the gastrointestinal tract of fish does not digest well. As a result, the fish grows fat, the work of internal organs is disrupted. You can give such food, but infrequently, about once a week.
COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER FISH
Flower horns are not well suited for keeping with other fish, as they are very large, aggressive and territorial. It is best to keep one fish separately or in pairs, and if you still want neighbors, then only in a very spacious aquarium. The flower horn will even attack you while maintaining the aquarium, and the bites will be painful. To reduce aggression, you need an aquarium with plenty of free space, lots of hiding places and large neighbors. Such fish will be: black pacu, plecostomus, pterygoplicht, managuan cichlazoma, astronotus, giant gourami. But, as a rule, people who keep horns come to one conclusion - the flower horn must live alone! 
If you want to breed flower horns, then remember that its aggressiveness extends to relatives. Keep a close eye on the couple so that they don't kill each other.
GENDER DIFFERENCES
A reliable method for distinguishing a young female from a male flower horn is not yet known. It is believed that the female has a black dot on the dorsal fin, which is absent from the male, but other aquarists refute this. When sexually mature individuals are ready for spawning, a thick ovipositor is visible in the female, and the papilla in the male. The only technique that can be considered real in sexing a flower horn is that used by tilapia breeders. Take the teenager, put it on the palm of your left hand, and gently run the right hand along the abdomen towards the caudal fin with the palm of your right hand. If this is a male, then you will see splashes of a clear liquid from his anus, the female does not have this. An adult male is easy to distinguish by a fatty cone and size.
An unusual combination of beautiful appearance, peculiar shape and ferocity can be found in the flower horn. She also has an interesting behavior and character, so you always want to watch her. It is known that those people who brought her to themselves never regretted it. But you need to know a little about how to properly maintain such a fish and how to properly breed it.
Origin
Cichlids and flower horns, photos of which are in this article, are illegible in choosing partners. Therefore, they create pairs with different types of fish, and this feature of them led to the fact that a large number of hybrids began to form. Only not all of them look great, but there are species that then can no longer have offspring.
Such hybrids, which were obtained by artificial crossing, include the trihybrid parrot and the flower horn. The trihybrid parrot is considered the most famous aquarium fish. But the flower horn cichlid was the result of genetics and perseverance of Malaysian aquarists. To obtain this type of hybrids, careful selection and competent crossing of various species was carried out. The main goal of such experiments was to obtain healthy offspring that would be able to reproduce in the future. And the result was really successful, because the flower horn fish is a hybrid that is beautiful, easy to breed and not at all prone to any diseases.
Peculiarities
Each buyer, before acquiring this type of fish, must necessarily study not only its appearance, conditions of detention, rules of care, but also those features that cichlids may have. For example, flower horns often change their colors. This continues until they reach adulthood. Therefore, if the buyer needs a fish of a certain color, then an adult should already be purchased.
But if you acquire a very young individual, then it is flower horn fry that will show the real art of reincarnation, when they change their color throughout their lives. It is believed that this fish is an exhibition fish, so it is better to keep it alone. She rarely gets along with other fish, as she is very aggressive.
Availability for purchase
In the natural environment, flower horns are not found at all, as they were bred artificially. The first individual of this species appeared at the end of the twentieth century in Malaysia. To obtain it, they tried to cross several types of cichlids that were brought from South America. The scientists liked the appearance of the resulting specimen very much. Particularly attracted their attention was a fat bump on the forehead, for which they first called the fish a warship.
But the combination of which individuals the flower horn came from is still unknown, as scientists keep this information a secret. This hybrid individual first appeared on the market in 1998. Since then, a lot of time has passed, this individual has become popular and widespread. Currently, there are already several varieties that differ either in the size of the fat cone, or in a shortened or curved body.
This fish among aquarists is considered elite. To date, several of its varieties are in special demand. For example, the type of Thai silk, which is simply beautiful in its appearance. In Asia, this elite fish is regarded as an individual that brings good luck. According to Feng Shui, an aquarium with such a beautiful fish should stand properly in the house in order to achieve harmony with the outside world. If the aquarium is properly located, then the flower horn fish will bring success and wealth to the owner of the home.
Price
Such an elite individual has a pattern on the scales. Most often, it resembles either a heart or some interesting hieroglyph. Such fish can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but there are species that can be purchased for several thousand dollars. Often the price of a flower horn directly depends on the size of the fat bump on her head. So, the larger it is, the higher the price.
It is believed that this bump on the head of an elite fish is a symbol of the god of longevity in China. The larger the cone, the more luck it will bring to its owner.
Appearance
The body of the flower horn hybrid is dense and oval. There is a large fat bump on the forehead. Adults can reach forty centimeters in length. The color of the scales is usually metallic, gray, but there are individuals in which the color can be red or pink. Some elite fish also have a dark wide stripe in the middle of the body, which can be interrupted and even seem to be separate spots. But this is not the case for all species.
The fins of the flower horn, the maintenance of which requires some knowledge, are dorsal, anal and caudal. The dorsal and anal fins are usually elongated and pointed, but the caudal fin is round. Such hybrid elite individuals live no more than ten years. But even before this age, few of them survive. Recently, with the advent of a large number of different subspecies, the appearance may be different.
All varieties of such fish are unique, and they are recognized by seven features. This is the shape and color of the fish, the size of its scales and fat cones, by whether there is a horizontal line and how the fins are straightened, and also by the eyes.
Terms
Flower horns, the maintenance of which is quite simple, easily tolerate any water parameters, especially compared to other types of fish. They are also unpretentious in nutrition, as they love any protein feed, regardless of whether they are of artificial or live origin. But still, inexperienced aquarists should not start with breeding this particular individual, since its content has its own characteristics.
The first feature is the need to have a large aquarium, as this is a fairly large fish. Another important nuance of the content is the definition of who the flower hori can live with. Since this is an aggressive fish, it is better that she does not have neighbors in the aquarium. This individual will quickly destroy even plants, so you should not place them in an aquarium.
She is known to be so aggressive that she is able to bite the owner's hand when he feeds her or maintains the aquarium. Flower horn bites are quite painful. If aquarists are ready for difficulties, then they can purchase it for their aquarium.
Food
Flower horns, whose feeding has its own characteristics, feed on both live and artificial food. The main thing is that such food contains a large amount of protein. She has a big appetite. Therefore, it is worth alternating feed, making sure that the food is varied.
The main condition for the feed used is that it be nutritious and of high quality. The higher its quality, the better this fish will develop. So, you can give flower horn shrimp meat, various worms and crickets, bloodworms and flies, grasshoppers and fish fillets, gammarus and small fish.
Usually this hybrid individual is fed no more than three times a day, but it is possible twice. Everything will depend on what kind of food to feed, and how much waste is then left. Even in the last century, such fish were fed with the meat of mammals, but now it has already been proven that this is very harmful, since such food contains too much fat and protein. It is known that aquarium fish digest such food poorly. As a result of the use of such food, problems begin: the fish gets fat, and the work of the internal organs is disrupted. Therefore, it is worth giving them no more than once a week.
aquarium requirements
An aquarium for keeping a flower horn requires a large and voluminous one, for example, at least 200 liters. But if on condition that he will live alone. If you breed a couple, then you need an aquarium with a volume of at least 400 liters. And if there are other hybrid species, then at least 800 liters.
You should not create any special decor in such an aquarium, since this fish does not like plants at all, but it loves to dig very much, so any plants will quickly disappear. It is better to cover the bottom of the aquarium with gravel, as well as large stones and snags. This elite fish does not like to hide at all, and it leads an active lifestyle. But even when installing stones or driftwood, you should always check the reliability of the installation, as the hybrid can easily turn everything over.
Care rules
It is known that the flower horn, the care of which has its own rules, prefers clean water and a small moderate current. Therefore, such an aquarium always requires a powerful filter and water changes every week. At the same time, you should definitely clean the bottom, as after eating there is a lot of garbage.
For the maintenance of this elite hybrid fish species, a high temperature should be set, at least 26 degrees. And you should always monitor the behavior of the fish to understand what may be bothering her.
Compatibility with others
The flower horn is almost impossible to keep with other fish as they are always aggressive and their large body can easily take on any other fish in the tank. They always defend their territory. It is best to keep a pair of identical fish then so that other individuals do not suffer. But for such a neighborhood, you always need a large aquarium, which allows you to slightly reduce the aggression of the flower horn.
If, nevertheless, neighbors are inevitable, then such a fish, which also has large forms, should be placed in the aquarium. You can put in a huge aquarium to the flower horn black pack, pterygoplicht, plecostomus, giant gourami and others. If the aquarium contains a couple of hybrids, then you should definitely keep an eye on them, as they can kill each other.
How to distinguish a female from a male
There is no correct way to distinguish between a female and a male in a hybrid species of flower horn fish. Today it is believed that the black dot on the back behind the fin indicates a female. The male does not have this point. But many aquarists refute this assumption.
It is easier to identify the female during the spawning period. When an adult is ready to spawn, a thick ovipositor becomes visible in the female, and a papilla in the male. Breeders adhere to one technique that allows them to distinguish between the sex of an individual. But it can only be used on a person - a teenager. To determine the sex, you should put such a fish on the palm of your left hand, and then with your right hand you should lightly and gently run along the abdomen from the head to the caudal fin. If splashes of a clear liquid appear from the anus, then this is a male. If nothing happens, then it's a female.
Breeding
Flower horn, the breeding of which has its own characteristics, differ from other hybrids in that they can have healthy offspring. It is difficult to get fry the same color as the parents. To do this, you must have a clean line, otherwise the color will be different. It can be very difficult for a female to defend herself against the constant attacks of males, so it is quite difficult to breed these fish. The owner of such a pair, which is specially acquired for divorce, must equip his aquarium in such a way that the female has secluded places where she can hide from the male, and he would not see her.
You can use another method to protect the female a little from the persecution of the male. For example, divide the aquarium into two parts using a grid. You can also act a little differently. So, put a flat stone near the grid, but only it should be large. At the same time, all other objects on the side where the female will be located must be removed. This will ensure that she will throw. Then it is necessary either to transfer the stone to the male, or to rearrange the grid so that this stone is on his territory. After that, it is recommended to send a stream of water there, thus helping the male to fertilize the female.
In any method, it is necessary for the owner to create such conditions under which reproduction will begin. This requires certain conditions that must be created. So, the water should be about 28 °C. The food must be of good quality. Feed elite fish during this period should be well. Be sure to monitor the freshness of the water.
Both the female and the male will carefully and jealously guard the eggs, and as soon as the male decides that the female is superfluous, he will immediately begin to beat her. And then again you need a grid.
Such fish always have both caviar and fry large, so it is easy to care for them. It is better to feed fry with the same food as adults, only it is worth grinding them thoroughly.
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