*Grooming Flowerhorn

[ChrisRoundsCichlids]

I guess most of the people like me or who buy from you would not take their fish to competiton. Still few days to a week isn't bad, I kept mine on 86 because of ich which went away in days but kept tank temperature high to be sure for few more days. 84-86°F in on higher end, on Facebook some even said they keep their fish at 88-90°F.

I assume in nature they would also get temperature swings as it would drop at night too. The average suggested temperature range for two species (red devil and midas) is 70-79 and for other two (trimac and vieja synspila) is 74/76-86 based on seriously fish and I tried choosing all fish in aqadvisor and it gave me 77-80.6 as temperature range. I don't think up to 82 is any issue for everyday or 86 for a week.

See this right here is just average tho. Their are certainly days where its going to be much warmer. I was supposed to go collecting with ken davis awhile back and he said in some parts the water was actually over 86f

 

[ChrisRoundsCichlids]

Annual temps in the Usumacinta-Grijalva rivers

 

[Ruturaj]

See this right here is just average tho. Their are certainly days where its going to be much warmer. I was supposed to go collecting with ken davis awhile back and he said in some parts the water was actually over 86f

Yes, I tried to say the same thing, sorry if I wasn't clear, the ideal range would be around average, extreme cold and high temperature can go well below and above the range for sure, which won't kill the fish but won't be ideal for sure. I don't think 86 is bad for short term like you said few days or a week.

 

[ChrisRoundsCichlids]

Yes, I tried to say the same thing, sorry if I wasn't clear, the ideal range would be around average, extreme cold and high temperature can go well below and above the range for sure, which won't kill the fish but won't be ideal for sure. I don't think 86 is bad for short term like you said few days or a week.

Oh no your good. Im just amazed by the temps these specific species can withstand. Especially the ones trapped in lets say shallow pools or other areas. But most of the river stays much cooler plus they cab simoky go to a deeper depth when they choose.

 

[Ruturaj]

While finding food has almost 0 to do with it at all.

I firmly believed this but recently I started thinking that may be there is a link, since high protein and high temperature causes breeding behavior in fish. So we can temporarily get fish to look best with those two things (may be even long-term best looking but at a cost of health). I think for grooming for a competition, 1 week of 50% protein diet (with quality ingredients) and high temperatures wouldn't hurt.

When I look at many speciality foods, the prices are ridiculous.

 

[ChrisRoundsCichlids]

I firmly believed this but recently I started thinking that may be there is a link, since high protein and high temperature causes breeding behavior in fish. So we can temporarily get fish to look best with those two things (may be even long-term best looking but at a cost of health). I think for grooming for a competition, 1 week of 50% protein diet (with quality ingredients) and high temperatures wouldn't hurt.

When I look at many speciality foods, the prices are ridiculous.

I think with anything if you pound it with enough protein in a short ammount of time your going to see a difference. But high or low protein and be found in both good quality and low quality foods. To much protein can cause alot of issues especially depending on the source of that protein. I guess what i meant to say is that i can groom any flowerhorn period that has the genetics and correct environment. Whether good food or not. But if your pounding high protein into your fish like that your likely going to run into digestive issues if not enough fiber in the diet.

 

[Chief Tom]

See for me. Females actually have caused many of my males koks to shrink! But i have noticed alot of variables come into play while grooming. Obviously genetics is the absolute most important factor. While finding food has almost 0 to do with it at all. Over the years ive used top of the line foods mainly for nutritional value but to cut down costs and so the food would last longer I started buying cheaper food "with alot of fillers" just for those I import and groom until i let them go of normally withing 2-3 weeks. I dont believe in using parrots... i think using parrots is a bit cruel.

What do you mean about "using parrots" ? I have a parrot fish with my blue flowerhorn. Am I doing something wrong? The parrot hides alot but I thought it was natural behavior. Thanks.

 

[Ruturaj]

What do you mean about "using parrots" ? I have a parrot fish with my blue flowerhorn. Am I doing something wrong? The parrot hides alot but I thought it was natural behavior. Thanks.

Few flowerhorns get along with parrots, few don't. People add parrot for few minutes (25-30) every day as a punching bag for the fish. If your parrot is bullied by flowerhorn then it's not fair to the parrot.

 

[Ruturaj]

I think with anything if you pound it with enough protein in a short ammount of time your going to see a difference. But high or low protein and be found in both good quality and low quality foods. To much protein can cause alot of issues especially depending on the source of that protein. I guess what i meant to say is that i can groom any flowerhorn period that has the genetics and correct environment. Whether good food or not. But if your pounding high protein into your fish like that your likely going to run into digestive issues if not enough fiber in the diet.

I stick with northfin and NLS only. NLS has good 7-8% fiber, I feed some algaemax as well to get more veggie in. Good thing about NLS is all formulas use at least 6 type of algae and algaemax uses 9 types.

I don't think a flowerhorn needs high protein (more than 45 for Juvenile and more than 40 for adult) nutritionally. Most red dragons on low quality diet grow large humps, many African cichlids have awesome colors on low quality diet, even if they might not be in best potential health, Genetics for sure has to be there for looks.

What I was trying to say is my assumption is high temperature water works because it's a breeding favorable environment for fish and so should high protein. If I feed something like northfin carnivore formula temporarily for a week, it might have similar effect. This is speculation off course, since so many people swear by high protein.

 

[ChrisRoundsCichlids]

I stick with northfin and NLS only. NLS has good 7-8% fiber, I feed some algaemax as well to get more veggie in. Good thing about NLS is all formulas use at least 6 type of algae and algaemax uses 9 types.

I don't think a flowerhorn needs high protein (more than 45 for Juvenile and more than 40 for adult) nutritionally. Most red dragons on low quality diet grow large humps, many African cichlids have awesome colors on low quality diet, even if they might not be in best potential health, Genetics for sure has to be there for looks.

What I was trying to say is my assumption is high temperature water works because it's a breeding favorable environment for fish and so should high protein. If I feed something like northfin carnivore formula temporarily for a week, it might have similar effect. This is speculation off course, since so many people swear by high protein.

Here soon ill be building my fish houses on my new property. Ill have a ton of room and a bunch of tanks and ill document some experiments similar fish from same batch for most accurate result. Should be fun!