New Flowerhorn / Grow out

[Galactik]

I recently picked up this little guy (or girl, not sure what it is) from my lfs. The big red eyes caught my attention out of the group they had. It came a little beat up from the store and then I spotted what looked like the beginning of ick. Bit of a rough start but I bumped the temp to 86 and added some salt, so far its been a few days since I last saw a spot so I think we're good!

It was labeled super pearl - but I'm not sure if thats correct or not. This is my first time with a flowerhorn.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

I recently picked up this little guy (or girl, not sure what it is) from my lfs. The big red eyes caught my attention out of the group they had. It came a little beat up from the store and then I spotted what looked like the beginning of ick. Bit of a rough start but I bumped the temp to 86 and added some salt, so far its been a few days since I last saw a spot so I think we're good!

It was labeled super pearl - but I'm not sure if thats correct or not. This is my first time with a flowerhorn.

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Now that’s a gorgeous fish. I’m gonna say it’s a male since it’s developing a kok. Red eyes indicate zz/red dragon. Sellers will make their own names for sale purposes. He has a beautiful flower line without many breaks in it. Also I notice wood in the tank. Just keep an eye on it, flowerhorn tend to be able to hurt themselves even when there’s nothing around lol. Also stray away from live plants and tankmates, they don’t do well together. What are you feeding him.

 

[HybridFinatic]

I recently picked up this little guy (or girl, not sure what it is) from my lfs. The big red eyes caught my attention out of the group they had. It came a little beat up from the store and then I spotted what looked like the beginning of ick. Bit of a rough start but I bumped the temp to 86 and added some salt, so far its been a few days since I last saw a spot so I think we're good!

It was labeled super pearl - but I'm not sure if thats correct or not. This is my first time with a flowerhorn.

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Looks good. I would keep temp 86 and salt for 7-10 days after you last saw any ick. Better safe then for it too pop back up and be sorry.

 

[HybridFinatic]

Keep us updated on him/her. A very nice looking flowerhorn.

 

[HybridFinatic]

Super pearl is accurate yet meaningless. It’s a ZZ strain just like Red Dragon flowerhorn are.

 

[Galactik]

Now that’s a gorgeous fish. I’m gonna say it’s a male since it’s developing a kok. Red eyes indicate zz/red dragon. Sellers will make their own names for sale purposes. He has a beautiful flower line without many breaks in it. Also I notice wood in the tank. Just keep an eye on it, flowerhorn tend to be able to hurt themselves even when there’s nothing around lol. Also stray away from live plants and tankmates, they don’t do well together. What are you feeding him.

Thank you!

Yeah I just put in some smooth rocks to offer a hideaway when I got him (cichlid caves) but it looks like he spends most of his time out and about. I'll definitely keep an eye on that to make sure he's not bumping into anything.

As far as tankmates, all I have in there is a rubber lip pleco that hides most of the time. Definitely keeping an eye for aggression but so far so good. I'd like to keep him if possible as he keeps the back glass clean from algae.

I currently have him in a 125. I figured that would be a good size for a permanent home.

As for food. I'm currently feeding hikari gold and some shrimp occasionally but I'm thinking about switching to NLS.

Do you have any recommendations for food? So far I'm treating him like a regular CA/SA cichlid diet wise. Not really looking to do any enhancing food or to try to grow the hump to a crazy size.

 

[Galactik]

Super pearl is accurate yet meaningless. It’s a ZZ strain just like Red Dragon flowerhorn are.

Good to know thank you!

 

[Galactik]

Also, what would be a good tank temp for these guys once I stop the ick treatment.

The lfs recommended 84, but I thought that seemed a little high?

 

[HybridFinatic]

Also, what would be a good tank temp for these guys once I stop the ick treatment.

The lfs recommended 84, but I thought that seemed a little high?

Yep definitely too high. 75F - 80F is optimal. 80F is good for increased appetite and aggression but I personally wouldn't keep it even that high all year round. I'd keep it the middle of that range but your flowerhorn will definitely thrive within that whole temp range.

 

[HybridFinatic]

Thank you!

Yeah I just put in some smooth rocks to offer a hideaway when I got him (cichlid caves) but it looks like he spends most of his time out and about. I'll definitely keep an eye on that to make sure he's not bumping into anything.

As far as tankmates, all I have in there is a rubber lip pleco that hides most of the time. Definitely keeping an eye for aggression but so far so good. I'd like to keep him if possible as he keeps the back glass clean from algae.

I currently have him in a 125. I figured that would be a good size for a permanent home.

As for food. I'm currently feeding hikari gold and some shrimp occasionally but I'm thinking about switching to NLS.

Do you have any recommendations for food? So far I'm treating him like a regular CA/SA cichlid diet wise. Not really looking to do any enhancing food or to try to grow the hump to a crazy size.

Enhanced food or not your fish for the most part will achieve a hump size and color within it's genetics. If your flowerhorn has crazy size hump genetics it will get a crazy size hump. Your looks like it will always have a more proportionate hump which is most usually a good thing imo. As far as food goes, variety within pellets foods is great. But feeding too many treat food's can be hard on the flowerhorn's rather delicate digestive track. Keep treat foods like the shrimp only 1-3 feedings a week. For pellet foods. Hikari is good. NLS, Northfin, are both better. I would aim to feed all of them for the variety but one staple pellet would be just fine.