My First Ever Flowerhorn

[Bassmaster360]

Hmmm, the lighting on your first flowerhorn probably doesn't do him justice. I hope his kok pops up more as he ages (Kamfas tend to pop later in growth stage than ZZ. There are 3 main types of FH - ZZ, Kamfa, and Golden).

Nice Fireman. Glad to hear he has a feisty temper... he even looks mean!

That's definitely a competition-grade kamfa (3rd fish). With his excellent genetics, grooming won't be so crucial since he's naturally-gifted (genetics is as important with flowerhorn as any other animal, including humans). My $0.02: temp around 78F, pH around 7.8 (add crushed coral to your substrate or filter), keep water parameters pristine, and feed him 2 to 3 times a day during growth and 1 to 2 times when fully-grown in a year. Avoid live, frozen, freeze-dried foods (I only feed mine pellets). There's talk about avoiding foods with too much protein and/or fat (>50% and >10%).

Here's my new SRD flowerhorn (Pho the Phat Phlowerhorn) that I got a few weeks ago. Got him at ~4" and now around ~5". I'm also preparing him for future competitions... maybe we'll compete against each other for Best of Show See you at the podium!

When I first got him (standard LED daylight):


Him yesterday, with UVB lighting to tan his colors (so his red might look a little washed out in these pics, but it's actually getting redder in actuality):

 

[HybridFinatic]

Hmmm, the lighting on your first flowerhorn probably doesn't do him justice. I hope his kok pops up more as he ages (Kamfas tend to pop later in growth stage than ZZ. There are 3 main types of FH - ZZ, Kamfa, and Golden).

Nice Fireman. Glad to hear he has a feisty temper... he even looks mean!

That's definitely a competition-grade kamfa (3rd fish). With his excellent genetics, grooming won't be so crucial since he's naturally-gifted (genetics is as important with flowerhorn as any other animal, including humans). My $0.02: temp around 78F, pH around 7.8 (add crushed coral to your substrate or filter), keep water parameters pristine, and feed him 2 to 3 times a day during growth and 1 to 2 times when fully-grown in a year. Avoid live, frozen, freeze-dried foods (I only feed mine pellets). There's talk about avoiding foods with too much protein and/or fat (>50% and >10%).

Here's my new SRD flowerhorn (Pho the Phat Phlowerhorn) that I got a few weeks ago. Got him at ~4" and now around ~5". I'm also preparing him for future competitions... maybe we'll compete against each other for Best of Show See you at the podium!

When I first got him (standard LED daylight):
View attachment 1494205

Him yesterday, with UVB lighting to tan his colors (so his red might look a little washed out in these pics, but it's actually getting redder in actuality):
View attachment 1494203

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Golden isn’t its own type. Both Kamfa’s and ZZ can have the fader gene.

 

[Bassmaster360]

Thanks for checking in!

I'm still learning the ropes. He's been upgraded to a 40g. He is a little more skittish, but hoping to work on that once my fish room is complete. He is a really good looking fish and his temporary spot until the move is next to my 400g saltwater tank. He looks like he belongs in that tank.

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I've received advice on this forum, from sellers, from competitors, etc.. and everyone has different methods.

Since I couldn't really figure out what path to take with him, I'm just going to keep him healthy and feed less damaging things over time. He's my first Flowerhorn so I'm going for longevity.

That being said I have purchased two more Flowerhorns.

One that is just for looks, objectively, no competition, and I'll pump up. I got him from Rounds as well. It is a Fireman's Dream and I loved the almost see through fins with some color pop on them. He is an absolute beast of a fish and very angry. He jumps out of the water to eat.

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Lastly, I bought one for competition very recently. I haven't taken delivery on the fish yet but a few of the Flowerhorn competitors said they would help me build a regiment.

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Needless to say I have, what feels like, fifty different types of food and each fish is fed differently for what I'm trying to accomplish.

Let me know what you all think.

Thank you

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OP, can you please post a pic of the first flowerhorn under better lighting? I'd really like to see his colors better.

I'd really like to follow your journey of grooming a flowerhorn for competition. I had a kamfamalau flowerhorn back in 2011 that I entered into a competition in Seattle where I'm from. Got 3rd place for the overall category, which was better than not getting a trophy and gift card. I was finishing up college back then, so I didn't have the money $$$ to spend on a top-quality young flowerhorn to raise, nor did I have the space and resources to try breeding my own champion line. I guess my life now is much different more than a decade later. I'm just now getting back into the flowerhorn hobby after a long hiatus, and I'm remembering why they are one of my favorite, if not favorite, fish to keep (freshwater or saltwater).

 

[quicklynx]

OP, can you please post a pic of the first flowerhorn under better lighting? I'd really like to see his colors better.

I'd really like to follow your journey of grooming a flowerhorn for competition. I had a kamfamalau flowerhorn back in 2011 that I entered into a competition in Seattle where I'm from. Got 3rd place for the overall category, which was better than not getting a trophy and gift card. I was finishing up college back then, so I didn't have the money $$$ to spend on a top-quality young flowerhorn to raise, nor did I have the space and resources to try breeding my own champion line. I guess my life now is much different more than a decade later. I'm just now getting back into the flowerhorn hobby after a long hiatus, and I'm remembering why they are one of my favorite, if not favorite, fish to keep (freshwater or saltwater).

I have to do a water change tomorrow and I'll put some lights on to get some video. His colors and presence I need to work on.

I ordered some new foods that are being delivered. Right now I have a bunch of random stuff and trying to find the right regiment for him.

He could be somewhat worthy of competition but his face might be a little long and fins may not wrap as well, but he still is a beautiful fish.

The competition one seems to be showing pretty much everything the judges might look for. It's about 3.5" and has an amazing wrap. I think the only knock right now would be the limited pearling on the face, but it will still score some serious points.

 

[Bassmaster360]

I have to do a water change tomorrow and I'll put some lights on to get some video. His colors and presence I need to work on.

I ordered some new foods that are being delivered. Right now I have a bunch of random stuff and trying to find the right regiment for him.

He could be somewhat worthy of competition but his face might be a little long and fins may not wrap as well, but he still is a beautiful fish.

The competition one seems to be showing pretty much everything the judges might look for. It's about 3.5" and has an amazing wrap. I think the only knock right now would be the limited pearling on the face, but it will still score some serious points.

View attachment 1494229

A lot of Vieja in that one. Beautiful example of a modern Kamfa! You're right, the finnage is excellent. Pearling is defined and dispersed rather evenly.

 

[quicklynx]

Nice, should be a fun project! Did you obtain that fish? Really curious how awesome it's going to turn out

Brought your post over here

Tentative receive date is 17May22. Yeah, should be a fun project. I'll try to do some online competitions with it and if it does well I'll think about a juvenile submission at Aquashella or something.

 

[Bassmaster360]

Brought your post over here

Tentative receive date is 17May22. Yeah, should be a fun project. I'll try to do some online competitions with it and if it does well I'll think about a juvenile submission at Aquashella or something.

Hey quicklynx, here's another Kamfa that I think you'd be interested in:
#4*ASK FOR BEST$BIG HEAD BLACK MARK LINES PEARLS/ KAMFA3.5"AAA | eBay

Same seller on eBay that I bought my flowerhorn from, so I can vouch for the integrity of seller (my flowerhorn was packaged well and arrived with overnight shipping healthy).

 

[quicklynx]

Hey quicklynx, here's another Kamfa that I think you'd be interested in:
#4*ASK FOR BEST$BIG HEAD BLACK MARK LINES PEARLS/ KAMFA3.5"AAA | eBay

Same seller on eBay that I bought my flowerhorn from, so I can vouch for the integrity of seller (my flowerhorn was packaged well and arrived with overnight shipping healthy).

View attachment 1494716

I appreciate the look. Definitely a very nice fish. At the moment I need to hold off unless I find a real nice Freemarking class FH. The fish room is almost complete and I want to have tanks setup and ready.

 

[Bassmaster360]

Brought your post over here

Tentative receive date is 17May22. Yeah, should be a fun project. I'll try to do some online competitions with it and if it does well I'll think about a juvenile submission at Aquashella or something.

Receive your new competition-grade kamfa yet?

 

[quicklynx]

as long as FedEx decides to be reliable... It's coming today;