Hello everyone, right now I am currently taking care of a zz flowerhorn. I am quite eager to know what coloured substrate and background is best to be suited for her, I have been told it can effect her colours so I'm just making sure before I purchase my new gravel.
Flowerhorn aquarium?
- Thread starter PenisInspector
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Welcome aboard
I personally would would choose a natural river gravel or dark sand.Black Background.
Welcome to the Forum! There are different opinions on the subject, though I personally agree with those who say a darker substrate and darker background will generally bring out more coloration in Flowerhorns. That said a dark background and something like natural river gravel (smooth is best) as Thomas suggests will work well too. In fact my FH has done quite well color-wise with blue or black backgrounds and (for first year) just bare bottom with white foam sheet under it. This leads me to personally believe that background color might be more important than substrate color, but just my own little theory.
Bear in mind too that good tank size, proper/clean water parameters and good diet with quality pellets will have even more affect on your Flowerhorns's coloration and happiness.
Good luck and show us some pix later
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Indeed I was thinking about natural as well. But as for the black sand & background, I've read that it's more so for faders, are you sure it's okay for my zz? Through all the research I've gone through wouldn't it cause her colours to darken or fade away?
Welcome to the Forum! There are different opinions on the subject, though I personally agree with those who say a darker substrate and darker background will generally bring out more coloration in Flowerhorns. That said a dark background and something like natural river gravel (smooth is best) as Thomas suggests will work well too. In fact my FH has done quite well color-wise with blue or black backgrounds and (for first year) just bare bottom with white foam sheet under it. This leads me to personally believe that background color might be more important than substrate color, but just my own little theory.
Bear in mind too that good tank size, proper/clean water parameters and diet will have even more affect on your Flowerhorns's coloration and happiness.
Good luck and show us some pix later
Thanks for the reply, appreciate it.
Personally don't have a FlowerHorn but have had other Cichlids for years and darker substrate and background always bring out the best color.
I assure you a black background won't cause her colors to fade -- as for a black sand substrate I cannot say as I've never used it before, but as Thomas says, I doubt it would.
But if you're worried about the possibility yeah try the natural stone approach (it's what I had first before I gradually went bare bottom) -- just maybe don't put too too much at first, in case you might want to change later.