Golden base

[HybridFinatic]

Ok I plan on keeping him. I don’t think he has the genetics but we will see. I read that they can take 18 months to hit just about their adult size. I don’t know if that’s entirely accurate and obviously no two fish are the same. He’s got the classic personality and is mean as piss. He won’t let me handle him lately and I got the bite marks to prove it lol

That’s all the matters man. Don’t base how much you like your fish based on its looks to an extent. Just enjoy him.

 

[Evofish]

That’s all the matters man. Don’t base how much you like your fish based on its looks to an extent. Just enjoy him.

Agreed! Flowerhorns are great pets no matter the strain or colors. I had a fader once. His father looked really nice with traditional red and grey colors. He started off looking like that until he was about 6-7 inches long. All of his colors faded and at first I was afraid that he had caught some kind of disease but did some research and it was just some kind of strain...I think they called it Jing Kang Flowerhorn but one of the uglier ones you will see hahaha. But anyways, I loved that guy and enjoyed having him even though I thought he was ugly. No regrets.

 

[HybridFinatic]

Agreed! Flowerhorns are great pets no matter the strain or colors. I had a fader once. His father looked really nice with traditional red and grey colors. He started off looking like that until he was about 6-7 inches long. All of his colors faded and at first I was afraid that he had caught some kind of disease but did some research and it was just some kind of strain...I think they called it Jing Kang Flowerhorn but one of the uglier ones you will see hahaha. But anyways, I loved that guy and enjoyed having him even though I thought he was ugly. No regrets.

And that is not saying the op’s fish is ugly. He is has very nice flowerhorn.

 

[ny.subway]

Patience and mix of variety food, from dry to frozen and fresh meals. I got him when his not totally faded yet like 2-3 inch. I have few flowerhorn im grooming so I don't get frustrated on one. Time will tell on your GB. His about 7 inch now and still pushing. His bossing his 90 gal tank.

 

[jdpeters87]

One quick thing. I purchased him originally from basically a wholesaler who kept his fish outside in a greenhouse. This fish was kept in a tank with dividers. Could the possible cause for his initial great coloration be due to having tank mates? I know that when my wife hangs laundry on the tank, especially my red work shirts he really flares up. Does having a mirror have any long lasting effects also? Or is it all negative

 

[RD.]

IMO what you are seeing is simply classic fader genetics at work. Color can go either way as the fish matures, I would keep grooming him feeding quality pellets. I raised all of my FH on NLS, had no issue with growth, color, pearl shine, or anything else. Just give him some time. And yes, other fish to flex at can definitely cause a fish to color up, just as it can cause gonadal changes that increase its nuchal hump.

 

[jdpeters87]

IMO what you are seeing is simply classic fader genetics at work. Color can go either way as the fish matures, I would keep grooming him feeding quality pellets. I raised all of my FH on NLS, had no issue with growth, color, pearl shine, or anything else. Just give him some time. And yes, other fish to flex at can definitely cause a fish to color up, just as it can cause gonadal changes that increase its nuchal hump.

I appreciate your feedback. Any thoughts on NLS ultra red? Big fan of NLS in general and it’s mostly what I feed my reef

 

[RD.]

Ultra Red will most definitely enhance the color red, I have trialled it and it works, but overall if the genetics are there any good quality pellet will get the job done.

 

[RD.]

Raised on regular Cichlid formula NLS ...….

 

[RD.]

Same as above. If the "red" is genetically there, regular NLS will bring it out.