His head is currently in the down state, it's kind of like humans and erogenous tissue. When your fish is comfortable and feels dominant, he will pump up. When he is pumped up, his head will inflate more and his body language will change. He will swim around the tank with more confidence and his fine will be fully extended and not clamped close to his body. His colors will also brighten up with red colors being more vibrant and pearling being more shiny.
It is important to get your flowerhorn on a good quality pellet as their staple food. Mealworms and bloodworms should be given as treats only and not fed as a staple because they although they are high in protein, approx 50%, they are also high in fats and lack other essential nutrients and water soluable vitamins.
I like to use New Life Spectrum and Hikari cichlids Biogold. You may have to starve your fish a bit for him to eat the pellets. 84 degrees is a good temperature for your fish and your tank looks good with gravel and other structures but his diet needs to change.
You may want to put another flowerhorn in the tank with your fish, through a divider of course in order to help pump him up. You can also put a female parrot in the same tank with him to pump him up.
Pumping up your fish simply refers to maximizing and bringing out your fishes full potential by optimizing tank condition, diet and mojo.
Has your fish had any white or stringy poop?
Simon
