Planning to buy a flowerhorn

[RD.]

I agree, he will be smart enough to sort out the food from gravel.

Having said that, I always feed all of my fish, a few pellets at a time. Too much at once to a large fish that is greedy often just causes wasted fine particles that ends up in the water, and then filters. With smaller fish, although dense pellets take on water slowly, as they take on water they leach water soluble nutrients into the tank water, which is not ideal. So the longer the pellets sit in the water, the more nutrients end up in the water column, and not the fish. It also keeps the fish eager to eat, thinking that each pellet or two could be their last. Just feed a few at a time, until you reach his feeding limit.

 

[Ruturaj]

I agree, he will be smart enough to sort out the food from gravel.

Having said that, I always feed all of my fish, a few pellets at a time. Too much at once to a large fish that is greedy often just causes wasted fine particles that ends up in the water, and then filters. With smaller fish, although dense pellets take on water slowly, as they take on water they leach water soluble nutrients into the tank water, which is not ideal. So the longer the pellets sit in the water, the more nutrients end up in the water column, and not the fish. It also keeps the fish eager to eat, thinking that each pellet or two could be their last. Just feed a few at a time, until you reach his feeding limit.

Thank for the tip RD. As always super helpful.

 

[Ruturaj]

Just quick update pic, color has improved a lot, more red and orangeish yellow on him. He is hiding flowerline in this.

 

[Ruturaj]

Zooming in is a better idea

 

[Ruturaj]

Old and new pic

 

[Ruturaj]

I just can't stop taking pictures of him

 

[JSpilo]

I just can't stop taking pictures of him

View attachment 1402424

Enjoy him

 

[Ruturaj]

Enjoy him

Yep, enjoying him a lot, he's looking fabulous and is always active.

I am little afraid of him though, when I put my hand in the tank. He did bite me once, which wasn't painful or even leave a mark but I still can't overcome my fear of putting hand in his tank.

 

[JSpilo]

Yep, enjoying him a lot, he's looking fabulous and is always active.

I am little afraid of him though, when I put my hand in the tank. He did bite me once, which wasn't painful or even leave a mark but I still can't overcome my fear of putting hand in his tank.

LOL I'm the same way. My guy literally jumps out of the tank to get the food out from between my fingers. He freaks me out more than my piranhas ever did for some reason.

 

[Ruturaj]

They love digging and moving rocks and sand. When you see it you will know its right. I would advise against sand as he can carry it right to your filter intake. A thin layer of just natural aquarium rock works great.

Interesting, my FH never interacted with the substrate (gravel) when I had it in my tanks. This was several fish over the years, not just one. They all started with gravel. Removing it later in the game seemed to make no difference whatsoever to the fish. Perhaps they were all born & raised in bare tanks in Thailand, not sure? My current midas (almost 8 yrs old) also has never payed any attention to sand or gravel. These fish all flew solo, so perhaps with a female around they would have acted differently with regards to cleaning spawning spots etc, or maybe they are just all oddballs, but by themselves, it seemed to make no difference whatsoever to the fish.

So just an update on substrate, he is playing with it, picking it up and spitting it out.