Saltwater Flowerhorns....

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Well if you think of it FH's are hybrids. I mean most species of cichlid are found in multiple places in the world naturally. I read an old article in one of those old dusty 1970's fish books that mentioned specifically uropthalmus and synspillums that actually were found to travel through the ocean to other freshwater habitats. They found them in south east asia as well as where they are commonly found in south america. Wish I could find the book to scan and post on here.

Also, I mean as a FH breeder you do notice better color, size, and shape of fry in saltier alkaline water. Saltier in my case meaning aquarium salt (in my case mortons water softener that you find at home depot) treatments that are twice a normal dosage. I mean I never tested my SG but next time I just might. My pH is 8.2-8.5 so thats a salt range.

Makes you think doesn't it?

Also, there have been notes that breeders in Malaysia are keeping there B grade adults in salt to show them better. Rumor or not it supports what you saw.
 
Tihsho;2049537; said:
Well if you think of it FH's are hybrids. I mean most species of cichlid are found in multiple places in the world naturally. I read an old article in one of those old dusty 1970's fish books that mentioned specifically uropthalmus and synspillums that actually were found to travel through the ocean to other freshwater habitats. They found them in south east asia as well as where they are commonly found in south america. Wish I could find the book to scan and post on here.

Also, I mean as a FH breeder you do notice better color, size, and shape of fry in saltier alkaline water. Saltier in my case meaning aquarium salt (in my case mortons water softener that you find at home depot) treatments that are twice a normal dosage. I mean I never tested my SG but next time I just might. My pH is 8.2-8.5 so thats a salt range.

Makes you think doesn't it?

Also, there have been notes that breeders in Malaysia are keeping there B grade adults in salt to show them better. Rumor or not it supports what you saw.
Click to expand...





Very captivating words you speak...I would love to read the same material...You got my attention....
 
Like I've bred and hatched over a few hundred FH clutches and I mean I noticed a difference in fry from an acidic or neutral tank having different colorations (flowers, pearls and even the base colors.) So pH has something to do with it. But salt? Not sure, its been a habit since I was a kid and just recommendations when I started raising and keeping FH years ago salt was highly recommended.
 
Tihsho;2049537; said:
Also, I mean as a FH breeder you do notice better color, size, and shape of fry in saltier alkaline water. Saltier in my case meaning aquarium salt (in my case mortons water softener that you find at home depot) treatments that are twice a normal dosage. I mean I never tested my SG but next time I just might. My pH is 8.2-8.5 so thats a salt range.

Makes you think doesn't it?

Also, there have been notes that breeders in Malaysia are keeping there B grade adults in salt to show them better. Rumor or not it supports what you saw.
Click to expand...

Those flowerhorns that i saw in those saltwater tanks, their colors weren't bad at all..... they Actually looked nice! So i guess its true!
 
I am intrigued by all of this....cichlids came from the ocean in the first place. I do not know if any "facts" are absolute...What if they do better in salt? Does that make them a saltwater fish? If they can make it across the ocean, I imagine they can breed in full marine....Again, I would love to delve deeper into all of this...
 
I believe the fish are fine in salt for limited periods of time. As for breeding, it's probably not possible. The structure and system of the fish can take salt, probably not sperm and egg. The more then likely will be sterile eggs, that is if the parents are fertile.
 
I have read that some blackbelt cichlids live and breed in marine conditions in the wild the book is my brothers so when im over there next i will grab it. But i doubt that they went clear to asia on there own without human help because if that was the case there would be centrals and souths all over the tropic world.That ocean is to vast and open no way a cichlid made that journey.But i do agree they can live in marine conditions.
 
It was written in the 70's so I doubt on too much human intervention. Actually you might be reading a similar article, once you mentioned black belts it rang a bell. The article was on black belts and uros.
 
i mean think about it big ocean fish like tuna swordfish marlins and other fish swim way faster and get large enoph to eat even the biggest cichlid and a cichlid would have to swim at the ocean surface like bait to get eatin by almost anything in the ocean.I guess if the cichlid lost his gimp fined son and his name was marlin he might make it lol.i think it is pretty impossible for that event to happen a guppy can live in salt water also do you think it could make the journey its about the same its just as likely to make it in the oceans prospective.
 
T - Got any pics?
 
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