Temperature and food.

[Chaory]

What is the ideal temperature for a Flowerhorn fish? I read some keep them in high temps (around 85+ F). Is this ideal or just for growing, coloration etc purpose?

Also would feeding cichlid pellets like Hikari Gold and Bio Gold Plus good enough or do I need to get some pellets made for FH (like Grand Sumo etc)?

I just pick up this fella from a local breeder for $20. There were others available with much better coloration, but this guy was more active and interactive.

 

[kelman]

82F and feed it grandsumo red to intensify the color.

 

[Chaory]

82F and feed it grandsumo red to intensify the color.

I really don't care much about his color etc. I'm just more concern towards his health. I wanted to use Hikari Bio Gold Plus, since it helps with producing less waste etc.

So 82 degrees is fine? From what I read, they mentioned 82-86, but Flowerhorns are hybrids from South American etc, so doesn't that mean 76-82 degrees F? Why the higher temperature, if they are Africans ciclids?

 

[Chaory]

Aren't ^

 

[kelman]

82F is the ideal temperature because it won't fluctuate as much comparing to lower temperature. Flowerhorn metabolism work alot better at 82F and grow pretty quick. I don't use Hikari because I heard rumors that it might contain monosodium glutamate to enhance the flavor. I only use grandsumo as a main diet for my flowerhorn.

 

[Man-made Monsters]

82-85 is the ideal temp. If you go lower then 80 you will see very very slow growth rates and a fish that doesn't interact with you as much. Hikari Bio Gold Plus is an amazing food. I had three females that all laid eggs 20 days after eating that food exclusively. Weekly water changes are incredibly important so make sure you change 20-50%. The Bio Gold Plus can help reduce waste BUT that doesn't make changing the water less important.

 

[Chaory]

82-85 is the ideal temp. If you go lower then 80 you will see very very slow growth rates and a fish that doesn't interact with you as much. Hikari Bio Gold Plus is an amazing food. I had three females that all laid eggs 20 days after eating that food exclusively. Weekly water changes are incredibly important so make sure you change 20-50%. The Bio Gold Plus can help reduce waste BUT that doesn't make changing the water less important.

Yes I understand that I will still have to do weekly water changes. I just don't want to have to deal with daily vacuuming, especially on a bare bottom tank.

 

[kelman]

Yes I understand that I will still have to do weekly water changes. I just don't want to have to deal with daily vacuuming, especially on a bare bottom tank.

You don't have to do daily vacuuming, they will break down to feed your nitrifying bacteria.

 

[Chaory]

You don't have to do daily vacuuming, they will break down to feed your nitrifying bacteria.

I know that I don't, it just that I like a close to clean tank. If it gets more excessive, then I might put in gravel. When I watch people's fish video on YouTube, I feel like scrubbing those brown algae off people's tank. Green algae IMO looks good, but the brown algae's got to go.