Top Eleven Myths About Flowerhorns and Those Who Keep Them

[terminalMTS]

it seems to me that if real conservation was the argument that people would embrace the flowerhorn since it comes from fish that have been tank bred. at this point, i believe that most of the "new strains" of fh come from breeding fh to fh instead of introducing any pure bred species.
btw, i do keep many different types of pure species. i have africans too.there hasn't been any "accidental" flowerhorns in my tanks.
i like the flowerhorn because they are each unique. there is alot of selective breeding that goes into them and you can breed your own. their personalities and aggression level vary alot from one fish to another.
this argument is always one group bad mouthing the other. the "purists" always downing the hybrid people. i have never seen it go the other way. the fact that the need for wild caught fish and the nile perch are depleting the african cichlids seems to go unsaid. it is only used to bad mouth hybrid keepers. flowerhorn owners aren't affecting the environment. our fish are bred from fish that have been in tanks for generations.
this being said, i have paid for fish that were supposed to be one thing and got a hybrid and i was angry. if you shop at large pet stores, unfortunatly, this is what can happen. it shouldn't be that way but, it is.
there is a huge difference between flowerhorns and intentional creation of hybrids and accidental hybrids trying to pass them off as what they look like.

 

[VittleKing]

1) So are mixed africans still africans? Is a black Lab x Yellow Lab still a labrador. Common sence says yes. flowerhorn where bred from new world CICHLIDS, therefore they are hybrid CICHLIDS.

2)I'm in it for the money. To lose money

I've spent several in the thousands on flowerhorns and flowerhorn supplies. I've made about 3 cans of NLS food, a heater for my tank, and a used filter that I traded some flowerhorn fry for awhile ago. Doesn't seem to profitable to me.

3)Flowerhorns don't even make it to the new world cichlids ecosystem, which is where conservation takes place. How can they effect fish 1000's of miles away?

4)I have never released ANY captive fish into the wild, my synspillum x King Kong Parrot fry are given away/traded as just that. Same with the flowerhorn I traded a year ago.

5)That is a slap in the face to the elite breeders. Many overseas breeders have put lots of work over more than a decade to create their fish, to call that random is an insult.

6)My current stock. 4 flowerhorns, 1 synspillum, 2 King Kong Parrot's, 3 rotkiel severums, and 3 bettas. If I had more room, I would like to have a few more pure species.

7)flowerhorn have been around for over a decade, and judging by the traffic and membership of the "big 3" flowerhorn forums, I would say they are more active than a lot of the "pure" forums. Plus the younger crowd seems more into flowerhorns than pure species, and Whitney Houston said it best " I believe the children are our future". The flowerhorn hobby has a bright future IMO.

8)I have kept new world and odd ball cichlids for over 15 years, I know my stuff. There are many members here that have kept fish way longer than myself. Anyone that has doubts on this subject should talk to Mr.Roundhead, or Katt66. Those 2 are some of the most knowledgable hobbyists I have ever met.

9)Their colors are natural. There is an occasional deformity though I will agree with that. I'm sure it's no more so than line bred fish that are accepted by purists. Some breeders I suspect have more deformities than others, i think knowledge of genetics plays a big role in this aspect.

10)Well as stated above, we keep pure species and love those also. Some are also members of cichlid associations. Look around this forum, we are all about education. And the "fellowship" is alive and strong here. We are all one big happy dysfunctional family LOL. A lot of us have met some really good friends here, weather they be local or international. Can't have more fellowship than that. Plus we all help each other out in times of need, and support each other.

11)I teach my son that just because someone looks different, that is no reason to tease them. This is along the same lines. Judging by this statement, should I tell my son the kids in special education program at his school are bad and infearior because they look different???

 

[VittleKing]

based on NAS there are no reported concentrations of flowerhorns in US waters.

trimacs are still there man. you just gotta suck it up and spend the extra loot to get a real one from a reputable seller.

this argument needs to come to a rest. i get soooo tired of reading stuff related to trimacs & flowerhorns.

anyone with the least bit of knowledge on both can EASILY tell the difference even at younger ages.

The funny part of this is you NEVER hear them say you can never find a true Red Devil or Midas anymore unless you buy from reputable breeder or get wild caught specimens. This started WAY before flowerhorns, and my guess would be was started by purists that kept both species. Same gripe about the trimacs but you never hear it.

Too bad the FH already in the Florida canals and in the Asia where they threatened the Asian cichlids by outcompleted them in the native waterways. What happened to Trimac these days...we are no longer to trust any LFS trimac if we wanted pure trimac and are forced to import these wild trimac or from private breeders.

Here are several examples of pure bred cichlids making it to the wild and establishing themselves. Feel free to post any information you have on FH establishing themselves or being released into the wild. Looks like more of a problem with pure fish to me.

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:01+PM&SpeciesID=442&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:35+PM&SpeciesID=435&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:35+PM&SpeciesID=436&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:04+PM&SpeciesID=437&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:01+PM&SpeciesID=440&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:01+PM&SpeciesID=438&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:01+PM&SpeciesID=441&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:01+PM&SpeciesID=443&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:01+PM&SpeciesID=444&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:01+PM&SpeciesID=446&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:01+PM&SpeciesID=448&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:01+PM&SpeciesID=449&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/coll...:01+PM&SpeciesID=453&State=&County=&HUCNumber=

 

[pug]

Top Eleven Myths About Flowerhorns and Those Who Keep Them​

1) Flowerhorns aren’t cichlids.​

The origins of flowerhorns are cichlid based, so at the very least they are "mixed-breed" cichlids. False.​

2) Flowerhorn keepers and breeders are only in it for the money​

Keepers and breeders of fancy discus, angelfish, peacocks etc. could equally be charged with this statement. If someone imports or spawns a very rare cichlid I don’t usually see them giving away the fry either. Just a few short years ago, a pair of nanoluteous were outrageously priced. Why if not to profit from their sale? Hypocritical and false.​

3) Flowerhorns destroy conservation of cichlids in the hobby and in the wild​

Flowerhorns are in general, agreed to have come from a very limited source of "pure" cichlids, such as Tri-mac, Carpintis, Syspilum, etc. Unless you are working with these cichlids, then where is the threat? Are we worried that the pair of triple red apistos are contaminated with flowerhorn genes? This is just hysteria. Prior to the existence of flowerhorns it was difficult to be 100% sure that your synspilum or blackbelt was pure since they are so closely related. Not to mention the whole texas cichlid and midas/labiatus mess! False.​

4) Flowerhorn keepers are irresponsible​

Generalization that has no basis in reality. How did all the non-native cichlids get into American waterways long before flowerhorns arrived in the U.S.? Irresponsible cichlid keepers would be one guess. Being responsible is not reserved only for one type of fishkeeper. False​

5) Flowerhorns are random creations or accidents​

Yes, this can be true in some instances. Much like the pigeon blood discus that was celebrated and used to create a rainbow of colors through selective breeding. They show up at ACA shows and literature, how does that promote the conservation of wild discus? Accidents and mutations as well as selective breeding have lead to many of the most popular ornamental fishes. False.​

6) Flowerhorn keepers only keep flowerhorns​

Blatantly false. Like many fish hobbiests, flowerhorn keepers move into and out of different aspects of the hobby. They may keep all flowerhorns today, but see the beauty and attraction of dwarf West Africans and suddenly change their entire stock in a few short weeks. False.​

7) Flowerhorns are a passing fad​

We heard the same about the blood parrot when it first arrived. I see them in almost every store today. The hobby is too large and diverse to make such sweeping statements. This is just wishful thinking on the part of a few that can not accept and deal with change. False.​

8) Flowerhorn keepers aren’t "advanced hobbysists"​

Hmmmmm…….not sure how we define advanced hobbyists, but I doubt there is a difference in the number of cichlid hobbyists that take it to the next level of knowledge, and the same number of flowerhorn hobbyists who do the same. Curiosity and a desire to learn are not unique to "pure" cichlid keepers. ​

9) Flowerhorns are disfigured or dyed​

Flowerhorns are line breed to enhance certain desirable traits just like super red this cichlid and albino that cichlid, long finned whatcha-ma-call-its, etc., etc. Desirable traits are in the eye of the beholder. False.​

10) Flowerhorn keepers don't care about conservation, education, or fellowship with other hobbyists​

Atrocious generalization that is only bandied about by those operating out of fear. These topics are no more or less relevant to cichlid keepers in general when you consider the entire scope of the hobby. False​

11) Flowerhorns are "bad" because they're different than what is found in the wild ​

Then so would be my pug dogs, cultivated fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. that have no resemblance to their wild parentage, the house I live in with its non-wild components, the aquarium that I keep my fish in, the city I reside in, all these thing are man-made! Once man enters any situation he starts to modify it for his likes and dislikes. Like it or not, humans must be creative and will alter any landscape they come in contact with. False.​

pug

 

[fishfreak317]

Here are several examples of pure bred cichlids making it to the wild and establishing themselves. Feel free to post any information you have on FH establishing themselves or being released into the wild. Looks like more of a problem with pure fish to me.

wow the oscar has been established since 1955 in south florida...

 

[nickbachman]

I guarantee that there are waaaaaaaay more pure fish that have been released into natural waters than flowerhorns.

I'm sure those guys were all just waiting for that first flowerhorn to pop up in a canal so they could blow the whistle on hybrids too.

 

[Camshaft Ramrod]

I live in Florida and I've never caught or heard of anyone catching a flowerorn in a canal or lake. It's mostly hybrids of pure fish like midas, red devil, convict and such.

 

[MN_Rebel]

Well Flowerhorn populations existed in Florida canals and Malaysia waterways.

 

[haloman02]

Actually these are FH because Trimac do not have pearls and it appeared that these FH in canals are lowgrade ones. Thankfully the canals are already screwed up. Malaysia have problems with this escaped hybrids in their waterways.

Your changing it up now you say Ecosystem as a whole and not just the cichlids you where talking about. The fish that are really Messing things up are the Tilapia, You damn well know flowerhorns arent causing the trouble you make them out to be.

 

[MN_Rebel]

Your changing it up now you say Ecosystem as a whole and not just the cichlids you where talking about. The fish that are really Messing things up are the Tilapia, You damn well know flowerhorns arent causing the trouble you make them out to be.

Try tell these native fishes of Malaysia to see how they do well with Flowerhorn invasivion.