Flowerhorn

The flowerhorn is not a species found in the wild but an ornamental fish created in Malaysia and Taiwan in the late 1990s by hybridizing several Central American cichlids. Its ancestors are believed to include species such as the trimac (Amphilophus trimaculatus), the redhead cichlid (Vieja melanura) and the midas; the exact lineage is unknown. In Asia it is much loved as a "lucky" fish; in Türkiye it is also one of the best-selling large cichlids.

Its distinguishing features are the huge hump on its forehead (called the "kok" in the hobby), the pearly sheen of its scales and the "flower" pattern formed by black blotches along the middle of the body. It recognizes its owner, takes food from the hand and follows them from in front of the glass; this personality brings it close to a pet.

Ethical debate: Breeding hybrids is controversial in the hobby. Critics point out that pure species lose value, that hybrids released into the wild have become established in some Southeast Asian waters and that some sellers use hormones for color and the hump. Defenders say the flowerhorn is an ornamental fish created through selective breeding, like the goldfish or the guppy. When buying, it is important to choose a reliable breeder and never release the fish into the wild.

• Zhen Zhu (ZZ, Pearl): A line known for its distinct pearl scales and huge hump.
• Kamfa: A line with a straighter mouth, broad fins and a hump.
• Red Dragon (SRD): A line whose body turns an intense red.
• Golden Base: A line that is dark when young and turns gold-orange with age.

It has no natural habitat. Its ancestral species come from the warm, moderately hard and slightly alkaline lakes and rivers of Central America; aquarium conditions are set accordingly.

• Volume: At least 300 liters and 120–150 cm of length for a single adult.
• Decor: A simple layout; a few large, stable stones. It knocks over anything light and uproots plants.
• Equipment: A strong canister filter or sump, a protected heater, and a heavy, tight-fitting lid (it jumps).
• Maintenance: A 30–50% water change every week.

Omnivorous with a big appetite. Use a quality flowerhorn or large cichlid granule as the staple; vary the diet with frozen shrimp, mysis and vegetables. Live feeder fish are not recommended. One or two small meals a day are enough for adults; overfeeding leads to bloat.

Extremely territorial and aggressive; it considers everything in the tank its own territory. Attacking and biting hands is normal.

Good companions: It is best kept alone. In a very large tank some hobbyists keep it with large plecos, but the outcome depends on the individual.

Avoid: All community fish, other cichlids, shrimp, snails, plants.

Kept alone. Even pairs brought together for breeding are usually introduced while separated by a perforated divider; the male can kill the female within a short time.

Despite being a hybrid, many lines can breed. The pair lays hundreds of eggs on a cleaned stone and guards the fry. However, the fry are highly variable in color, hump and pattern; breeders select only a small number out of thousands of fry. For this reason breeding in a home aquarium is not recommended.

• Hole-in-the-head disease (HLLE): Pits on the head in poor water quality.
• Bloat and digestive problems: With overfeeding.
• Hormone-treated fish: The color of fish colored with hormones can fade over time, and breeding problems may occur.

Males are usually larger, with a bigger hump and longer fins. Most females have black spots on the dorsal fin, but this is not always reliable. A reliable distinction is made by the papilla.