Top 10 Tips to Keep Your Flowerhorn Fish Fit and Healthy During Summer

Introduction:

As summer approaches, it's essential to pay extra attention to the well-being of your Flowerhorn fish. These majestic creatures require special care during the warmer months to ensure they stay healthy, active, and vibrant. In this article, we'll explore ten essential tips to help you keep your Flowerhorn fish fit and thriving during the summer season.

1. Maintain Optimal Water Temperature:

Flowerhorn fish thrive in water temperatures between 78°F to 82°F (25°C to 28°C). During summer, ambient temperatures can rise, leading to increased water temperatures in your aquarium. Use a reliable aquarium thermometer to monitor the water temperature regularly. If it exceeds the recommended range, consider using a chiller or fans to maintain a stable and comfortable environment for your Flowerhorn.

2. Provide Sufficient Oxygenation:

Warmer water holds less oxygen, which can be detrimental to the health of your Flowerhorn fish. Ensure adequate oxygenation in the aquarium by using a high-quality air pump and airstones. Surface agitation from filters and water movement also helps in oxygen exchange. Additionally, consider adding live aquatic plants, which contribute to oxygen production through photosynthesis.

3. Monitor Water Quality:

Proper water quality is crucial for the health of Flowerhorn fish. Regularly test the water parameters, including pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. Perform partial water changes of 20-30% weekly to remove accumulated waste and replenish essential minerals. Maintain a clean substrate and filter media to prevent the buildup of toxins and maintain pristine water conditions.

4. Offer a Balanced Diet:

A nutritious and varied diet is essential for the well-being of Flowerhorn fish. Provide high-quality commercial pellets specifically formulated for Flowerhorns as the staple diet. Supplement their diet with occasional treats such as live or frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. Ensure proper portion control to prevent overfeeding, which can lead to digestive issues and obesity.

5. Maintain Adequate Space:

Flowerhorn fish are known for their active and territorial nature. Ensure they have sufficient space to swim and explore in the aquarium. Avoid overcrowding by following the general rule of thumb, which suggests allocating at least 10 gallons of water per inch of adult Flowerhorn fish. Provide hiding spots and decorations to create territories and reduce stress.

6. Shield from Direct Sunlight:

Direct sunlight can lead to fluctuations in water temperature and promote algae growth in the aquarium. Position the aquarium away from direct sunlight or use curtains, blinds, or aquarium covers to shield it from intense light. Consider using LED lights with adjustable brightness and timers to simulate natural day-night cycles without overheating the water.

7. Maintain Consistent Water Parameters:

Flowerhorn fish are sensitive to sudden changes in water parameters. Avoid drastic fluctuations in temperature, pH, and water hardness by maintaining consistency in water parameters. Use a reliable water conditioner to neutralize harmful chemicals like chlorine and chloramine present in tap water. Acclimate new fish and plants gradually to prevent stress and shock.

8. Provide Mental Stimulation:

Keep your Flowerhorn fish mentally stimulated and engaged by introducing enrichment activities in the aquarium. Use floating toys, mirrors, or ping pong balls to encourage natural behaviors like chasing and exploring. Rearrange decorations periodically to create new hiding spots and territories, stimulating their curiosity and preventing boredom.

9. Monitor for Signs of Stress and Disease:

Watch for signs of stress or illness in your Flowerhorn fish, such as loss of appetite, abnormal swimming behavior, fin clamping, or discoloration. Quarantine new fish before introducing them to the main aquarium to prevent the spread of diseases. Treat any health issues promptly with appropriate medications and consult a qualified aquatic veterinarian if needed.

10. Practice Regular Maintenance:

Establish a regular maintenance routine to keep your aquarium clean and healthy. Clean the glass, filter, and decorations regularly to remove algae and debris. Trim overgrown plants and perform pruning to maintain aesthetics and prevent overcrowding. Regular maintenance not only enhances the beauty of your aquarium but also promotes the well-being of your Flowerhorn fish.

Conclusion:

By following these ten tips, you can ensure that your Flowerhorn fish stay fit, healthy, and happy throughout the summer months. Remember to maintain optimal water conditions, provide a balanced diet, offer adequate space and stimulation, and monitor their health closely. With proper care and attention, your Flowerhorn fish will continue to thrive and delight you with their vibrant colors and playful antics for years to come.

How to buy a baby flowerhorn fish? and What to look for in baby flowerhorn?

It has been a long time since last post, I thought of stop posting in this blog as i'm not into flowerhorn these days ,I looked at some YouTube videos giving wrong information about flowerhorns and selling it online for huge prices.

I want to let you know a big secret about flowerhorns,Before that, let me answer some common questions i always get,

Q1 : Is this flowerhorn really worth the price i'm paying??

Q2 : The baby flowerhorn i'm buying has the good sized hump now,Is the hump gonna be developed as the fish body does??

Q3 : My flowerhorn has good hump but i dont see any spots or color,What should i do??

I will try to answer to all these questions in one shot,

Only male flowerhorns can grow a good sized, well shaped head and color, I would always consider a flowerhorn as good one if it  has a good sized hump, good red color that covers almost 3/4th of the body, well shaped body and nice small spots around the mouth and gills area.

• If you are a newbie, looking to buy a baby flowerhorn you and don't know anything about it, I would suggest you to look at flowerhorn parents first, especially male. ,Make sure you see all the features i've mentioned above in the parent male, color and spots may vary depending on the flowerhorn type, If it is a "RED DRAGON" flowerhorn,you would see nice red color almost covering whole body with less spots on it, Try to always pick a male if you want nice vivid colors with big hump.(males are usually aggressive and active in the tanks,you can spot them easily,Whatever you feed , maintain does not matter if it's male parent is not of good breed.)

•  Flowerhorns can live upto 10-12 years,It is important to get the baby flowerhorn that is breeded by young parents which helps the baby to get all the features very quickly without any extra supplements.

•  You got male baby flowerhorn with good sized hump and even it's parent male has got all the features, that does not stop there .You have to start feeding them with good nutritious food,I don't suggest any preservatives for baby flowerhorns, I would usualy feed them live small bloodworms  and baby goldfishes 3 or 4 times a day. if you cant get bloodworms , try feeding it XO Humpy head sliced in half or 1/4th.

Blood Worms

•  Theses bloodworms and babygoldfishes are rich in nutrients, easy to digest, enriches color, helps in hump development. 

•  What about spots?? I don't recommend any food for spots as it is natural for fish to get its natural body color, shape or spots, if you are feeding the fish properly, it should be able to get good spots,if it does not, it is its nature.(DONT OVERDO!! )

•  Price?? Currently the price of good  babyflowerhorn fish comes around approximately
•  2 inches - 800rs
•  3 inches - 1600rs
•  4 to 5 inches -2500 to 300rs

•  These prices are for perfect hump,good red color and nice shaped flowerhorn fishes and the prices  may vary in different states.

If you have some unanswered questions, please let us know in the comments.

HOW TO KEEP THE FISH ACTIVE

Many of us are depressed that my fish is not active and always sits at the bottom of tank,why some fishes are active and some are not??




Here is my post to overcome this problem,Even my flowerhorn was sitting at the bottom,i was so worried that it would die

HERE ARE MY SOME PRECAUTIONS TO KEEP FISH ACTIVE

1.Though flowerhorn is a really strong fish and can live in different water conditions without having problems, anyway it is important to provide a temperature between 25°C and 30°C


2. pH value is also important, because acid water can tone down fish colours and make it sick, the ideal condition is a light alkaline water, with a pH between 7 and 8.


3. A Flower horn will produce a lot of organic waste since it eats a lot. You must therefore perform frequent water changes to keep the water chemistry at suitable levels and prevent the organic compounds from reaching toxic levels that will harm the Flower horn. A 20 percent water change twice a week is the best solution, but once a week is usually okay.


4. Since the Flower horn is a territorial species you should fill the aquarium with decorations that create natural borders. 


5.Oxygen pumps are also essential to the well-being of any fish kept in a tank, as this will replenish the dissolved oxygen in the water. The pumping of air into the water will also cause mild currents and keep the water flowing, preventing uneven distribution of water temperature oxygen concentration. Water must also be flowing in order for the filtration systems to work.


5.Salt is good as a stabilizer of sorts. It helps maintain water conditions and keep the fish healthy by acting as a disinfectant and killing some parasites in the water. Also, although the Flowerhorn is a freshwater fish, even freshwater ponds and rivers have a certain concentration of salt, thus adding a little bit of salt in the water also helps to make the fish feel "at home". A "little bit" would mean one or two teaspoons, too much salt will also kill the fish!


6.The Flowerhorn fish has a voracious appetite. There are no so called "optimum" times when it should be fed, but it is advisable to feed the fish in small amounts spread over a period of time every day.

7.Flowerhorns show their best colours when agitated. When the Flowerhorn sees its reflection in a mirror, it will also be agitated and look its best. Putting mirrors and colourful images in the tank is actually a technique used by competition breeders so that they get the best quality from their fish and increase their chances of winning a competition.

THE MAIN THING TO KEEP THE FLOWER HORN ACTIVE IS WE SHOULD SIT  IN FRONT OF THE AQUARIUM FOR AT LEAST 10 MIN AND PLAY WITH IT AS I'VE DONE IN MY VIDEO BELOW

HOW TO GROW A FLOWER HORN BABY FISH

MANY OF US DONT KNOW TO GROW A BABY FLOWER HORN FISH WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE,

HERE IS MY POST WHERE YOU CAN LEARN EVERY TACTIC TO GROW IN PROPER WAY AND GET HUMP QUICKLY

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• • Flowerhorn fish is also known as Lump Head Cichlid, Malaysia Rajah Cichlasoma, Hualorhan, or Luohan. Flowerhorns were originally bred in the Central America and due to 

their size, they require large tanks at least 300 litres per 1 adult fish and also for baby. Males are more aggressive than females. Give them enough empty space and don't keep 2 adult males in one tank, since the stronger one will probably kill the second one. If you consider keeping Flowerhorn with other fish, make sure they're aggressive and large enough.

HERE IS MY FISH SNAP ,WHEN IT WAS JUST 15 DAYS- 

Then i started feeding it with food named chingmix,it's around 800rs in India , dont know in other countries,it's specially for hump improvement

Chingmix as well as Grand Sumo foods have the proper 
 blend of ingredients to promote kok (hump) growth. The kok 
(hump) is a fat deposit and usually growth is seen in males 
but can be seen in high grade females. Unfortunately if 
someone has a low grade male he may only develop a small 
kok if any even with proper feedings, therefore if your going 
for kok (hump) growth start out with a young male high
quality and feed him a high grade food.

Fish after just 20 days,i saw lot of improvements


HERE IS MY SNAP  AFTER 20 DAYS

In this snap you can see hump formation,good shape 

and also color,As i'm feeding it with chingmix,you'll see 

hump formation but only hump doesn't bring good 

look to fish,you should also concentrate on color and 

spots.

THE BEST FOOD TO GET A GOOD SPOTS IS STARRY

Ocean Free Starry is a special formulated fish feed to speedily surface the sparkle dots for all Flower Horn Breeds. Constant feeding will not only enhance the number of the dots, but also enhance the shine.

THE BEST FOOD TO GET GOOD COLOR IS 

The ever red food enhances the color and gives good color  around  gills area ,feed three times a day for about one and half months