Flowerhorn Cichlid — Complete Care Guide
The Flowerhorn cichlid is a hybrid freshwater fish developed in Malaysia and Taiwan in the 1990s by crossing Cichlasoma trimaculatum with Cichlasoma festae. It requires a minimum 75-gallon (280-litre) tank, water temperature of 26–30 °C, pH 7.0–8.0, and a high-protein diet of cichlid pellets supplemented with krill and bloodworms. Males are identified by a prominent nuchal hump (kok) — a fatty deposit that grows with age, diet quality, and genetics. Flowerhorns are solitary, highly territorial fish best kept one per tank.
Tank Requirements
A single adult Flowerhorn requires a minimum of 75 US gallons (280 litres); pairs or fish over 30 cm need 125 gallons or more. A long tank footprint (4 ft+) is preferred over height to accommodate the fish's horizontal swimming pattern.
- Temperature: 26–30 °C (78–86 °F)
- pH: 7.0–8.0
- Hardness: 9–20 dGH
- Filtration: Canister or sump filter rated for 6–8× tank volume per hour — Flowerhorns produce high ammonia loads from their protein-heavy diet
- Water changes: 25–30% twice weekly to keep nitrates below 20 ppm
- Substrate: Fine sand or smooth river gravel — Flowerhorns dig actively; sharp substrate damages their barbels
Nitrate levels above 40 ppm directly suppress kok development and cause colour fading — the most visible signs of poor water quality in this species.
Feeding
Flowerhorns are carnivorous omnivores. The staple diet should be a high-protein cichlid pellet containing astaxanthin and spirulina — both pigment precursors that intensify the species' characteristic red-orange colouration. Hikari Cichlid Gold, Okiko Platinum, and similar pellets are industry standards.
- Frequency: Once or twice daily — only what the fish consumes in 2–3 minutes
- Protein supplements (2–3×/week): frozen bloodworms, krill, earthworms, small prawns
- Occasional treats: crickets, mealworms (high in chitin — supports immune function)
- Avoid: feeder goldfish (thiaminase content), tubifex worms (disease vector risk)
Behaviour & Tank Mates
Flowerhorn cichlids are highly aggressive and strongly territorial — individual fish establish and defend the entire tank as their territory. Single-specimen keeping is the standard recommendation. Two males housed together will fight to the point of severe injury or death.
The only reliably compatible tank mates are large plecos: the Sailfin Pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) and Royal Pleco (Panaque nigrolineatus) can coexist in tanks of 150 gallons or more, as they occupy the bottom and are armoured against cichlid aggression. All soft-bodied or slow-moving fish should be excluded.
Common Health Issues
- Hole-in-the-Head Disease (HITH): Caused by Hexamita sp. parasites, exacerbated by nitrates above 40 ppm and vitamin C/D deficiency. First sign: small pits around the lateral line and head. Treatment: Metronidazole (400 mg/10L) + water quality correction.
- White Spot Disease (Ich / Ichthyophthirius multifiliis): Triggered by temperature drops below 24 °C or stress. Treatment: raise temperature to 30 °C + formalin-based medication for 5–7 days.
- Bloat (Dropsy): Caused by overfeeding or low-quality protein sources leading to internal bacterial infection. Symptoms: pine-cone scale appearance, lethargy. Treatment: Kanamycin or Maracyn Plus; fast fish 3 days before medicating.
- Fin Rot (Aeromonas / Pseudomonas spp.): Secondary infection from chronic poor water conditions. Treat the water first; add API Furan-2 or equivalent antibiotic only if tissue loss is visible.
Why Buy from FishyKart?
FishyKart sources Flowerhorn cichlids exclusively from specialist breeders in Malaysia, Thailand, and India who maintain bloodlines for kok development and colour intensity. Every fish is quarantined for a minimum of 7 days before dispatch and shipped in oxygen-sealed, temperature-insulated bags with live arrival guarantee across India. We stock baby Flowerhorns (3–5 cm) through to adult display fish (20+ cm) — contact us for current availability and pricing.