Flowerhorn Fish Craze

The Beginner’s Guide to Selecting a High-Quality Flowerhorn Fish

2026-08-15T00:12:10.090-07:00

So, you’re at your local fish store looking for a juvenile or adult Flowerhorn to bring home. Selecting a specimen with great genetic potential requires looking beyond basic colors. Here is a simple guide to choosing a healthy Flowerhorn with high show potential.

1. Nuchal Hump (Kok) Development

The Kok (head bump) is the signature hallmark of a Flowerhorn. While a massive "water kok" is rare in young shop juveniles, you can assess potential based on strain:

Zhen Zhou (ZZ) & Kamalau Strains: These strains develop their Kok early, often showing a noticeable bump as small as 1.5 to 2 inches. Look for a rounded, pronounced head structure. A flat or weak forehead at this size usually indicates a small head at maturity.

Kamfa Strains: Kamfas are notorious "late bloomers." Their Kok sits slightly further forward and develops as the fish reaches adulthood. Focus on body shape and fins first rather than head size when selecting young Kamfa juveniles.

2. Facial Features, Eyes, Lips & Marking (Flowerline)

Examine the face as a single unit:

Eyes: Should be clear, round, and symmetrical. Zhen Zhou typically feature bright red/orange protruding eyes. Kamfa lines naturally feature sunken eyes with white, yellow, or pale coloration.

Mouth & Lips: Ensure there are no jaw deformities and the lips seal completely. Zhen Zhou fish naturally have a slight lower-jaw protrusion, but choose fish with minimal underbite. Kamfas should have thin, even lips.

Flowerline & Script: Look for dark, thick, bold black flower markings along the lateral line. In traditional Feng Shui, bold markings—especially heart-shaped or distinct Chinese character patterns ("script")—symbolize good luck, health, and prosperity.

3. Fins and Tail Structure

Fins give the Flowerhorn its commanding, elegant posture when patrolling its territory:

Kamfa Fins: Desirable specimens feature a broad, paddle-like "wrap tail". The dorsal, anal, and caudal (tail) fins should overlap seamlessly with no visible gap, creating a continuous fan shape.

Zhen Zhou Fins: ZZ strains feature long, sweeping fin extensions (trailers) resembling classical Chinese ink paintings. Ensure the fin webbing is smooth without splits or deformed ray spines.

4. Body Frame, Coloration, and Pearling

A high-grade Flowerhorn should possess a thick, deep-bodied frame rather than a skinny or stretched body shape.

Pearling (Spangles): Look for metallic blue or white flecks evenly distributed across the body and extending over the Kok. High pearling density across the head significantly increases quality and value.

Coloration: Look for deep, vibrant colors (such as cherry red or metallic cyan). Avoid pale or washed-out fish, which may indicate illness or high stress levels. Summary Checklist Before You Buy Active & Responsive: Is the fish inquisitive and moving toward the glass? Clear Scales & Skin: No white spots, fungus, or damaged fins. Proper Genetics for Strain: Matches traits for ZZ (early kok, long fins) or Kamfa (wrapped tail, sunken eyes).

Davao Show Pet Fusion 2012

2012-08-20T06:26:00.003-07:00

The Winners

Juvy Category

Champion owned by Take Five Ilo-ilo

1st Runner up owned by Kenshison Manila

2nd Runner up owned by: Vincent Bullecer (Team Balatak Davao)

Small Category

Champion and Best In Color

Champion and Best in Color
Owner : Styr of Batang Ilog

1st runner-up
Owner : Crossbreed Club of Thailand

2nd runner-up

Owner : Kenshison (Manila)

Large Category

Champion

Owner : Gerard Prodon

1st runner-up
Owner: Gensan Flowerhorn Club

2nd runner-up

Owner: Gerard Prodon

Free Head Category

Champion
Owner : Take Five Iloilo

1st runner-up and Best in Pearl

Owner : hsu of Batang Ilog

2nd runner-up

Owner : Take Five Iloilo

Free Marking Category

Champion

Owner : Takefive Iloilo

1st runner-up

Owner: Crossbreed Club of Thailand

2nd runner-up

Owner : Cadz (Davao)

Kamfa Category

Champion

Owner : Hsu of Batang Ilog

1st runner-up

Owner : Gensan Fh Club

2nd runner-up
Owner : Gensan FH Club

Medium Category

Best in Show
Champion
Best in Kok
Owner : Hsu of Batang Ilog

1st runner-up

Owner : Kenshison

2nd runner-up
Owner : Kenshison

Other Random Flowerhorn Pictures

Flowerhorn 2006 Gallery

2010-12-22T06:18:00.000-08:00

Here are flowerhorns from the year 2006.

Kamfa
Thai Kamfa by sir Norman

And more Kamfas from Chinatown Pets.

Some zz's

Some Gold based kamfas:

Zhen zhou

Red dragon

Indo zz

CCN ZZ

Classic zz

Pearl Of The Orient ZZ

King Bakara

King Golden Monkey

Kamalau

Cross breed strain

Kamfa malau:

Gallery of Champions

From Palhs show 2006. Photos courtesy of Sir Norman

Juvy zz

Small zz

Medium zz

Large ZZ

Small JH category

Free Markings Large:

Large JH Category

Free Marking Category

More Flowerhorn from 2006

2010-12-22T00:05:00.000-08:00

More Kamfas Credit to Chinatown pets for the pictures.

Blue Dragon ZZ

How do flowerhorn breed?

2010-11-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

Flowerhorns are rather aggressive and very territorial fish. They are so territorial that they need lots aquarium space all to themselves. This aggressiveness can also be observed during flowerhorn breeding. Nobody does love making as passionately and as violently as the flowerhorns.

After being introduced to each other, the couple immediately goes into a ritual dance. The male would encircle the female several times rubbing his body against her. Then he heats things up a by hitting her body alternately with his tail and his mouth. Then they bite each other pushing each other back and forth and around their nesting plate. They do this for several minutes until the female ultimately reaches her climax and lays her egg. The male then starts to fertilize the eggs by swimming over them and releasing his sperm.

After egg laying both parents would swim on top of their nest guarding the eggs and maintaining the cleanliness of the nest.

Zhen Zhou vs. Golden Monkey Flowerhorn: Key Differences & Identification Guide

2010-09-05T02:25:00.000-07:00

The Zhen Zhou (ZZ) and the Golden Monkey (Kamalau / KML) are two of the most popular, colorful, and metallic pearled strains in the Flowerhorn hobby. However, identifying them can be challenging for beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike—especially since breeders frequently cross-breed them to produce the hybrid ZZ Malau.

Here is how to accurately distinguish a Zhen Zhou from a Golden Monkey Flowerhorn across key physical traits.

1. Kok (Head Hump)

Golden Monkey (KML): The kok on a Golden Monkey is typically half-domed and proportional to its body size. It rarely reaches the massive "monster" proportions seen in ZZ or Kamfa strains. The KML kok is woven with intricate worm pearls, and the black flowerline (plum) is distinctly absent from the head area.
Zhen Zhou (ZZ): ZZ koks vary widely in size and shape, often growing into massive, water-filled "monster koks." They frequently feature visible flower markings extending onto the side of the head, and pearling patterns can vary from heavy to sparse.

Kamalau by Jam420

DCL by Mr.Heru

Indonesian Malau "ELVIS" from ILC

Shelby by Louhan Saigon

In contrast zhen zhou koks come in various shapes and sizes. Some have pearls on them while others don't. The flower marking on the side of the kok is usually seen.

ODM showing lychee head

2. Facial Features

Golden Monkey (KML): Named for its distinct, monkey-like facial profile, this is the defining trait of the strain. In profile, the forehead drops sharply from the kok into a pronounced stop, leading to a slanting bridge toward the upper lip. The jawline is thick and prominent, giving the fish a bold, aggressive facial expression.
Zhen Zhou (ZZ): A Zhen Zhou features a smoother, more streamlined head profile without the distinct deep "stop" or pronounced monkey jaw.

KML81-5th place Indonesia Flowerhorn Competition -2009

Grand Champion KML from ILC

Leonidas-My favorite KML champion from ILC.

7x Malaysian Grand Champion as posted by Master Sonny

3. Lips & Mouth

Golden Monkey (KML): Possesses thin, bow-shaped lips similar to a Kamfa. A slight protrusion of the lower lip combined with a strong jawline gives the face its classic monkey shape.
Zhen Zhou (ZZ): Zhen Zhou Flowerhorns typically have thicker, more prominent lips that extend further forward, often forming an "underbite" or more protruding mouth structure.

4. Origin & Genetics

Golden Monkey: Originating in Malaysia and descended from original Luohan stock, pure Golden Monkeys carry white, black, and gold mottling with red-tinted fins. They are rare, highly sought-after, and command higher prices in the aquarium trade.
Zhen Zhou: Bred predominantly for vibrant red coloration, fast growth, and massive head humps, Zhen Zhous are much more common and form the baseline for many modern Flowerhorn hybrids.

#Flowerhorn #GoldenMonkeyFlowerhorn #ZhenZhou #FlowerhornFish #Kamalau #MonsterKok #AquariumHobby #Cichlids #MonsterFishKeepers

Flowerhorn Fry Care Guide: Diet, Water Changes & Recommended Products

2010-08-19T05:15:00.000-07:00

How to Care for & Feed Flowerhorn Fry for Fast Growth and Color

Raising Flowerhorn fry is one of the most rewarding parts of breeding cichlids, but success depends on proper feeding, water maintenance, and temperature control. Providing high-protein fry food early on will promote rapid growth, early coloration, and strong kok development.

What to Feed Flowerhorn Fry (Week-by-Week Guide)

Week 1: Free-Swimming Stage

Once the fry absorb their egg sacs and begin swimming freely, introduce small, easily digestible, high-protein foods:

Hard-Boiled Egg Yolk: Dissolve a tiny pinch in warm tank water and introduce it with a dropper. Feed sparingly to prevent water pollution.
Crushed High-Protein Pellets: Powdered baby pellets or finely crushed adult growth pellets (such as CZ Aqua Help For Fry, Hikari First Bites, or Grand Sumo / Humpy Head ground fine).
Live Foods: Freshly hatched Baby Brine Shrimp (Artemia) or Daphnia provide ideal natural nourishment that stimulates hunting instincts and boosts survival rates.

Weeks 2 to 3: Developing Color and Plums

By week 3, fry typically reach around 1 cm in length and begin displaying early plum lines and reddish hues:

Flake Foods: High-protein brine shrimp flakes, spirulina flakes, or color-enhancing tropical flakes.
Live / Fresh Feeds: Chopped superworms (squeezed to extract protein) or mosquito larvae. Note: Squeezed worms can cloud the water, requiring prompt siphon cleanup.

Week 4 and Beyond: Accelerating Growth

Frozen / Fresh Proteins: Frozen bloodworms, tubifex worms, or homemade mixtures of finely minced beef heart or de-shelled market shrimp.
Micro Pellets: Transition from powder to micro-sized floating pellets to accustom them to a standard diet.

Recommended Commercial Fry Food Products

Hikari First Bites: Premium micro-pellet formula designed specifically for newly hatched fry.
CZ Aqua "Help For Fry & Small Fish": A specialized high-protein powder feed widely used by Southeast Asian Flowerhorn breeders.
Ocean Star International (OSI) Brine Shrimp Flakes: Digestible flake food rich in natural carotenoids to encourage early color.
San Francisco Bay Brand Frozen Baby Brine Shrimp / Bloodworms: Safe, parasite-free frozen alternatives to live foods.

Water Quality and Tank Maintenance

High-protein diets can quickly foul aquarium water. Maintaining pristine parameters is essential for fry health:

Water Change Frequency: Perform a 30% water change every 2 to 3 days. If the tank is heavily stocked or cloudy after feeding, perform 10–20% daily water changes.
Water Conditioners & Salt: Always add a tap water conditioner (e.g., Seachem Prime) to neutralize chlorine/chloramines and stabilize pH. Adding a light dose of aquarium salt helps reduce fish stress and ward off parasites.

Filtration and Heating Requirements

Filter Type: Use a Sponge Filter powered by an air pump. Overhead, canister, or powerhead filters create suction strong enough to trap and injure fragile fry.
Water Temperature: Keep the water between 28°C–30°C (82°F–86°F) using an adjustable aquarium heater. Warm water boosts the fry's metabolism, encouraging steady feeding and faster growth.

#FlowerhornFry #FlowerhornCare #AquariumHobby #CichlidBreeding #FishFeeding #MonsterFishKeepers #AquariumTips

Master's Secrets To Breeding Flowerhorn

2010-07-07T03:31:00.000-07:00

Its every Flowerhorn hobbyist dream of breeding his flowehorn. The process is easy and can be a very fulfilling activity. Keep in mind that flowerhorns are the most passionate lovers. They love to do rough play before engaging in copulation.

Here some pointers for you so that your breeding program will be successful.

Things you will need during your breeding.

1.Aquarium should be around 50-75 gallons. The size of the aquarium is of utmost importance.If you try breeding your pair in a tight space your pair may end up having a marital dispute instead of a having honeymoon and pairing successfully.

2.Water Heater-Water temperature is important because it keeps your breeding pair healthy and in heat. Get it heater and "in heat"? Set a nd maintain your water heater to about 30 deg..

3.A pottery dish or any flat surface like the rough side of a tile. This is where your breeding pair will nest and eventually lay her eggs.

4. Aerator-you need an aerator to serve two purpose.First is to keep the Oxygen levels in your water constant so have your aerator connected to an air stone. The second purpose is for filtering. Connect your aerator to a foam filter for this purpose.

5. Methylene blue.-Methylene will be used for your fertilized eggs to avoid fungal growth.

The Process of breeding your flowerhorn.

1.Selection and Introduction of breeding pair.

Choose the healthiest brood stock for you to breed. Healthy brood stock means more fertilized eggs and more fries to select from.

I introduce my breeding pair as early as 2 weeks before breeding. I place them in an aquarium with dividers. I do this so that the pair will be familiar with each other before their breeding hormones drive them crazy.

2.Getting your flowerhorn to mate. Your visual cue that your breeding pair is ready is when the female starts to loose its color and turns darker and with dark stripes all over it.Once your flowerhorn are ready all you need to do is put them together and wait for them to mate. You should however keep an eye on them while they are breeding, as flowerhorn aggressiveness can get out hand which would result in severe injuries or even death.

3. Getting your female to lay eggs. So how do I do that? Well the secret actually lies in you doing a 10% water change prior to bringing your breeding pair together. The water change changes the water temperature and chemistry a bit which in turn induces your female to lay eggs. Water change also mimics rainfall which also induces your female to lay eggs. So what I do is when I fill the tanks again I use the water hose as a sprayer which would mimic rainfall.

4.Getting a divorce. After your female has laid her eggs and the male has fertilzed them. Its time for the pair to part ways. Simply place them in separate aquariums and care for them as you usually do.

Some Interesting Facts About The Origins Of The Zhen Zhou/Pearly Flowerhorn

2010-05-10T11:09:00.001-07:00

Zhen zhou flowerhorn or pearl flowerhorn is one of the main breed of flowerhorn. They originated from the original luohans and through several crosses and line breeding were able to produce the pearly fish that it is today.

Whatever the strain of zz it is generally believed that zz's have Amphilopus trimaculatus as a main ancestor.
Trimaculatus also known as the "rainbow cichlid" is responsible for giving the zz's its flowerline, the body shape, the lip shape, and of course the fin shape. Trimaculatus was then cross bred with other central american cichlid in order to produce the pearly zz's we have today.

As you can see below the picture of a trimaculatus and some zz's.

Trimaculatus by Brent Smith

Some zhen zhous especially the low grade ones are more tri-mac in appearance. Of the classic zhen zhous it is Eastern maiden strain that closely resembles a trimaculatus.

The downside to having a trimaculatus as an ancestor is that the trait of having a weak tail and having a small kok is passed down to the next generations.

The Trimacs were bred to Amphipolus citrenelum which gave the zhen zhus their koks and added to the zhen zhus color variety and the trailing fins. Some facial features of the midas cichlid were inherited as well.

Amphilophus citrenelus "Midas cichlid"

modern day zhen zhu

Amphilopus citrenellus by Bret Smith

The downside to having the midas cichlid as ancestor is that the fierce nature and territoriality of the midas cichlid is passed to the next generations and becomes genetically fixed. Male zhen zhu with bigger humps tend to be more aggressive than males with no humps. These males are known to kill their females and other fish,a characteristic which is observed with the midas cichlid.

Masters' Secrets To Caring For Kamfa/Jin Hua Flowerhorn

2010-04-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

Kamfas are flowerhorns which originated from the luo han. As to the exact steps in breeding still remains a mystery. Today however most kamfas originate from a zhen zhou which has been crossed with a parrot fish. It is better to use class A mammon parrot as compared to a blood parrot.Since mammon parrots have bigger bodies, more intense redness, have occasional pearlings at the kok and have bigger kok females. The mammon parrot progeny would present with a better kamfa qualities of: fan tail, wrap fins, small lips, unorthodux or more intense color pattern, more colorful pearls, and large kok and body. But wether you use a mammon or a blood parrot bear in mind that only 3% of the offspring will ever grow up to be high quality show type fishes plus most of the males from this breeding would be expected to be sterile. The only problem with your mammon parrot would be the price since a grade AAA parrot would fetch a few hundred dollars. The next best thing to a mammon would be your king kong parrot.

Nice pair showing a king kong parrot and a zz mating.

How To Take Care of A Kamfa.

1. Background of the tanks. Kamfas love colorful background and they would usually show off their beautiful colors when they have beautiful background. If they are exposed to montone colors and dark colors they usually appear stressed with stress bars or appear darker than the color of their surroundings.

2. Substrate

The kamfa needs to have colorful gravel, ceramic rings and crushed coral. Ceramic rings and crushed corals are porous and accomodates space for good bacteria to grow on. They provide for stability of the pH and provides your kamfa a way to rub itself free of parasites. Male kamfas also love to move gravel from one part of the tank to another part as a means of sanitation or as nest building.

My king kamfa in his tank with crushed corals and colored stones.
3. Tank
Tank it is recommended that the fish has it own tank of at least a 50 gallon tank. Kamfas tend to grow large which make them need more bigger aquariums rule of thumb is to choose an aquarium which is at least 3x the size of your fish.Kamfas also requires a minimum of 15 inches in depth. They need enough room to swim about and to establish a territory which it would vigorously defend.

4. Heaters
The water temperature should be around 85 degrees Fahrenheit for kamfas. This is to ensure optimal growth of their kok. Frequent fluctuation in temperature would hinder kok growth.The exact place of placing a heater would depend on individual preference. Personally i prefer to place the heater in areas that would ensure faster distribution of the heat to all parts of the aquarium. I usually place my heater either near the aquarium pumps intake valve or where the water drops from the filter box.

5. Ideal pH will be around 7.5 for Kamfa / Jinhua. For some reason kamfas prefer a more basic pH. To make your water lean towards the basic part add crushed corals as substrate. To be sure make a water analysis first by using ph testing kits.

6. Lighting is also of importance, make sure that the tank is properly illuminated for at least 8 – 12 hours a day. Lighting has an effect on the color patterns of your fish and helps relieve stress.

7. Kamfa / Jinhua also requires a tank mate. To make your kamfas kok grow bigger and for it to display intense color. You can place a blood parrot or any unwanted flower horn together with your kamfa. Be sure that they are smaller than the Kamfa / Jinhua. I prefer using a blood parrot as they have the ability to play dead, or hover out of view the kamfa thereby saving their own life.

9. Water change
The frequency depends wholly on the filtration system of the tank. Do only around 20 percent of water change each time. I personally conduct a water change to my Kamfa tanks once every 2 weeks. Some kamfas tend to be more hardy than zz's and can tolerate monthly water changes even if the filter is just your simple sponge filter. Kamfas generally prefer aged, aerated water to water that comes right out of your tap. To age your water simply place the water in a big container and let it sit for a day. Place an aerator and let it run while you are aging your water.

10. Feeding
Feeding should be done around 3 times a day, and should be fed with a variety of food – bloodworms, feeders, and pellets (which also includes color enhancer as well). Blood worms are one of the kamfas favorite food. They give the kamfa nice color and make them grow big fast and make them develop more squarish body. You could also give your kamfa live feeders consisting of any well fed and parasite free fresh water fish or fish fry. Just make sure they are parasite free. I personally feed my feeder fish Humpy head or head enhancing pellet. Not because my feeder fishes need to grow koks but because whatever secret formula is in the head enhancing pellets will be absorb into the body of the feeder fish and be readily available to the kamfa when he eats the feeder fish. Never get wild caught fish and feed it to your flowerhorn as they easily get digestive disorder from parasite laden live feeds. And lastly if theres anything else a kamfa would love to have it is market shrimps. Just make sure to take out the head part. Most people would say that the reason for taking out the head part is for you to prevent injury to your fish. I have found out that this is not so. I have found out based on experience that kamfas are adept at removing the head part themselves. So the real rationale for removing the head part is so you wouldn't have to remove it yourself later on. Remember that left over food adds up to water pollution.

11.Location of aquarium tank.
Place the tank of the Kamfa / Jinhua in a low traffic area at home, especially for small to medium size Kamfa / Jinhua. Small and medium sized kamfa tends to be skittyish and might injure themselves. For larger ones, they should have no problem in adapting quickly. Always put your Kamfa / Jinhua in a tank where the tank is around 4 feet above ground.

If you got some secret which you would want to share just post it at my comment section. I'm willing to learn new things about caring for the kamfa.

5 Ways To Differentiate Between A Kamfa and Zz?

2010-03-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

One of the most frequently asked question is how to differentiate a pearl lo-han(zhen zhou,zz) from a flower lohan (kamfa/jinghua). Here are the differences of each as conceptualized by the FH founders.

1.The forehead.

The head of the flower lo-han rises higher than the pearl lo-han.

Flower Lo Han Pearl Lohan

But some zz now a days have equally high heads.

2.The Black Mark/Dark Flower
On the side of the forehead we see that the Pearl Lo-han has a more conspicuous mark than the Flower Lo-han.

But some pearl Lo-han will have less conspicuous mark or no mark as they get bigger.

"Uber" Owned by Doc Wilson Photo by blue ice

"Fagioli" Thaksin zz

And some flower Lo-han may have conspicuous mark.

"Pag-asa" Owned by Howell

3.Mouth/Lips

The lips of the Kamfa is smooth and circular.

"MB" By sir Ernie aka Trojan

The lower lips of the ZZ is sticking/protruding out and the upper lips is shorter.

"Twiggy" owned by Twigtwig

4. Eyes
The eyes of the pearl Lo-han are outstanding/bulge out.

Chianmai crossbreed club

The eyes of the flower Lo-han are hollow/sunken.

"MB" By sir Ernie aka Trojan

Nice king kamfa with prominent sunken eyes.

5.Finnage

The dorsal fin and anal fin of the Kamfa would wrap around the caudal fin and they would look like one whole fin.

Chan2009

Lamborghini diablo by Master Bejita showing nice wrap tail

The dorsal fin and anal fin of a ZZ would usually go upward and downward. The caudal fin of the ZZ is usually smaller also .

5.Tail

The bigger and older ZZ, it would have a droopy caudal tail.

P&P

This condition would not occur to the Kamfa strain because tail are stronger and more fan like.

"Pagkakaisa" by Denl

Just a reminder that these are guidelines that have been set by the masters. A newbie would be advised to patiently study these different traits and to see as many fish as he could see before being able to differentiate between a kamfa and a zhen zou. Other experts would say that a simpler way of diffentiating between a kamfa and a zz is that if the fish has features which are predominantly amhipolus trimaculatus then it is a zz. If it looks more like a vieja then its a kamfa.

Here is a picture of a zz and a trimaculatus.

Amphilophus trimaculatus regarded as the staple in creating the zhen zhou flowerhorn.

Fagioli modern day thaksinzz. Any resembalnce to the trimaculatus? How close to a trimac is he?

Vieja synspila regarded as one of the ancestors of todays kamfas.

Pagkakaisa how close to a vieja is he? Any resemblance to a vieja?

Seven easy ways of sexing your flowerhorn.

2010-02-25T01:13:00.000-08:00

Knowing how to sex a flowerhorn is one of the most frequently asked question by someone who wants to venture in either keeping a flowerhorn or somebody who wants to eventually go to breeding of flowerhorn. More often than not a newbie sets out to buy a flowerhorn hoping to get a highly potential flowerhorn male fry but ends up getting a female. Males are more sought after because of the potential of forming big koks and because they grow bigger and have more vibrant color. While females are more often than not culled and disposed of because they have features that are not sought after by buyers. Top females of the school will either be not for sale or will command a higher price if the breeder decides to sell it.
Here are the different ways of sexing your flowerhorn.
1. Difference in body shape and size.
Male flowerhorns are bigger than female flowerhorn. If you are selecting from a community of frys choose the bigger or biggest fry because the males are more dominant than females and stronger so they always have access to food which makes them grow bigger fast.

female flowerhorn

male flowerhorn Emperor by Master Norman

Fagioli mating Notice obvious difference in size between male and female flowerhorn.

2.Difference in KOK size
Male flowerhorn will have bigger koks than female flowerhorn.

Male flowerhorn with nice big hump.

Female flowerhorn ($600) rare big head female by Mickkamfa commands a high price.

Female flowerhorn with small kok. More common find.

3.Presence of black markings on dorsal fins.
Female flowerhorn will have black markings on the dorsal fins. These black markings will be evident even in fry as big as 2-3inches. It is accurate way of sexing 80% of the time.

My Thaizz from Rainnybetta with black markings on dorsal fins. Below is a female flowerhorn with prominent black marking.

4.Difference in body deportment or posture.

Female flowerhorn will have particular body deportment or body posture.

Some nice looking females. Notice the body shape, small kok and the shape of the fins when they are at a standstill. Female fry aside from being small will project this particular deporment.

5.Difference in body color.
Female flowerhorn will change in color when breeding time comes while the male maintains its vibrant color.

Female flowerhorn by Iceman4242 notice presence of vertical black stripes on body.

Same female after laying eggs. Notice how her body had turned black.

My female kamalau from rainnybetta. She had better color then but as she is nearing her first egg laying her color changed to dark green black color.

My experimental pairing. Chose the male due to its bright red color. Small kok because its a mix kamfazz. Hopefully these pair will produce monsters. If not i just cull the frys and experiment on another pair.

6. Difference of shape of vent area.
You can differentiate the sex of your flowerhorn by venting.

Male reproductive organs will appear in a more shape manner. The tip of the v is pointed towards the anal fins. While the vent is situated between the arms of the v. You can gently squeeze on the vent area and if you notice squirting out of the vents then the fish that you have is a male. Similarly females will have a more u shaped structure at the vent area no fluid will squirt out of the vent when you squeez the vent area.

7.And lastly and most sure fire way of determining if your flowerhorn is male or female.
EGGS

Female lay eggs as early as 3-4inches in size.

All About Flowerhorn Kok.

2010-02-11T07:40:00.000-08:00

What is a flowerhorn kok?
The flowerhorn kok or nuchal hump is the crowning glory of this fish. Often associated with luck it is actually a storage area of fat. The more fat stored in the nuchal hump the bigger it gets. Below are pictures of fat that is stored in the nuchal hump.

Photo by James Ancheta on just what is inside that flowerhorn kok. Can't see any water in there so water kok maybe more of a misnomer.

The kok are described according to their types, size shape and the general appearance it gives to the fish. The following are basic description used to describe the flowerhorn kok.

Types of kok.
1. Hard kok

Reminiscent of old school flowerhorns. Hard koks are usually just a small protrusion on the forehead of the male flowerhorn. As the name implies if you touch the head part the area feels hard and flat this is due to minimal amount of fat deposited in the nuchal hump. They are usually not that attractive unless the fish has wonderful pearl and color patterns. Flowerhorns with this type of kok can be entered in a flowerhorn show under the free head category.

My thaizz with hard kok but with nice reddish pink color and worm pearls. The small kok makes this male look like a female.

2.Semi-water kok
A combination of hard and water kok.These koks don't grow to be enormous but may grow to a certain size which may be harmonious to the general appearance of the flowerhorn. These koks would feel soft on light pressing but the hard kok would be felt underneath the soft water kok when you press the kok area a little harder. Also when you shine a light behind the kok area the translucent part of the water kok would be evident.

Thaizz x kamfa-semi waterkok the kok would grow to a certain size only and would shrink back to a smaller size every time water change is done.

3.Water Kok
The most sought after kok is the water kok. These kok has the potential of growing to enormous size. It feels soft all throughout and would appear translucent when light is shone through it.

My thaizz "San Mao" at 4inches with nice water kok.

Another picture of San Mao showing his nice round translucent water kok.

Different kok shapes.

1. Egg shaped or kidney shaped

Kalamansi by Mad dog

King Kamfa

2. Helmet shaped

3.Ball shaped

Baby face by Wilson

4. Mountain peak or pointed

Tiny by Drew

5. Half domed

King kamfa

6. Horn bill shaped

Hid by denl

A Little Bit Of Flowerhorn Fish History!

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Flowerhorn is a truly wonderful fish. Eye cathcing, captivating and awe inspiring these fishes has taken the world by storm. Flowerhorn fish history involves trying to explain the origins of a flowerhorn in order for us to truly appreciate this species. From its first appearance up to the present time the Rajah Cichlasoma is constantly evolving to meet the ultimate aim of fish hobbyists a beautiful body with matching colors, distinguished stripes, gorgeous shine, a nice big kok and hopefully a more hardy and disease resistant fish. This chart explains the evolution of flowerhorn fishes.

Flowerhorns were believed to have first evolved in Malaysia sometime in 1993 although many Malaysian breeders would contend to having bred them as early as the 1980's. Malaysians admired these various cross bred cichlid fishes with protruding head, known as Karoi, in the western part of Malaysia.These Karoi fishes were most probably cross breed of Cichlosoma festae and Cichlosoma trimaculatus as to the exact steps and proportion onl the master breeders would know. The Taiwanese were also at the same time breeding these chiclids due to the auspicious nature that a slight protruding forehead and long tail, would bring. The following year (1994)saw the introduction of the Red devil cichlid to Malaysia which gave the early flowerhorns their human face or monkey face characteristic. The cross breed were aptly named as The Human Face Red God Of Fortune. The following year (1995)the Human Face Red God Of Fortune were bred to the blood parrot which gave rise to five colors god of fortune. They were also called as Chai sen strain and included also the three colors and five colors god of fortune. In 1998 the jing gang parrot and seven-colours blue fiery mouth, from South America, known as Greenish Gold Tiger were used to create what is now known as the Hua Lou Han. The Hua Lou Han is what we now know as the modern day flowerhorn. The following are pictures of early flowerhorns known as the Hua Kok as made popular by Ah Meng in 2000.

Coronation Link

Tornado Effect

Perfect Harmony

Unique track

Absolute wonder

Ancient Warship

Creative Measure

Exotic marvel

Legacy

Living Legend

Pacific miracle

Quantum grace

Rising rainbow

Royal degree

Scarlet Passion

What followed then was the widespread distribution of the flowerhorn to surrounding countries and to the Western world. Widespread distribution also meant widespread breeding and inbreeding to further develope new strains which would create flowerhorns that would be representative of that particular region. Thus we have thai, indo, singapore, taiwan, pinoy strains of flowerhorn. But from whatever part of the world they would come from they still fall into four major breed categories namely the zhen zhou, kamfa, kamalau and the golden base.

What is a flowerhorn?

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A flowerhorn is a hardy ornamental fish which was first developed in Malaysia and Taiwan. It was developed by cross breeding several South American cichlid breeds namely Amphipolus trimaculatus (trimacs), Cichlasoma festae, Amphipolus citrenellium (Midas cichlid),jing gang blood parrot and now a days any other cichlid or cichlid hybrid which has features that could contribute to the improvement in the appearance, color, body shape, fin structure, kok formation, and overall flowerhorn deportment and appearance.

Trimac	Midas Cichlid	Cichlasoma festae

Jin gang blood parrot

Physical features

The flowerhorn fish can be grouped into big, medium sized and short body categories. Bigger fishes tend to grow up to 12 inches in length or bigger and weight up to 3kg. or heavier depending on the diet and overall health of the flowerhorn fish.

A beautiful short body zz.

My spzz x tzzxtk. Reached a length of 12 inches and body width of 6-7inches.

The most prominent and most sought after feature of these fishes is the kok or nuchal hump which would come in all shapes and sizes. The bigger the kok the better since the nuchal hump is considered as having an auspicious nature. The chinese believe that the bigger the kok grows the more financial blessings is in store for the owner.

Emperor

Fagioli

The next feature is the the black markings on its body otherwise known as plums. The plums also have an auspicious nature as a story tells of a man who won the lottery as he interpreted the plums on his fish. Anyway the plums should ideally be thick and straight continuous line or thick and broken straight line spanning from the gill folds,operculum, up to the tail area. The plums should be highlighted by greenish to bluish metallic scales. Plums may or may not resemble a chinese character or number but if it is so the the fish is considered auspicious.

Plumless Indomalau

Double row plums in a king kamfa

The flower next to the kok is visible in all zhen zhu but is inconspicuous in all golden base and some kamfa strain. A heart shaped flower is said to bind the family together or to keep the romance between lovers alive and strong.
And lastly the flowerhorn is known for its scales and vibrant colors. Each strain of flowerhorn is known for the the different color and scale color and shape. Generally a flowerhorn should have vibrant color and pearly scales which are evenly distributed giving rise to a pleasing aesthetic appearance of the fish.

Nice flowerhorn with vibrant mix of yellow and red color accentuated by bluish pearls.

Superb RD+Titanium by Mrfh. With nice even colors and evenly distributed worm pearls. This is a juvy with great potential.

Character

The flowerhorn fish is a very aggressive and territorial fish. It should be kept singly in large tanks which is about 3 times its body length. Two flowerhorn maybe kept in a sinlge aquarium provided that dividers are used to separate the two fish. Flowerhorns are known to be aggressive towards their mates and offspring that is why proper techniques are observed during breeding and rearing of flowerhorn babies. The flowerhorn is also aggressive towards other cichlids and maybe to its human companion. Nasty bites an cuts from sharp teeth maybe expereinced from overly aggressive fishes. Proper precaution should be instituted to avoid this accidental bites.

The flowerhorn fish is a very hardy fish being able to withstand extreme water conditions for some period of time.It is however advised to provide optimal water parameters in order to bring out the best from your flowerhorn. They are also particulary prone to certain fungal, and sporozoan infections that poor water quality brings.

The flowerhorn is not a picky eater and will eat just about anything that it is being offered. Just like any carnivorous fish it would prefer live food over dead or pellet fish food. There are several brands of pellet food available in the market. It is wise to see and try which pellet food would be beneficial in bringing out the full potential of your flowerhorn.

Welcome To Flowerhorn Fish Craze

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Hi there! Thanks for viewing Flowerhorn Fish Craze. This blog is all about the beautiful and awe inspiring flowerhorn fish. I hope that you enjoy reading all about the care of flowerhorn fishes, selection of flowerhorn frys, selection and breeding of flowerhorn fishes, choosing and keeping aquariums for flowerhorn fishes and photos of all kinds of flowerhorn.