In the mid 90’s, a new cichlid hybrid was created in Malaysia. Several species of South American cichlids were crossed resulting in a hybrid cichlid, the flowerhorn. The flowerhorn fish has a distinctive hump on its head and characteristic black markings on its sides. The black markings on the side of the flowerhorn fish sometimes resemble Chinese characters or numbers are believed to bring luck. The hump on the head of the flowerhorn fish is also believed to bring fortune, as it somewhat resembles the Chinese god of longevity. These features appear on both the male and female flowerhorns. Unlike other fish hybrids, male and female flowerhorns are fertile and can be easily bred. This allowed breeders and enthusiasts to venture into selling flowerhorns as there was a demand for them.
Flowerhorn fish are easily kept. A capacity of 200 liters will be enough to house a flowerhorn fish. They are not sensitive to small degrees of variation in water conditions. However, it is best to have a neutral to alkaline water so as not to mute the colors of the flower horns. When keeping multiple flowerhorns in a single tank, it is recommended to limit the number to a maximum of three and have decorations in the tank that segregate the territories of the different flowerhorns. Likewise, male and female flowerhorns can be kept in the same tank, especially when the intent is to breed. When trying to breed, a flat surface must be provided where the female flowerhorn will lay her eggs. Male flowerhorns tend to protect territory, scaring off other fish, while female flowerhorns protect eggs.
The male and female flowerhorns tend to look almost the same when small, however when they reach about 10-12 cm they can be distinguished when checking the anal pore. The shaped anal pore is distinctive of the male flowerhorn. Also, mature female flowerhorns have a smaller hump compared to their male counterpart. Despite the slight difference in appearance, flowerhorn sales for both males and females are on par.
The price of flower horns today is not as exorbitant as it was in the beginning. Only those flowerhorns with very distinct markings, such as those resembling the Chinese character for luck or those with a shapely hump, command the highest price. However, this has not stopped breeders and enthusiasts from breeding the hybrid cichlid to improve the characteristics of the fish. Flowerhorn crossbreeding is still done today to further enhance the markings and colors of the flowerhorn fish.
However, there are groups of people who hate flowerhorn fish. Being developed by man, many groups, both religious and environmental, frown on the creation of the flowerhorn fish. It has been considered an abomination of nature since it would not exist without the manipulation of man. There are also groups that consider flowerhorns a threat to the ecosystem.
The horn flower fish indeed captured the attention of many. With both the greatness and the criticism it has achieved, people will continue to appreciate the Flowerhorn Fish, either for their beauty or the associated good fortune that awaits those who keep them.