Aquarists try to diversify the apartment, hooking into the aquarium interesting in appearance aquatic inhabitants. Flower horn belongs to those, the fish is famous for its pouty head and iridescent color. It looks beneficial in the aquarium, and the content, even for an inexperienced person, is not difficult. Fish surprise a person with their extraordinary behavior and changing external data. But we will not get ahead of ourselves, we will consider the main characteristics in more detail.

Origin

1. Fish were hatched artificially; they were obtained as a result of hybrid crossing. Flower horns belong to the cichlase family, it is difficult to say for sure which breeder worked on creating fish with such interesting data. One thing is certain, the fish reaches a length of 40 cm. Therefore, it looks impressive in a large aquarium.
2. A species of fish was bred in Malaysia. If you adhere to some data regarding the origin, then we can conclude that in the creation took part lipastoma, spotty, rainbow and citron cichlomas.
3. Why exactly these varieties were involved in the creation of a new species, you ask. The crossing is due to the illegibility of aquatic pets in terms of choosing a companion for creating a married couple. This means that the named representatives of cichlase can interbreed, regardless of species.
4. As a result of the research, it was possible to obtain the new kind, which can easily compete with the top ten popular pets for the aquarium. Ultimately, the cichlazoma, artificially excreted, turned out to be beautiful, omnivorous and rarely ill.
5. The first representatives of the species could be met in 1996, it is this period that is considered the date of the appearance of flower horns. For almost 20 years, family members have been living in various countries, they are kept in aquarium conditions.
6. There are several subspecies of flower horns. Among them are thai silk, camphor, wife ju, malau. It is still unknown whether the species will continue to be improved, because aquarists are happy with everything.

Description

1. What you see on the forehead of a fish is a fat cone. The body is dense, oval format, the length of the horn reaches 40 cm. The color is reddish, silver, gray or pink.
2. Many aquatic inhabitants on the lateral part of the corpuscle see a medium-wide dark strip. It breaks up into spots at a visual inspection. However, this is not a mandatory feature.
3. The fins on the back and in the anus are elongated, sharp, and the caudal fin is rounded. As for the duration of existence, this subspecies lives about 10 years.
4. It is difficult to describe horn by external data, because each individual is unique in its own way. If we add to this the fact that each aquarist tries to derive his own type, then the generally accepted standards are completely blurred.
5. It is worth knowing that when buying small fish it is impossible to say for sure what they will grow in the future. Usually individuals are dull, then change color over time. It can also be the other way around, that is, after puberty, the fish dims for reasons still unknown.

Difficulties in content

1. Like other cichlids, flower horns do not require scrupulous care and special delights in content. Therefore, we can say that fish are relatively hassle-free even for a beginner. The main thing is that the water meets all the criteria, then the pets will not feel bad and show aggression.
2. Fish are unpretentious in terms of feeding, that is, horn is allowed to treat both frozen or dry food, and live worms, etc.
3. It is worth mentioning that the fish is not suitable for everyone. There are reasons for this. Among them are impressive dimensions. That is, the aquarium is required quite spacious. Horn protect their territory, so you need to carefully select the neighborhood. Because of their violent temperament, some individuals are kept one at a time, even plants are excluded because the fish tear them out.
4. Horns are aggressive when you put your hand in the aquarium. Given that the size of the individual is not small at all, the fish bites painfully. Therefore, when servicing the aquarium, some difficulties may arise.
5. Nevertheless, despite the peculiar nature, the beginner will be able to cope with the care of this species of fish. If you study all aspects, observe the temperature regime of water, there will be no problems.

Feeding

1. We have already mentioned that representatives of this breed group are omnivorous. The fish has a brutal appetite, so it is always not enough. On the other hand, if a pet systematically overeates, it will become obese. This also cannot be allowed, because from excess weight the fish die.
2. Feeding can be any. The main condition is the high content of protein compounds in food. Because we live in modern world, feed has already been made and packaged for you. It is only necessary to choose an option suitable for large cichlids.
3. More horn eat shrimp, gammarus, fish or bird fillets, small fish, flies, bloodworms, worms, etc. Frequency of feeding - 2-3 times a day. Observe portions, the remnants of the meal should not settle to the bottom or do this, but in minimal quantities.
4. Large-caliber fish used to be fed mammalian meat. But today it is known for certain that such food harms the esophagus. Therefore, when drawing up the diet, give the fish such food no more than once every 10 days.

Conditions of detention

1. The fish is large, so it requires an appropriate housing. One individual accounts for 200 liters. water minimum. Therefore, when keeping two fish, you need an aquarium with a volume of 400-500 liters.
2. In cases where other cichlids will be living in the aquarium besides the horn, it is necessary to purchase housing with a volume of 900-1000 liters.
3. Since in natural conditions Since pets live in slowly flowing water sources, then take care of the appropriate equipment. Buy a water filter. Weekly siphon the bottom; replace a third of the water with a new one.
4. Maintain optimal temperature conditions so that the fish always feel comfortable. The temperature should be 27 degrees. The alkaline balance (6.5-7.5), as well as rigidity (10-18 units) are important.
5. Fish negatively refers to plants; if possible, they should be completely excluded. Horny digging soil, rhizomes will simply float up. Therefore, do without plants.
6. A gravel road is suitable for the soil, and for shelters choose driftwood and pebbles. Flower horns do not hide, preferring to constantly walk around the aquarium. Due to the large size, make sure that the whole decor is tight, otherwise the fish will turn it over.

Compatibility

1. We have already said that representatives of this subspecies categorically do not accept strangers in their home. Moreover, aggression applies not only to fish not from the cichlid family, but also to all cichlases.
2. Large, they like to fight for the territory, are aggressive even when cleaning the aquarium - so briefly describe the horn.
3. The ideal option is to keep the fish alone or add a pair of fish to it. But in the second case, take care of a spacious aquarium so that pets do not fight for the territory.
4. The bites are painful if the horn bites you while cleaning the aquarium. To reduce aggression, try to choose the right time when the fish is napping or hiding.
5. If there is a desire to plant other varieties in the pet, give preference to large-bred individuals. We are talking about Managuan cichlasts, plecostomy, astronotus, etc.
6. However, if you take into account all the feedback from experienced aquarists, the horn should live alone. So they will be comfortable, and you will prevent hassles and stress.
7. Aggressive attitude extends not only to individuals of another breed, but also to relatives. For example, when you keep a couple of horn you may notice that there are always conflicts between them.

Breeding

1. If you plan to get beautiful offspring, then carefully read the color of the parents. If everything is done wrong, then you can get fry dull, with incomprehensible spots.
2. The main difficulties that absolutely all breeders of such fish encounter are male attacks on the female. The male sex is attacked by the female; your main task is to protect the female.
3. Equip the water housing in such a way that the female finds where to take refuge. The male should not see her. As a rule, he begins to hammer a female when she is not ready yet.
4. To eliminate this, you need to hang a grid to divide the housing into two sections. In this way, spawning can be stimulated.
5. A stone should be placed next to the net. When the eggs are laid, the net is placed away from the male so that he has access to fertilize the eggs.
6. The temperature regime of water must be maintained at around 28 degrees. As for alkaline balance, it should not exceed 7 units.
7. If, after fertilization, the male begins to beat the female, then resettle her or send her back to the second part of the aquarium.

There are no difficulties in the content of the presented species of cichlids. But it is worth considering the sizes of individuals, the aquarium is selected with a large volume. Fish should not be overfed, otherwise they will quickly become oily. Take into account the aggressiveness of pets and pets in relation to neighbors, choose roommates with special care.

Video: aquarium fish flower horn

Horn belongs to cichlids - it is a decorative and very bright aquarium fish. She has an interesting character and an unusual look. No aquarist will regret having started it. Cichlids are not sorted into partners, due to which many hybrids were bred. True, not all offspring are successful. Most become barren after crossbreeding. However, there are exceptions.

Fish Flower Horn from the Cichlid family has interesting view and character.

Hybrid Flower Horn

Flower Horn is a crossbreed. The view was developed by aquarists in Malaysia. in order to obtain progeny capable of further breeding. The result is a hybrid that resists diseases well and is also very beautiful.

Flover horn has a peculiarity, it changes color throughout life, so if you want to get a pet of a certain color, you need to choose an adult individual who has already reached puberty. It is until then that the horn changes its color. Otherwise, one may not be very pleasantly surprised. But there is another side - if you acquire fry, you will be able to observe a series of interesting transformations of fish. And perhaps it will be possible to grow a pet of the rarest beauty.

The main feature of Flower Horn is that it changes color throughout life.

Horn is unpretentious and hardy enough. It is worth considering that the pet will reach large sizes, from 30 to 40 centimeters. Therefore, in advance you need to prepare the appropriate reservoir, especially if it will be kept with other fish. The hybrid loves to feast on plants and dig soil, so there can be no talk of a beautiful aquascape. In the aquarium at the bottom there should be stones and various snags. The fish will drag them as they like.

It is recommended that the cichlid flower horn contain one in the aquarium, since it is very aggressive against other inhabitants. The exception is aquariums from 1 thousand liters. In small spaces, the hybrid will injure neighbors, or they will be in constant stress.

Living in nature

Horn fish is obtained by artificial crossing, so it is impossible to meet it in nature. The first fish was bred in the nineties of the last century when crossing South American cichlids. Until our time it is not known which fish participated in the cross. Experienced aquarists believe that the hybrid is a descendant of Cichlasoma trimaculatum, Vieja synspila, Cichlasoma Festae and Cichlasoma labiatum.

The most popular hybrids of our time are Thai silk, camphor, malau and zenza.

Flower horn is considered an elite species that brings good luck, it is loved by devotees of feng shui. Therefore, if there is a drawing on the pet’s scales that resembles a hieroglyph or a heart, a fish can bring a rather large amount to the owner. Fish with a more modest color will cost the new owner at an affordable price.

Description of Cichlids

The body of the cichlazoma is a floral oval and dense, there is a fat cone on the forehead. The color of the scales is diverse: red, gray, metal color. Many species have in the middle of the body a strip of dark color that spreads into spots. The fins on the back are sharp and elongated.and on the tail the fin is round. On average, fish live for about 9 years.

Aquarists are constantly engaged in breeding their unique pets.

Adults are classified according to the following characteristics:

• according to the color of the scales;
• body shape;
• by the size of the scales;
• according to the size of the eyes;
• the size of the fat cone on the forehead;
• on a horizontal strip on the body (whether or not);
• straightened fins.

Content difficulties

On the one hand, caring for a horn is easy. The fish is immune to small changes in water temperature, which are considered a problem for other species. Tsikhlazoma floral horn is not picky, it can be fed with artificial protein food, as well as live.

Flower Horn is immune to small changes in water temperature, which are considered a problem for other species.

However, a hybrid is by no means a choice for beginner aquarists, as keeping a flower horn has its own difficulties. This is due to such reasons:

1. The fish is quite large, so it needs a spacious piece of water.
2. Horn is a territorial fish, it should be kept alone, this applies not only to neighbors, but also to plants. Inexperienced aquarists can acquire a more peaceful cichloma.
3. Disk horn can even bite the hand that feeds it, and leave a painful bite while a person is serving a body of water.

But this should not be the reason for rejecting this fierce, but beautiful fish, it’s just worth it to study it well and be prepared for difficulties.

Feeding a horn

This species is omnivorous and has a great appetite. Fish is not so easy to feed. In her diet, a variety of feeds (ice cream, live, as well as artificial). It is important that they are rich in protein and nutritious. It is better to give flies, fish fillets, worms, shrimp meat, gammarus and bloodworms. Feed the horn three times a day.

Previously, cichlids were fed mammalian meat. Now, such feeding is considered harmful, since there are a lot of fats in meat that badly affect the gastrointestinal tract of fish, it is difficult to digest it. As a result, the fish swims heavily with fat, and its internal organs begin to work poorly. It is permissible to give such lure once a week.

In the diet of Flower Horn, there must be a variety of feeds (frozen, live, as well as artificial).

Life in the aquarium

For one individual, a pond of 200 liters in size is needed, but preferably more. When keeping two fish, you need a 500 liter aquarium. If there are three or more, then at least 1 thousand liters will be needed. Cichlids are clean, so they need clean water with a moderate course. It is recommended to acquire a powerful filter. It is important to change воду of the water in the aquarium daily. But you also need to change the siphon every day, because the fish litter a lot.

Plants should not be planted, they will still be destroyed by fish. Gravel is perfect as a soil. The stones at the bottom must be firmly fixed so that they do not fall on the fish, which will try to turn them over. The required acidity of the water is from 6.5 to 8. The water temperature is from 25 to 30 degrees.

Neighbor Compatibility

Horns are bad for other aquarium fish. He always attacks everyone - he has such a fierce character. You can reduce his aggression if you provide him with a spacious reservoir, only large neighbors are settled and enough shelters are equipped.

Fishes that are suitable for living together include plecostomus, giant gourami, black pacu, astronotus, pterygoplicht.

But all aquarists, sooner or later, come to the conclusion that the flower horn should be kept alone. Do not forget that aggressive behavior also extends to relatives. If a couple lives in the aquarium, then you need to carefully monitor them, they can kill each other.

Gender differences

The method by which it is possible to distinguish a female from a male is still unknown. Some are sure that on the dorsal fin of females there is a point of black color, which the opposite sex does not have. However, other aquarists refute this fact.

When the fish are mature and ready to spawn, then the males can see the papilla, and the females have a large ovipositor. There is only one technique for distinguishing the sexes of the Horn; it is used for tilapia. The essence of the method is as follows: a young individual is placed on the palm of one hand, the second is carried over the body from head to tail. If at the same time liquid splashes from the anus, this is a male. This is not inherent in females. The adult male is distinguished by its large size and a lump on the head.

Breeding aggressive fish

Often hybrids cannot have offspring. But horn is an exception. To fry turned out the same color as the parents, you need to be sure of the purity of the line. Otherwise, the fry will inherit an unpredictable color.

Horn breeding resembles that of other South American cichlids. They are bred in the reservoir in which they live. The difficulty is to save the female from aggression from the male. In the aquarium there must be a shelter for her, in which the male will not notice her. You can divide the aquarium into two parts with a net, the fish will see each other, and this stimulates spawning.

Such a method is also effective: in the area of \u200b\u200bthe female, all objects are removed, only one stone is left at the net so that she spits on it precisely. Then the stone with caviar is moved to the male and a stream of water is directed at it, so that it would be easier for the male to fertilize it.

In addition, favorable conditions for breeding should be created in the reservoir: the water temperature is 28 degrees, and the acidity is 7. And also change the water to clean and feed the pets well.

After fertilization of the eggs, the female is better to transplant, as the male will protect future offspring and can attack her.

Flower Horn Flower Horn is a unique fish for those who like bright and large cichlids. She has a very interesting behavior, character and a completely unusual appearance. Those who decided to make a flower of a horn never regretted it.

Flower Horn Information

Cichlids, as a rule, do not differ in legibility in partners, and can create pairs not only with their own kind, but also with completely different types of cichlids. This feature made it possible to get many completely unimaginable hybrids from different types fish.

Not all of them turn out successful, some do not shine, others after such crossing themselves become sterile.

But there are exceptions ...

One of the fish known and popular in the aquarium is the fruit of artificial crosses. Also a flower horn, he is a child of genetics and perseverance of Malaysian aquarists.

It was in Malaysia that a careful selection and cross-breeding of various cichlids (which are still not clear for sure) was carried out in order to obtain healthy and reproducible offspring. Flower horn is a hybrid, but at the same time it is not prone to disease, beautiful and prolific.

An interesting feature of the flower horn is that it changes its coloring throughout life, until it reaches puberty. So, if you are interested in buying bright fish of a certain color, then you need to choose an adult fish, or quite grown up.

Otherwise, you may expect a surprise, not always pleasant. On the other hand, if you buy fingerlings of flower horns, then a whole series of magical transformations will pass before your eyes, and who knows, maybe you will have a fish of rare beauty?

It is very simple to take care of flower horn, it is unpretentious and hardy fish. It is worth noting that it grows very large, about 30-40 cm, and requires a spacious aquarium for maintenance, especially if kept with other fish.

Flower horns love to dig soil and eat plants, so you are unlikely to be able to create beautiful aquascapes with plants. Because of this hobby, and also because the fish itself is large, it is recommended to install stones, driftwood and other decor on the bottom of the aquarium, and not on the ground.

Otherwise, they can move them at their discretion.

It is best to keep the flower horn alone, like a rare, exhibition fish. They are very territorial, aggressive and do not get along well with other fish (except in very large aquariums, from 800 liters).

In other volumes, neighbors will be injured or under stress.

Living in nature

Flower horn is a hybrid that is artificially bred and, therefore, completely not found in nature. The first individual was bred in Malaysia in the 90s of the XX century, by crossing several species of fish, mainly cichlids South America.

They were fascinated by his appearance, especially the fat bump on his forehead, and they named him “Karoi” - which means a warship.

There is still debate about which fish the flower horn originated from. The true combination is known only to those who bred this fish. Aquarists agree that the fish was descended from Cichlasoma trimaculatum, cichlasoma festa Cichlasoma Festae, citron cichloma Cichlasoma citrinellum, labiatum Cichlasoma labiatum, rainbow cichloma Vieja synspila.

The first line of cichlids of the flower horn that appeared on the market was called Hua Luo Han. Hua Luo Han were bred around 1998. But, since then it has become very popular, and an incredible number of different variations and hybrids have appeared.

With huge fat cones (which increase with the help of chemistry), with a shortened body, or curved, and other options.

The most popular at the moment are: flower horn camphor (KamFa), Malau or Kamalau (KML), Zhen Zhu (ZZ) and Thai Silk (Thai silk).

Flower horn received a special, elite status among aquarists. In Asia, he, along with Arowana, is considered as one of the fish bringing luck, adherents of the Feng Shui course. Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese tradition that normalizes the location of objects and things in the house, to achieve maximum harmony with the outside world. And the aquarium in this course is one of the key topics for achieving wealth and success.

Accordingly, a flower horn, the drawing on the scales of which looks like a heart or a hieroglyph, can cost thousands, and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars.

Even a particularly large fatty cone on the head of a fish can bring a round amount to the owner. It is believed that she is a symbol of the Chinese god of longevity, and the more she is, the more good will bring.

True, more modest fish diverge at a reasonable price and are now widely available to aquarists.

Thai silk is a young individual:

Description

The flower horn has a very dense, oval body with a huge fat cone on its forehead. Large individuals reach 30-40 s in length. Scales can be either metallic, gray, or pink or red.

Most species have a wide, dark streak across midline body decaying into individual spots. But, in some variations it may not be. The dorsal and anal fins are elongated and pointed, while the caudal fins are rounded on the contrary.

Life expectancy is about 8-10 years.

In general, describing the appearance of the horn is rather difficult. A lot of aquarists breed their unique fish. If you buy juveniles, there is a risk that their color will change dramatically as they grow older. And, you get, instead of an attractive individual, pretty gray.

Adult fish are classified according to 7 characteristics: body shape, color, size of scales, the presence of a horizontal strip, the size of the fat cone, eyes, and straightened fins.

Difficulty in content

Caring for flower horn is quite simple, they tolerate water parameters that would be a problem for other fish.

They are also unpretentious in nutrition, and eat any protein feed, from artificial to living.

It is worth saying that although it seems that this is a suitable fish for beginners, it is still impossible, for several significant reasons.

Firstly, it is a very large fish, for the maintenance of which you need a spacious and large aquarium. Secondly, the flower horn is very aggressive and territorial, it is desirable to keep it alone, without neighbors and even plants. Beginners can quite find a smaller and more peaceful cichlid.

And finally, the flower horn is so aggressive that it attacks the hand that feeds it, inflicts quite painful bites on the owner while he is serving the aquarium.

However, if you are absolutely sure that you want this fish, then no circumstances should stop you. Despite the obstacles listed above, this fish is suitable for beginner aquarists if they study their fish and are ready for some difficulties.

Feeding

This is an omnivorous fish with a huge appetite, which is difficult to feed. They eat all kinds of live, ice cream or artificial feed, the main thing is that they contain a high amount of protein.

A variety of feeds is just as important as nutrition and quality, so it is best to give: high-quality feeds for large cichlids, shrimp meat, bloodworms, worms, crickets, flies, grasshoppers, small fish, fish fillets, gammarus.

You need to feed two to three times a day, especially if you feed with feeds that leave a lot of waste.

It is important to know that feeding meat to mammals, so popular in past years, is now considered harmful.

Such meat contains a large number of proteins and fats, which the digestive tract of fish digests poorly. As a result, the fish grows fat, the work of internal organs is disrupted. It is possible to give such food, but infrequently, approximately once a week.

Crayfish Feeding:

Like other large cichlids in Central America, the flower horn needs a very spacious aquarium. If you keep it alone, then the minimum volume is 200 liters, but even better is even better.

Weekly water changes and a bottom siphon are also important, as the flower horn is very littering during meals.

As for the decor, it is difficult to create it - the fish loves to dig, does not like plants. There is no sense in planting plants in the aquarium at all, they will be destroyed.

It is better to use gravel as soil, and large stones and driftwood as shelters, however, the fish do not like to hide and are quite active.

Make sure that the stones, decor and equipment are firmly installed and will not fall, since the flower horn is quite capable of turning them over.

The temperature for the content should be quite high - 26-30C, ph: 6.5-7.8, 9 - 20 dGH.

Compatibility

Flower horns are not suitable for keeping with other fish, as they are very large, aggressive and territorial.

It is best to keep one fish separately or a couple, and if you still want neighbors, then only in a very spacious aquarium. Flower horn will even attack you during maintenance of the aquarium, and bites will be painful.

To reduce aggression, you need an aquarium where it’s full free space, many shelters and large neighbors.

These fish will be:,

It is believed that the female on the dorsal fin has a black dot, which is absent in the male, but other aquarists refute this. When sexually mature individuals are ready for spawning, the female shows a thick ovipositor, and the male has a papilla.

The only technique that can be considered real in determining the gender of a flower horna is the one used by tilapia breeders. Take the teenager, put it on the palm of your left hand, and right gently sweep the palm of your right hand across the abdomen towards the caudal fin.

If it is a male, then you will see splashes of transparent liquid from its anus, the female does not have this. It is easy to distinguish an adult male by fat cone and size.

Breeding

Very often, such hybrids are fertile, that is, they cannot produce offspring. But not flower horn. To get fry, the same color as the parents, you need to have a good idea of \u200b\u200bhow clean the line is, otherwise the fry can be very different from their parents in color.

Breeding flower horns is similar to breeding other large cichlids in South America. As a rule, they are bred in the same aquarium which contains the biggest problem - it is to save the female from the constant attacks of the male.

You need to equip the aquarium so that it has a place to hide, so that the male does not see it. Very often, the female is not yet ready, and the male is already starting to pursue and hammer her.

Or, you can divide the aquarium into two parts using a net, so the female is intact, and the appearance of the fish stimulates the onset of spawning.

You can even apply such a technique, a large flat stone is placed near the net, and from the female’s side they remove all other objects on which she could spawn.

When a female lays eggs on this stone, he is transferred to the male (or the net is moved so that he is on its territory) and the water flow is directed to the stone, helping the male to fertilize it.

In any of the options, even with a grid, even without, you will need to create conditions stimulating the beginning of reproduction. Water should be about 28 ° C, water neutral - pH 7.0 Feed should be plentiful and good feed, you can also replace most water to fresh.

Parents will very zealously guard the eggs. Even if the couple is kept separately, and there is no threat, the male can decide that the female is superfluous and begin to beat her. In this case, it is better to drop it off, or again send it to the separation grid.

Caviar and fry are large, it is not difficult to take care of it. You can feed the juvenile flower horn with Artemia nauplii, ground fodder for large cichlids.

Aquarium with exotic fish looks fascinating. Its colorful inhabitants of all shapes and sizes attract attention, and the measured illumination of the backlight and the "rustling" sound from the running compressor contribute to relaxation. An aquarium with a floral hoorn is not the same as an aquarium with other aquarium fish, and not only because of the size of the fish and its unusual appearance, but also because of its temperament and sociability.

Habitat

The flower horn (or flower horn) belongs to the cichlid family, which is part of the perciform order. (more than 1900 species) live in salty and fresh water bodies of North, Central and South America, Asia and Madagascar, but to meet wildlife you will not succeed, since this fish was bred by Malaysian geneticists, by crossing different species of the family Cichlidae.

Together with a bright appearance, the hybrid inherited from its ancestors an unusual ability to change body color throughout life and give offspring, both with representatives of their species and with other cichlids.

Description and appearance

The flower horn or Flower horn (literally “flower” and “horn”, Eng.) Got its name due to the two most characteristic features of its appearance - a bright color and a large (especially in males) fat cone in the head area. These are quite large, predatory fish.

Their body length is in the range of 30-40 cm, and their weight is in the region of 1 kg. The colors are very variable: from gray-brown and inconspicuous fish to beauties painted with bright colors.

Colors are rarely monophonic, although the dominant color is always definable, and in most cases it is raspberry or red. As they grow older, spots of regular or arbitrary shape appear on the body of the floaters, sometimes resembling hieroglyphs, which gives the fish a mystical look.

Did you know? Flower Horn entered the TOP 10 most beautiful aquarium fish 2015, according to the Indian media resource Trending News.

Despite the fact that the followers are rather undemanding to the conditions of keeping and feed, beginner aquarists are still advised to start with something simpler, arguing that the difficulties of caring for a large aquarium (100-150 liters per individual). But if big undertakings do not scare you - then go ahead!

Aquarium Requirements

For fish with dimensions of 30-40 cm and weighing in kilograms, an aquarium with a volume of at least 100 l / individual is needed, and for keeping a pair, the volume should double. In addition, full equipment is required, including a compressor, a backlight and a temperature regulator.

If you’re just about to start fish, it’s better to buy everything you need to keep them in one store at the same time, so the consultants will help you choose the right equipment, and maybe make a good discount.

Important! Floaters are rather thermophilic fish. It is wise to apply the idea of \u200b\u200ba “smart home” to the aquarium. Aquariums made from plexiglass they retain heat better, which is very useful in the cold season and in cases of interruptions in power supply.

The water temperature should howl in the region of 27 ... 30 ° C, the pH reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline.

Care and hygiene

The issue of hygiene in the maintenance of this fish requires a lot of attention, mainly because of the need for 3 meals a day and the protein nature of the food. Replacing the water in the aquarium is complete and partial.

• Partial or regular replacement of water is a weekly replacement of 15-20% of its total volume. This approach allows you to maintain a constant chemical composition of the liquid, avoiding sudden changes, and allowing you to get rid of excess nitrites and nitrates, as well as other decomposition products of organic substances.
• Complete replacement of water. It is produced mainly by necessity, for example, with an extremely high content of ammonium and nitrates in water. In this case, the water change lasts 2 days in 2 trips, for each of which 50% of the water is replaced in the aquarium. After a complete replacement, the nitrite level is again measured - it should not exceed 0.1-0.2 mg / l. For measurement, use a special test strip (photo below), which is sold in most pet stores.

Feeding

The appetite of the flowers is wonderful. Healthy fish are happy to eat 2-3 times a day and need protein feed, preferably live or ice cream. This can be shrimp meat, bloodworms, grasshoppers, worms, small fodder fish, fish fillets.

Feeding the meat of mammals and birds at one time was practiced, but showed poor results in the form of obesity of fish and digestive problems. The thing is that in the intestines of fish there is no enzyme capable of breaking down animal fat and protein into easily digestible compounds, therefore it is not recommended to give such food more than 1 time per week.

Compatibility

Like most cichlids, the Horn has a very developed sense of its own territory. Sometimes they get along badly even with representatives of their species and agree to tolerate a neighbor only during the spawning period.
When choosing a neighbor for your fish, you need to take care to:

• both fish were proportionate;
• had a similar temperament;
• there was enough space for two in the aquarium.

Important! In the case of a fight between fish and causing serious damage, it is worthwhile to prevent infection, which can easily get inside through wounds. To do this, use antibiotics: nifurpirinol or kanamycin.

Behavior and lifestyle

As mentioned earlier, the horn fish is a very territorial animal, so it is reluctant to share the aquarium with its other inhabitants. It leads a daily lifestyle and in the cold season requires prolonging daylight hours by at least 5 hours.
Among the advantages of this animal can be called a high level of intelligence: after some time, the fish begins to recognize its owner, to identify him in a group of other people.

Moreover, as studies have shown, the fish really remembers quite subtle features of the owner's appearance, since the ability to recognize is not lost with the change of clothes.

A well-fed and unexcited flyer with pleasure allows himself to be stroked and makes contact with a person: rubs against the palm of his hand, follows the movement of the person in the aquarium, when he removes the aquarium cover, he rises to the surface and protrudes his head from the water.

But one should not forget about precautions: feeding time and spawning period are not the best moment for communication with fish.

Horn love to dig, turn over driftwood and other objects in the aquarium. A powerful head and a strong body greatly contribute to this activity. So, equipping an aquarium for the flora, it would be wise to choose pebbles instead of soil, and all decor items securely fixed.

Breeding and breeding

Despite its breeding origin, the followers are very prolific. The female during spawning is able to lay from 700 to 1000 eggs. Puberty occurs at the age of 1 year, but to obtain better offspring experienced breeders and aquarists advise starting work on breeding to reach 2 years of age for fish, this is especially important for females.

Did you know? The history of aquarism dates back more than one century: for example, ornamental fish began to be bred in ancient China around the 7th-8th centuries. China is also the birthplace of goldfish, they were kept in special baskets, which made it possible to admire pets only from above, so when breeding at that time they focused on the attractiveness of the upper part of the fish.

Spawning in these fish occurs under the condition of favorable environmental factors, such as the temperature of the water and its quality, the duration of daylight hours, and the abundance of food supply.

• Water temperature for spawning should not fall below 28 ° C.
• The diet should contain a lot of protein and at least 60% should consist of live or frozen food.
• The aquarium should be spacious - at least 150 liters per 2 individuals.
• Inside the aquarium, you need to build shelter for the female. This can be a snag of a certain shape or a transparent grid that divides the aquarium in half.

The net is set at a height of about 7-10 cm from the bottom of the aquarium, and the masonry bed (flat smooth stone or an ordinary ceramic plate) is placed under the net, with a shift towards the female. The male throws a cloud of sperm onto the laid eggs, thus fertilization occurs.

In order to facilitate the process and increase the percentage of fertilized eggs, aquarists advise using a filter to regulate the flow of water in the direction from male to female. Such natural measures are very effective in aquarium keeping.
The incubation period lasts 3 days, after which the fry hatch into the light. At birth, their size is only 7-10 mm. Both parents protect and take care of the offspring, therefore there is no need to put the female and the young in a separate box.

Such care lasts about 3-4 weeks. By this age, the size of the fry is already 2-3 cm and the time comes for them to resettle in their own aquarium, since around this time the parental instincts of the breeding couple are weakening and cannibalism is possible.

Health and Disease

Hornas have fairly good health and are resistant to minor environmental changes.

Important! Beginner aquarists need to remember new aquarium syndrome. Before launching fish into the aquarium, water (already poured into the equipped aquarium) must be left at least 2 weeks to establish biological equilibrium. It is not terrible if the water gets a little cloudy - this is an indicator of the course of natural processes and should not be disturbed (change water, etc.).

Let's consider a few of the most frequent problemsfound in the flowers.

On the other hand, an aquarium is an excellent example of a closed ecosystem, illustrating the laws by which a whole planet lives on the example of a 100-liter box, and there is something beautiful in it. Take care of your favorites and be competent creators of their small worlds.

Flower horn, flower horn, or Thai silk - a hybrid fish, the result of crossing different types of cichlids in Malaysia. What kind of cichlids took part in the cross is unknown to this day, but the result has satisfied breeders. The result was a bright, healthy and prolific offspring. As you know, after crossing, a sterile brood is obtained, but with the flower horn everything is the other way around - these are unusual, wayward representatives water worldcombining pompous appearance and active behavior.

They hardly get sick and change their color throughout their lives, if you decide to buy fish, get an adult so that everything is clear with the color of the scales. It is acceptable to keep the flower horn alone, these are quite aggressive territorial fish. Unless at exhibitions with 900-liter aquariums they are settled along with other fish. Otherwise, conflicts with neighbors cannot be avoided, as well as injuries.

Quick jump on the article

Does it live in nature?

In 1996 of the last century, the first floral horn was introduced, they quickly ended up in aquariums different countries. Breeders used cichlids from South America, perhaps it was a cystic bladder. On the frontal part of the head there is a large outgrowth, for which they called the fish a “warship”.

To this day, discussions are ongoing about who the true progenitors of these fish are. It is well known that any cichlazoma that lives in the wild is a potential relative of this large "mutant." AT habitat you definitely will not meet the flower horn, they live in private aquariums. Modern aquarists do not deny that such handsome men bring good luck and prosperity. Some copies are expensive - up to tens of thousands of dollars. But for our latitudes it is also affordable, and costs much cheaper.

Appearance

Flower horn is a big fish, the color of the scales can vary from bluish-metallic to shades of red or raspberry. Of course, there is a large growth on the forehead, which will be envied by a cichloma of another species. It differs in large sizes, in captivity grows up to 30-40 cm in length. The body has a wide strip forming irregular-shaped spots, sometimes they resemble a heart. They have elongated fins of the back, anal fins are pointed, tail rounded. Live flower horn for about 10 years.

Admire the blue-metallic horn flower horn.

There are many types and variations, so it is very difficult to describe in a few words this representative cichlids. Before you take up this matter, you need to examine the shape of the body, the size of the scales, the absence or presence of a strip along the body, the size of the fat growth on the head, eyes and the shape of the fins. It is difficult to distinguish a male from a female.

Conditions of detention

The maintenance of the flower horn does not require special preparation; this fish gets used to those conditions from which other representatives of the aquatic fauna could suffer. They are omnivorous, live under strict parameters of the aquatic environment. Unlike other cichlids, Thai silk, malau, camphor and other species even attack the host, although there were times when the fish allowed to stroke themselves and even pick up for a short while. Keeping with other fish and a large number of plants is not recommended; rather, it is a single fish. She will definitely eat the neighbors and plants in the aquarium.

One massive individual requires an aquarium of 150 cubic liters. Male flower horns show their temper more aggressively. When you populate heterosexual fish, monitor their behavior so that there are no fights and territorial disputes.

Flower horn prefer water high temperature, 24-30 о С, with acidity 6.5-7.8 pH, dH 10-20. They prefer a slow flow and clean water, it is recommended to refresh 1/3 of the water once a week, siphon the bottom, because during the meal they clog the water. The external filter should be with strong power. He doesn’t like plants, he can eat them, but at the bottom there should be enough soil where the fish will flounder. For the soil, gravel is suitable, stones and will also look good, but they should be firmly pressed to the bottom. Her character is open and active, she is unlikely to hide.

Look at the titled representative of the flower horn.

Breeding

The flower horn is fertile fish, despite its hybrid origin. To get offspring of the same color as the parents, you need to thoroughly research their pedigree. It is possible to breed in the same aquarium where they live, only it should be noted that sometimes the female can be the object of male attacks. Experienced aquarists supply the aquarium with a net that divides the space into two parts, or temporarily plant shelters where the female will hide from harassment.

Spawning stimulation is possible at a water temperature of 28 ° C and an acidity of 7.0 pH. Parents need to be fed plentifully, not forgetting to refresh the water. After throwing eggs, her parents will guard her, sometimes the male will consider that the female is superfluous, and will attack her. Again, it is necessary to evict the female flower horn, or to divide the territory of the aquarium.

The female lays about 1000 eggs on a small stone. In order to avoid conflicts, it is recommended to substitute a stone with caviar on the territory of the male. On the third day, larvae are born, two days later they already swim and feed on live dust. In the diet of young animals, you can add dry egg white and artemia. Parents take care of the offspring for about a month, at the age of six months, the color of the young flower horn is visible.

Such an impressive flower horn will become a real asset of the aquarium, bringing luck, love and prosperity to its owner!