flowerhorn 5cm

The Flowerhorn Cichlid is a striking ornamental freshwater fish known for its intense colouration, bold markings and distinctive rounded forehead, known as a nuchal hump or “kok”. Selectively bred for appearance and personality, Flowerhorns are highly interactive fish that often recognise their keeper and readily approach the front of the aquarium at feeding time.

Flowerhorns are large, territorial cichlids and are generally best maintained as a feature fish in their own appropriately sized aquarium. Their combination of impressive size, personality and unique appearance makes them popular with experienced cichlid keepers.

• Common Name: Flowerhorn Cichlid
• Type: Hybrid ornamental cichlid
• Adult Size: Approximately 25–35cm depending on variety
• Temperament: Aggressive and highly territorial
• Care Level: Moderate
• Minimum Tank Size: Approximately 250–300 litres for a single adult
• Temperature: Approximately 26–30°C
• pH: Approximately 7.0–8.0
• Diet: Omnivorous
• Aquarium Level: All levels
• Social Behaviour: Generally best kept individually
• Lifespan: Approximately 8–12 years with appropriate care

Feeding

Flowerhorns should receive a varied, high-quality diet appropriate for large cichlids.

Suitable foods include:

• Quality Flowerhorn or cichlid pellets
• High-quality protein-rich prepared foods
• Krill
• Mysis shrimp
• Brine shrimp
• Suitable frozen foods
• Occasional supplementary foods as part of a balanced diet

Avoid excessive feeding. Flowerhorns are enthusiastic feeders, and overfeeding can contribute to obesity and declining water quality.

Aquarium Care

Due to their adult size and heavy feeding habits, Flowerhorns require strong filtration and consistent aquarium maintenance.

Provide:

• Powerful biological and mechanical filtration
• Regular partial water changes
• Good water circulation and oxygenation
• Stable water temperature
• Open swimming space
• Secure rocks and decorations
• A tightly fitted aquarium lid

Flowerhorns may dig in substrate and rearrange decorations, so rocks and other heavy objects should be positioned securely.

Temperament & Tank Mates

Flowerhorns are highly territorial and can be extremely aggressive towards other fish. Keeping a single Flowerhorn as the feature fish of an aquarium is often the safest option.

Tank mates should not be added simply because they are similarly sized. Individual Flowerhorn temperament varies considerably, and even previously tolerated fish may become targets of aggression.

Extra care is also required when attempting to pair Flowerhorns for breeding, as serious aggression can occur between the male and female.

Colour & Appearance

Flowerhorns have been selectively bred into numerous varieties displaying different combinations of:

• Red, orange, pink and yellow colouration
• Pearling or metallic markings
• Dark lateral “flower” markings
• Large nuchal humps
• Different body and fin shapes

Colour, markings, body shape and kok development vary considerably between individual fish and can change as the fish matures.

Diet, genetics, age, water quality and general husbandry can all influence the appearance of an individual Flowerhorn.

Shipping

• Australia-wide shipping available where permitted
• Fish are carefully packed for safe transport
• Local pickup available by appointment from Fins 'N' Feathers
• Shipping availability may depend on destination, weather conditions, fish size and applicable biosecurity restrictions

Live Arrival

Please inspect livestock immediately upon arrival. If there is an issue with your fish, contact Fins 'N' Feathers as soon as possible and within our applicable live-arrival period, providing clear photos of the fish in the unopened transport bag where required.

Live fish cannot be returned for change of mind.

Flowerhorns are individually unique. Actual size, colour intensity, markings, body shape, finnage and nuchal hump development will vary from the representative product images and may continue to change as the fish matures.