In the mid 90’s, a new hybrid of the cichlid was created in Malaysia. Various species of South American cichlids were interbred which lead to a hybrid cichlid, the flowerhorn. The flowerhorn fish have a distinctive hump on their head and characteristic black markings on their sides. The black markings in the side of the flowerhorn fish sometimes resembles Chinese characters or numbers are thought to bring luck. The hump on the head of the flowerhorn is also another feature that is believed to bring good fortune for it resembles Shou Xing, the Chinese God of Longevity with its high forehead. The distinctive appearance of the flowerhorn fish manifests in both the male and female flowerhorns.Both the male and female flowerhorns are fertile and capable of reproduction. This enabled breeders and enthusiasts alike to venture in the flowerhorn sale since there was a demand for it.
Keeping flowerhorns is relatively easy. A 200-Liter capacity will be enough to house one flowerhorn fish. Flowerhorn fish are not sensitive to small degrees of variation in the water condition. However, it is best to have a neutral to an alkaline water so as not to mute the colors of the flowerhorns. When keeping multiple flowerhorn fish in a single aquarium, it is advised that it be limited to up to three only and that there are decorations in the aquarium that would segregate the territories of the different flowerhorns. Male and female flowerhorns can also be kept together, especially when breeding for flowerhorn sale is the concern. There should be a surface where the female flowerhorn will lay her eggs. Male flowerhorns tend to guard the territory, chasing other fish away, while the female flowerhorns guard the eggs.
Male and female flowerhorns tend to look almost the same when they are small. However, when they reach about 10-12 cm they can be distinguished when the anal pore is checked Female flowerhorn has a U shaped anal pore while the male flowerhorn has a V shaped anal pore. Also, mature female flowerhorns have a smaller hump compared to their male counterpart. Even though there are slight difference between male and female flowerhorns, the flowerhorn sale is unaffected by the sex of the fish but rather by the appearance of the markings and the hump.
The price of flowerhorns nowadays is not as extravagant as it was in the start Only those flowerhorns with very distinct marks such as those that resembles the Chinese character for luck or those with a well proportioned hump are valued at the highest price. The apparent decline in the market value of the flowerhorn did not stop breeders from continuously breeding flowerhorns to enhance their features. Breeding of the flowerhorn fish is still being done to further develop and create flowerhorns with more distinctive markings and colors.
There are groups of people, however, who detest the flowerhorn fish. Since the flowerhorn fish was a result of human manipulation, some religious groups as well as environmentalists do not like the idea of having something that is not of nature. There are those that said that since the flowerhorn fish was a result of extensive inbreeding among different species of cichlids, it was an abomination to nature. Being created in captivity, the flowerhorn fish is also considered a threat in an ecosystem since it has not natural predators and could upset the balance of nature.
The flowerhorn fish was able to create a name for itself. With both the grandeur and criticism that it has attained, people will continue to appreciate the flowerhorn fish be it for its beauty or for the associated good fortune that awaits those who keep them.
