flower horn
- Thread starter denon31
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thanks for the cool comment davy. i can't wait to see how my flower horns will turn out when they get older. btw, i've read in a forum somewhere that there are a few flower horns in the US. you might wanna try getting some for yourself. 
i know that there are lots of people out there who can't stand hybrids and i totally respect that. but hey, let's not judge a book by its cover. remember that there are human hybrids too.
i know that there are lots of people out there who can't stand hybrids and i totally respect that. but hey, let's not judge a book by its cover. remember that there are human hybrids too.
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I've never had any personal experience with flowerhorns, but I have read the never-ending debates over hybridization on this site and others.
From the pics I've seen, I think flowerhorns are definately beautiful and facinating fish the same way any other cichlid species is. If it wasn't for the fact they are a known hybrid selectively bred by humans, I would've figured them for a natural cichlid species.
The flowerhorn is a perfect example of hybrid vigor, where the hybrid displays the best traits of both contributing species. You get the same vigor when you produce a mule, or a mutt canine. Hybrids that display hybrid vigor are known to be hardier than either of the contributing speices, which is why mutt canines live healthier lives unplaged by congenial defects when compared to purebred strains that are too inbred because they wish to maintain breed standards, thus exhibiting more recessive genetics. Apparently the two species that contribute to the flowerhorn are a lot more genetically similar than the contributing speices to a mule, seeing how breeding flowerhorn to flowerhorn produces fertile offspring whereas breed two mules together get you nada.
Hybridization of cichlid species occures in the wild, especially when cichlid population excedes available space, such as in the African Riff lakes, or during dry season in the Amazon. Wherever populations overlap, you'll get a hybration zone. This is why many scientist like to study what is called a species complex, several species within the same genera that can reproduce themselves, as well as produce fertile offspring with members of the other speices within its genera. From such hybridizations are how new species can come to differanceate themselves, thus providing more evidance towards theorys of evolution.
The two contributing speices to the flowerhorn may very well be very closely related within their natural boundries as well, which is why flowerhorns show vigor instead of regression the way blood parrots show. I'm pretty sure the blood parrots "deformities" would not allow for a wild survival, but then again, why would they need to survive in the wild. Flowerhorns, from what everyone tells me, would have no problem building a nich for itself if every released into the environment.
~~Colesea
From the pics I've seen, I think flowerhorns are definately beautiful and facinating fish the same way any other cichlid species is. If it wasn't for the fact they are a known hybrid selectively bred by humans, I would've figured them for a natural cichlid species.
The flowerhorn is a perfect example of hybrid vigor, where the hybrid displays the best traits of both contributing species. You get the same vigor when you produce a mule, or a mutt canine. Hybrids that display hybrid vigor are known to be hardier than either of the contributing speices, which is why mutt canines live healthier lives unplaged by congenial defects when compared to purebred strains that are too inbred because they wish to maintain breed standards, thus exhibiting more recessive genetics. Apparently the two species that contribute to the flowerhorn are a lot more genetically similar than the contributing speices to a mule, seeing how breeding flowerhorn to flowerhorn produces fertile offspring whereas breed two mules together get you nada.
Hybridization of cichlid species occures in the wild, especially when cichlid population excedes available space, such as in the African Riff lakes, or during dry season in the Amazon. Wherever populations overlap, you'll get a hybration zone. This is why many scientist like to study what is called a species complex, several species within the same genera that can reproduce themselves, as well as produce fertile offspring with members of the other speices within its genera. From such hybridizations are how new species can come to differanceate themselves, thus providing more evidance towards theorys of evolution.
The two contributing speices to the flowerhorn may very well be very closely related within their natural boundries as well, which is why flowerhorns show vigor instead of regression the way blood parrots show. I'm pretty sure the blood parrots "deformities" would not allow for a wild survival, but then again, why would they need to survive in the wild. Flowerhorns, from what everyone tells me, would have no problem building a nich for itself if every released into the environment.
~~Colesea
yup. the last FH should be close to 10 inches in length. my FH's bump is still small but i'm confident that it'll grow big soon. by the way, here's another info on the FH in case you wanna get one. male FHs grow bigger humps than females. so make sure that the FH you're getting is a male. how to know if it's a male or female? well, female FHs have dark markings on their dorsal fins. kinda like the one on the monkey face pearl FH's (1st page, last pic) dorsal fins. but don't fret if you get yourself a female FH. it still has stunning colors which can make up for the small bump on its head.
i'll be getting another flower horn tomorrow and from what i hear, it's one of the best around. it's kind recently won on a FH show, which is definitely good! i'll share it's pic as soon as i get it.
i'll be getting another flower horn tomorrow and from what i hear, it's one of the best around. it's kind recently won on a FH show, which is definitely good!
i'll share it's pic as soon as i get it.
I dont know maybe it is just around here but when you usually see flowerhorns in LFS they dont look exactly the happiest or most active of all creatures. Maybe it is by the way people treat them. I was kind of unsure about the extinct fact, that is why i said "atleast that is what I heard.' Either way they are kinda of neat fish, but i just do not believe in the cross... maybe its just me... Anyway thanks this has been a nice tiny little debate for me (very very small
) and i thank you for keeping a cool headhi there guys. i'm sorry it took quite a while before i could post more pictures. so right now i'm gonna post two pics of my new FH, the blue comet FH.
here is the first pic. notice that it already has its red colors up in its fins and gils even at this size. most FH don't show their colors until they reach 2". IMO, this says a lot about how good the blue comet will look when it grows.
here is the first pic. notice that it already has its red colors up in its fins and gils even at this size. most FH don't show their colors until they reach 2". IMO, this says a lot about how good the blue comet will look when it grows.
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this next pic is also nice as it shows you the pearls in the FH's dorsal fin. again, most juvenile FHs don't show these patterns at a very early age. you will also see the single "flower" that the blue comet has near its tail.blue comets have only 1 flower unlike other flower horns. they develop brilliant looking pearls instead of black patterns or flowers on their side.
to davy, i hope you get a flower horn soon so that you, too, can put pics in this thread. and to those who are interested in the flower horn, i urge you to try it. you will never regret owning one.
to davy, i hope you get a flower horn soon so that you, too, can put pics in this thread. and to those who are interested in the flower horn, i urge you to try it. you will never regret owning one.
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What about the crappy flowerhorns you usually see for sale, the vast majority of the spawns? Do we have any nice photos of those?
I quite like the various naturally occuring species of cichlids myself. I don't own any flowerhorns, nor do I regret it. I don't doubt that individually they are nice fish, but I think an awful lot of people are disappointed when their fish grow up not to be too spectacular.
I quite like the various naturally occuring species of cichlids myself. I don't own any flowerhorns, nor do I regret it. I don't doubt that individually they are nice fish, but I think an awful lot of people are disappointed when their fish grow up not to be too spectacular.
let me make things clear... i'm not saying that owning a FH makes you a better fish lover than everybody else. what i meant to say is that if you have any interest in the flower horn, even the slightest interest, then don't think twice about buying one. i'm not saying you should regret not owning one. i think i have made it very clear in my past messages that i respect people's opinions even if they don't share my liking for flower horns.
as for the flower horns you see for sale, well, how they'll turn out to be depends on what breed they are. if those are the cheap flower horns then don't expect much.
just so you know, unlike most cichlids i know of, flower horns don't display their real colors until they are about 6" in size. sure they show a little of their color when they're about 3" like mine but that doesn't mean it'll stay that way until it grows old. this could be one probable reason why a lot of people in the west look down on the the flower horn since it looks so plain at first. but keep in mind that just because it looks so plain doesn't mean it can't grow up to be spectacular. all flower horns, whatever breed they may be, have the potential to be spectacular. as far as i know, good coloration is inherent in every flower horn. it all falls down on the buyer of the fish to determine which kind of flower horn he/she likes best.
as for the flower horns you see for sale, well, how they'll turn out to be depends on what breed they are. if those are the cheap flower horns then don't expect much.
just so you know, unlike most cichlids i know of, flower horns don't display their real colors until they are about 6" in size. sure they show a little of their color when they're about 3" like mine but that doesn't mean it'll stay that way until it grows old. this could be one probable reason why a lot of people in the west look down on the the flower horn since it looks so plain at first. but keep in mind that just because it looks so plain doesn't mean it can't grow up to be spectacular. all flower horns, whatever breed they may be, have the potential to be spectacular. as far as i know, good coloration is inherent in every flower horn. it all falls down on the buyer of the fish to determine which kind of flower horn he/she likes best.
I really don't believe that good colour is inherent in every flowerhorn. It's a genetic attribute, and there's a large element of pot luck in what you end up with. If that wasn't the case, the top line prices you see just wouldn't exist, as it's not difficult at all to grow out large discus quite quickly - if you could guarantee that every flowerhorn would turn out good at 8 inches, and sell for n0000 dollars, I'll turn my garage into a grow out room and grow out 20 or 30 in near perfect conditions - feed them 4 or 5 times a day and biggo water changes, and have a nice earning year.
Oh no, the colour is a combo of luck ,and good culling thro' the straining process
Oh no, the colour is a combo of luck ,and good culling thro' the straining process
i'm sorry i had to dig up an old thread such as this but i just wanna share an updated pic of my flower horn.
it's only been a month but my FH has improved a lot from body color to its size. my FH was only 2" when i first took its picture (which can be seen on page 1, btw) and now it's close to 5".
it's only been a month but my FH has improved a lot from body color to its size. my FH was only 2" when i first took its picture (which can be seen on page 1, btw) and now it's close to 5".
