How to care for 2cm flowerhorn fry? These care points you need to know

In daily life, some people like to keep fish in their spare time, but anyone who keeps fish should know that raising fry is a risk and also a challenge. So, how do you care for 2cm flowerhorn fry?

How to care for 2cm flowerhorn fry

Be sure to ensure the impact force of the water flow, and change the water once every 3 days. During the fry stage, feed at least 2 meals a day, and you can feed some bloodworms. To ensure healthy development of the digestive system, it is recommended to turn off the lights and let the flowerhorn fry rest 1-2 hours after feeding.

1. Substrate

When keeping flowerhorns, most people raise them in bare tanks. This may be because flowerhorns, like large American cichlids, have a natural tendency to dig through the substrate, especially during the spawning period, and often turn the gravel arrangements in the tank into a complete mess; the dirt in the substrate is also stirred up as a result, which is why they are kept in bare tanks. However, properly laying a layer of gravel not only helps stabilize water quality but also helps bring out the coloration of flowerhorns, especially gravel with red and other colorful tones. However, no matter what color the gravel is, the most important point is not to affect the pH of the water, because some gravel releases substances that make the water acidic or alkaline, and this will affect the growth of flowerhorns, so it is best to avoid using it.

2. Water quality

For many fish species, even a slight deviation in water quality can trigger a fatal crisis. But for fish like flowerhorns, because their adaptability is very strong, most people have long ignored the importance of water quality. In Singapore and Malaysia, the author saw that whether professional breeders or complete beginners, they almost just turn on the tap, fill the tank with brand-new tap water, without aeration, and without adjusting water temperature or matching water quality, and then immediately introduce the flowerhorn into the tank. What surprised the author most was that as soon as the fish entered the water, it immediately adapted energetically! However, even if flowerhorns are truly hardy, they should not be treated this way. It is recommended to treat new water as you would for other ornamental fish, measure the water quality and water temperature, then slowly acclimate the fish and place it into the new environment, so accidents are less likely to happen. Generally, the water quality conditions for keeping flowerhorns are neutral soft water, and a water temperature of 28°C is sufficient.

3. Filtration

For a fish species like the flowerhorn with a large appetite and high metabolism, the filtration system must not be neglected. It is best to use a filtration system with a large filtration volume and high efficiency to quickly remove toxic substances remaining in the water, so as to avoid weak fish plagued by disease. Of course, there are many choices for filtration systems; whether an internal filtration system or an external filtration system, both can be used. The use of filter media is even more diverse; from filter sponges, dechlorination stones, bio balls, activated carbon, ceramic rings to gravel, all can be used. However, the author recommends using a combination of multiple filter media, and always paying attention to the service life of the filter media and the amount of water being treated, and replacing them in a timely manner so they do not lose effectiveness.

4. Lighting

Moderate lighting has a positive effect on the coloration of flowerhorns. It is often seen that fish kept in ponds and the wild have colors far more vivid than individuals kept artificially. Although sunlight is not the main reason, for fish kept in artificial environments, if moderate lighting is not provided, their body color will definitely not look very beautiful. Fortunately, the industry has developed lighting fixtures suitable for various tanks and styles for flowerhorns to use. On average, about ten hours of lighting per day is sufficient; if the light shines too long, algae easily grows in the water, which not only obstructs viewing, but if it causes eutrophication of the water, it may even lead to the crisis of fish dying from lack of oxygen.

5. Heating

Fish keepers living in tropical regions can be said to be relatively lucky in this respect, because the weather is hot and the temperature is stable, so there is less need to pay attention to the effect of water temperature on flowerhorns. However, for fish keepers in subtropical regions or high-altitude regions, the effect of water temperature on flowerhorns cannot be ignored. Because flowerhorns are very likely to become infected with white spot disease due to drastic changes in water temperature, those living in areas where the temperature cannot remain stable above 25°C should best install a temperature controller in the tank for keeping flowerhorns, setting the temperature at around 28°C, to prevent the water temperature from suddenly dropping below 25°C and causing illness. To prevent the water temperature from rising without limit, it is also necessary to use a heating rod together with a temperature controller.