How to raise a flowerhorn cichlid so it develops a big head? A complete guide to keeping methods

The flowerhorn cichlid is a completely new fish species bred in 1996 by Malaysian aquarists through continuous crossbreeding and selective breeding, and it is deeply loved by fish keepers. However, to get a flowerhorn cichlid to develop a big head, various kinds of stimulation are needed, such as changes in water temperature, changes in environment, and changes in feeding, all of which help the flowerhorn cichlid develop a big head. Now let us take a look together at how to raise a flowerhorn cichlid to develop a big head!

At what size does a flowerhorn cichlid generally develop a big head?

1. Pearl strain: For pearl strain flowerhorn cichlids, a large water head can generally be seen at 6 to 7 cm, a small water head can be seen at around 10 cm, and a fleshy head will have a decent head shape at around 15 cm.

2. Golden flower strain: Golden flower strain flowerhorn cichlids develop a big head more slowly and also mature later. There is no telling when the head will start to develop. Most people say that a golden flower has the chance to develop a head throughout its life.

The key periods for a flowerhorn cichlid to develop a big head

1. Fry stage: Usually 5 to 6 cm. The key during this period is to feed heavily to lay a good foundation for the next stage. The food should be mainly bloodworms, and the temperature can be raised appropriately, to about 30 to 32°C. Raising the temperature can speed up metabolism and let the flowerhorn cichlid grow quickly.

2. Sub-adult stage: Usually 6 to 14 cm, also called the head-attacking period. The food for the flowerhorn cichlid should be diversified, with nutrition as the main focus, combined with stimulation methods to attack the head. The temperature should likewise be raised a bit to speed up metabolism. This stage is the most important, like the youth of a person.

3. Adult stage: Usually above 14 cm, also called the shaping period, which is about regulating the flowerhorn cichlid's body shape. The temperature is recommended to be maintained between 26 and 28°C to slow down metabolism and extend the flowerhorn cichlid's lifespan.

How do you raise a flowerhorn cichlid to develop a big head?

1. Water temperature stimulation: Lower the flowerhorn cichlid's original water temperature by 1 degree per day for 4 consecutive days, then observe the flowerhorn cichlid's condition. If everything is normal, slowly raise the temperature again, increasing by 1 degree per day. With this alternating change, you will gradually see the flowerhorn cichlid develop a big head.

2. Environmental stimulation: Frequently change the flowerhorn cichlid's tank. A new environment can also stimulate the flowerhorn cichlid to develop a head. However, keep in mind that the water quality of the replacement tank must not differ too much from the original tank, otherwise it is very detrimental to the flowerhorn cichlid's health.

3. Feeding stimulation: Under normal feeding, stop feeding the flowerhorn cichlid for one day each week. In such a day of hunger, because of the stimulation of hunger, the flowerhorn cichlid may also develop a big head.

4. Sparring stimulation: Sparring stimulation is the most commonly used method for attacking the head of a flowerhorn cichlid. Put a parrot cichlid of similar size into the tank to stimulate the flowerhorn cichlid and let them spar properly for a while. This will have a good effect on the flowerhorn cichlid developing a big head.

How should a flowerhorn cichlid be kept properly?

1. Fish tank: The flowerhorn cichlid belongs to the medium-to-large cichlids, and adults reach over 20 cm. When keeping them, it is best to choose a tank of more than three feet so as not to limit the fish's growth. Using black or blue as the tank background helps the flowerhorn cichlid show its most beautiful body color.

2. Substrate: The flowerhorn cichlid prefers neutral or slightly weakly acidic water quality. For the substrate, it is best to use river sand with a particle size of about 0.5 to 1 cm to keep the water quality on the neutral side. The substrate can be spread to a thickness of about 5 cm. The tank setup should avoid using driftwood or coarse rocks.

3. Water quality: When keeping a flowerhorn cichlid, choose a filter with good effectiveness. This not only keeps the water quality clean and increases the dissolved oxygen in the water, but also helps the growth of beneficial bacteria that maintain stable water quality in the water. The water temperature is best at around 26 to 27°C, and the pH value is between 6.5 and 7.2.

4. Feed: Flowerhorn cichlids can be fed small shrimp, bloodworms, and feed without artificial colors, but fresh natural food is the best feed. It is recommended to feed half commercial feed and half fresh natural food every day, which is very good for the fish's growth.

5. Lighting: If proper lighting is not provided when keeping a flowerhorn cichlid at home, the colors on its body surface will gradually fade. It is recommended to control the daily lighting to about 10 hours, which will have a bonus effect on the flowerhorn cichlid's health and color display.

6. Disease prevention: Flowerhorn cichlids have relatively strong disease resistance, but sometimes they can easily get white spot disease due to drastic changes in water temperature. Therefore, in areas where the temperature cannot be kept stable above 25°C, it is best to install a temperature controller in the tank when keeping them and set the temperature to around 28°C.