How to make a flowerhorn fish develop a head? Practical methods shared

Whether a flowerhorn fish develops a head still depends on its innate genes, and no one can tell that just by looking. How to make a flowerhorn fish more likely to develop a head has always been a topic that breeders and keepers think about together, and people have also summed up quite a few methods for making a flowerhorn fish develop a head. Let's take a look together below at what methods there are for making a flowerhorn fish develop a head!

At what size does a flowerhorn fish generally start to develop a head

1. Zhenzhu (Pearl) strain: if it is a large water head, it can generally be seen at 6 to 7 cm; if it is a small water head, it can be seen at around 10 cm; if it is a meat head, it will have a decent head shape at around 15 cm.

2. Jinhua (Golden Flower) strain: the Jinhua strain of flowerhorn develops a head more slowly and also matures later, and it may start developing a head at any time. Most people say that a Jinhua has the chance to develop a head throughout its life, so those keeping the Jinhua strain need to be very patient; there are also quite a few that develop a big head later on, but with many fish of the Jinhua strain, the head grows along with age, growing bit by bit, and the head should not grow very large.

The key periods for a flowerhorn fish to develop a head

1. Fry stage: usually 5-6 cm, also called the fry-filling stage. As the name suggests, the key during this period is to feed vigorously to lay a good foundation for the next stage. The food is mainly bloodworms, and it is recommended to raise the temperature appropriately, to about 30°C-32°C. Raising the temperature can speed up metabolism and let the flowerhorn fish grow quickly.

2. Sub-adult stage: usually 6-14 cm, also called the head-attacking stage. The food fed to the flowerhorn fish should be diversified, mainly nutritional, combined with stimulation methods to attack the head. The temperature is likewise recommended to be raised a bit to speed up metabolism. This stage is the most important, like a person's youth.

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

Methods for making a flowerhorn fish develop a head

1. Temperature stimulation method: when buying the fish, pay attention to finding out the temperature at which the fish was originally kept. Before the fish arrives home, first adjust the water temperature to slightly higher than the original temperature by 2°C, then lower it by 1°C every two days. Do not be impatient; lower it slowly, because lowering it too quickly will shrink the head. Lower it to 26°C, then sharply raise the temperature to 33°C and keep it for about a month. As long as there are genes, haha, you will see a surprise. Keeping it for a month is also to stabilize the head and avoid the flowerhorn fish's head shrinking back. Once the head is satisfactory, the flowerhorn fish has also become a finished product, then slowly lower the temperature to 28°C. Be sure to lower it slowly to prevent head shrinkage. Long-term high temperature after adulthood will shorten the flowerhorn fish's lifespan.

2. Dummy target stimulation method: stick a mirror on the tank wall, or put one in for a while or several times a day, to stimulate the flowerhorn fish's fighting spirit and aggressiveness and stimulate head development. Other fish species can also be placed in the tank to let the flowerhorn fish attack them. Remember, it is letting the flowerhorn fish attack, not the flowerhorn fish being attacked. The fish species should mainly be smaller than the flowerhorn fish and hardy, such as parrot fish. You can also change the species regularly to give the flowerhorn fish a bit of freshness.

3. Water stimulation method: that is, once every 5 days or once a week, change 1/3 of the water at a time in a large water change, which can also stimulate the flowerhorn fish to develop a head, but remember the water temperature must be 1-2°C higher than the original water temperature.

4. Environmental stimulation method: changing the environment can also have an effect. Put the fish into another tank, and the new environment can also stimulate the flowerhorn fish's head, but remember that the water quality of the tank you move it to should be similar to the original tank.

Feeding methods when a flowerhorn fish is developing a head

1. Flowerhorn food: flowerhorn food is divided into two types: natural food and artificial compound feed.

① Natural food: natural food can be divided into two types, live bait and dead bait. Generally, flowerhorns are more interested in live bait, which can increase the flowerhorn's hunting nature and activeness, but live bait contains many parasites and bacteria, which can easily make the flowerhorn sick, and when the flowerhorn catches live bait it can easily injure its body by bumping into things. Therefore, when feeding live bait, the live bait should first be cleaned, sterilized with ultraviolet light before feeding, and stunned by pinching before being put into the water, so that the fish can eat it more easily and avoid the fish injuring itself by bumping into things. To reduce the harm to the flowerhorn caused by bacteria carried by live bait, the live bait can usually be frozen directly and then fed to the flowerhorn, using low-temperature freezing to kill the parasites and bacteria on the live bait. Feeding the flowerhorn this way is relatively safer.

② Compound feed: there are many types of artificial feed sold on the market now, with uneven quality. It is recommended that you buy brand feed produced by legitimate manufacturers, as the quality is guaranteed and it is good for the flowerhorn's health.

2. Feed feeding: raising flowerhorns should adopt the “four fixeds” feeding method. This method helps cultivate good living habits in the flowerhorn and is also good for its health.

① Fixed time: this means the time and interval of each feeding should be fixed, so that the flowerhorn forms good eating habits and reduces the occurrence of digestive tract diseases. Generally, feed 2~3 times a day, and each feeding time should not be too long, with the flowerhorn finishing eating within 10 minutes as suitable. The feeding time should be adjusted accordingly according to the season, temperature and climate. For example, under low air pressure weather conditions, the number of feedings and the time of each feeding can be relatively reduced.

② Fixed location: this means the location of each feeding should be fixed. In this way, over time, the flowerhorn will develop the habit of eating at a fixed spot. Every day at the fixed feeding time, the flowerhorn will actively wait there for its owner to come and feed it. It is very interesting.

③ Fixed quality: this means ensuring the quality of the feed is both fresh and nutritious. Do not feed spoiled or expired feed. If conditions permit, ultraviolet light can be used to sterilize the feed.

④ Fixed quantity: this means the amount of feed given should be relatively fixed and must not vary too much. Generally, a feeding amount of 1~2% of the flowerhorn's body weight is more suitable, and the amount of feed to give should be decided according to the flowerhorn's size, food intake, seasonal changes, etc. Do not feed too much each time; it is suitable for the fish to finish eating within 10 minutes. Do not let the flowerhorn overeat, otherwise sudden death may occur. When feeding, pay attention to the flowerhorn's reaction. When the flowerhorn's appetite decreases, stop feeding.