Why is my Flowerhorn's hump shrinking?

The nuchal hump can shrink due to stress, poor water quality, a drop in water temperature, or illness. Ensuring stable, warm water parameters and a high-quality diet usually helps the hump return to its normal size.

Can I keep two Flowerhorns together?

It is highly discouraged. Flowerhorns are notoriously aggressive and will almost certainly fight, often to the death, if kept in the same aquarium. They should be housed as solitary pets.

What should I feed my Flowerhorn to enhance its colour?

Feed a high-quality pelleted diet specifically formulated for Flowerhorns, which usually contains natural colour enhancers like astaxanthin. Supplement with krill or prawns to naturally boost red and orange pigments.

How quickly do Flowerhorns grow?

They grow very rapidly during their first year, often reaching 20 cm (8 inches) or more within 12 months if provided with a large tank, heavy feeding, and excellent water quality.

Do female Flowerhorns grow a hump?

Females typically do not develop the large, prominent nuchal hump seen in males, though some may exhibit a very slight bump. Females are also generally smaller and slightly less colourful than males.

FreshwaterTropicalIntermediate

Flowerhorn Cichlid

Hybrid cichlid

The Flowerhorn Cichlid is a stunning, highly intelligent, and famously aggressive man-made hybrid, best kept as a solitary 'wet pet' by dedicated aquarists.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 26 – 30 °C
pH range: 7.4 – 8
Hardness: 9 – 20 dGH
Adult size: 30 – 40 cm
Minimum for a single adult: 250 litres+
Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
Diet: carnivore
Water flow: moderate
Preferred setup: A spacious, sparsely decorated aquarium with a bare bottom or fine gravel, using heavy rocks that cannot be easily moved by the fish.

About the Flowerhorn Cichlid

Developed in Southeast Asia during the late 1990s, the Flowerhorn is a complex hybrid derived from Central American cichlids. They are celebrated for their vivid colours, distinct black lateral markings (known as 'flowers'), and the prominent nuchal hump (or 'kok') found primarily on males. Flowerhorns are remarkably intelligent and highly interactive, often following their owners' movements and begging for food much like a domestic dog.

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Where Flowerhorn Cichlid comes from

Native range

Captive-bred

Countries / regions

Malaysia, Thailand

Habitat

A man-made hybrid with no natural habitat, first developed in the aquarium trade in Malaysia during the late 1990s.

Similar species

Trimac Cichlid
Amphilophus trimaculatus
Midas Cichlid
Amphilophus citrinellus
Red Terror Cichlid
Mesoheros festae

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Common Pleco
Hypostomus plecostomus
Large, heavily armoured bottom dwellers can sometimes survive alongside a Flowerhorn, but the cichlid may still attack them relentlessly.
Compatible with caution
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Despite their similar size, Flowerhorns are significantly more aggressive and will usually bully or kill an Oscar.
Not recommended
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Small fish will be immediately viewed as food and consumed by the Flowerhorn.
Not recommended

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