Raising a Healthy and Happy Flowerhorn Just Got a Lot Easier by Nikita Nain V2.Output

Raising A Healthy And Happy Flowerhorn Just Got A Lot Easier By Nikita Nain

The aim should always be to make your flowerhorn thrive, not just keep him alive

Dedicated to, Vinay Venugopal, Venugopal, Vanz Sok, Daniel Daniel Bui and my other mentors who have spent time and energy Over the years answering my questions. Thank you!

As humans, we are merely care takers of animals. We are their guardians and it is our duty to protect them from harm s way. It is our obligation to give them the best of the care we can manage until until they spend their last breaths with us! Let us Never forget this! ’

Knowledge is Food for the Soul! Grab Your Share now!

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Index • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Fun Facts About Flowerhorns Busting Flowerhorn Myths Basic Principles To Raise Healthy Flowerhorns Differences Between Zhen Zhus and Kamfas Choosing Between Kamfas and Zhen Zhus Identifying and Selecting High Quality Fry Partitioning Tanks While Permitting Your Flowerhorn To Grow Flowerhorn Compatibility Guide Introducing A New Flowerhorn Into Your Aquarium Live Feed V/S A Pellet Based Diet Home Made Diets For Flowerhorns Flowerhorn Food FAQ Using Flowerhorn Supplements To Aid In Development and Growth Important Facts About Enhancement Supplements Writer’s Note Writer’s Note

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DISCLAIMERS This e-book is available for no cost to hobbyists who would like to understand more about the wonderful world of flowerhorns. Any commercial brand mentioned in this e-book are used only as a reference of high quality and are no way associated with the writer directly or indirectly. indirectly. Personal experiences with good quality brands and the reputation of the good quality of these brands, have been used by the writer in any and all mentions. The writer does not claim to own images used, they have been contributed to this e-book by other hobbyists. The copyright titles for the e-book belong to the writer. The content published in this e-book is owned and created solely by the writer Nikita Nain. Various sources along with 11 years of experience in the fish hobby have helped the writer create this informative e-book. To support our work and to contribute to the creation of the next e-book, please send an email to get the details of PayPal and other donation options. For any concerns, questions or suggestions, please get in touch with the writer, Nikita Nain by sending an email to [email protected] Visit Our Facebook Page At https://www.facebook.com/informationaboutflowerhorns/

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Fun Facts About Flowerhorns The Dragon Tear is Tear is a marking that is located below one or both the eyes of a flowerhorn. This marking is usually found in flowerhorns that are of the sub category of the Zhen Zhu Breed. Markings such as these are considered to be lucky and are considered to increase the Feng shui s hui value of the flowerhorn; this however is not true, at least there is no substantial evidence to prove this. Dragon tears indeed make the flowerhorn look beautiful and unique. The term, is derived from the fact that flowerhorns are considered as dragon fish in countries such as Thailand, China and the marking resembles a drop o f tear below the eye. Photo Courtesy - FHRUS FHRUS and Google. All credits to the the original owner of the picture. The term “KOK” is pronounced as coke and not cock. This term is derived from an Asian word implying nuchal hump. The kok of a fh can be a water kok or a hard kok, some hybrids also have a semi water kok. Both these types of koks have varying amounts of fat, usually water koks are bigger due to larger quantities of fat being present in them. The larger the kok of a flowerhorn, the more desirable the flowerhorn is and thus the higher it’s value. Monster Mons ter koks are found primarily in zhen zhus, mainly SRDs and these days modern kamfas some of which might have mixed zhen zhu genes. The size of the KOK is primarily genetics but good housing housing conditions, water quality and a high-quality diet can help a flowerhorn reach its full potential. XXX

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Busting Flowerhorn Myths Myths exist due to a lack of proper information being available and myths develop and evolve over time. The flowerhorn world is filled with myths and these facts will help you understand how to groom your flowerhorn better in the coming years. 1. A 100% Water Change Must Be Done Once In A Month – Chances Chances are that a friend or your local fish shop person might have told you that once a month complete water changes along with scrubbing down of the tank is a must to keep your flowerhorn happy. Here is some shocking news! While everybody is aware of the fact that, water changes are a must for raising healthy fish, water changes must be limited at a maximum of 50% once a week for 2 very important reasons. The first reason r eason is, a 100% water change will kill all the beneficial nitrifying bacteria in your aquarium. These seemingly invisible but important bacteria are responsible for reducing the toxins in your aquariums to a safe level. A 100% water change will cause your aquarium to start the tedious and length process of producing nitrifying bacteria all over again. The second reason is a sudden change in the PH and temperature of your tank can shock your Flowerhorn’s system. 2) Under Filtering Your Aquarium is OK! – Not true! Using just one filter, is OK! – Not not merely enough to filter out aquarium water. As a general rule, over filtering your aquarium is always better than under filtering. The main reason for this is, flowerhorns are messy fish, they waste food while chewing and poop a lot. This can cause a spike in the level of toxins in your aquarium. If you are using just a sponge filter, then consider upgrading to a 2-step filter that provides both mechanical and biological filtration. On a budget? DIY overhead filters are cost effective and fun to make! The only exception to the 1 filter rule is if you are using a powerful external canister filter that is meant to filter a tank larger than your existing setup. 3) Over Crowding Your Aquarium Won’t Do Much Harm – Even – Even if it’s for a short time, flowerhorns need space and good water quality, overcrowding prevents your pet fish from getting both. A very possible reason for a high level of toxins in aquariums is over crowding of aquariums. Flowerhorns that are not given enough space to grow will develop slowly and might grow in an abnormal way which results in stunted fish. Flowerhorns that are raised in an aquarium with little space and high levels of ammonia, tend to fall ill quickly. Over-

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crowding your aquarium with too many flowerhorns by using partitions can cause sick flowerhorns to pass on their illness to healthy flowerhorns. 4) Over Feeding Your Flowerhorn Will Promote Growth – Your Flowerhorn Growth – Your is always hungry, so why not give him a few extra pellets every day? Most hobbyists who do this fail to understand the difference between power feeding and over feeding. This seemingly harmless act can increase the level of toxins in your aquarium and cause him to start storing excess food as fat in the body. For hobbyists who practice power feeding f eeding in a controlled environment, then taking precautionary methods can help control toxins from building up due to uneaten food particles and excess poop. Siphoning the left-over food on a daily basis and being particular about siphoning the base of the tank even the grav el are two good ways to ensure that your Flowerhorn stays healthy while being power fed. 5) Tapping On Your Flowerhorn’s Tank is Chances are that is Harmless – Harmless – Chances guests that visit your home are fascinated with your fish! This is well and good, as long as they do not tap on your Flowerhorn’s tank. Doing this can spook your Flowerhorn, which can cause him to get scared, go into hiding or worse. A sudden movement outside the tank might cause your Flowerhorn to go in a frenzy and hit the glass hard, which can result in spinal injuries and finally death. The same rule applies if you suddenly switch on the aquarium lights while your flowerhorn is sleeping. Since flowerhorns don’t have eye lids, lids , suddenly switching on the lights will spook your flowerhorn. Always switch on the room lights first, wait for 5 to 10 minutes, then switch on the tank lights if needed. XXX

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Basic Principles To Raise Healthy Flowerhorns There is no doubt that beauty matters, however; how far are you willing to go to ensure that your flowerhorn looks beautiful? Are you willing to put his health and life on the line to enhance his looks? Do you want to use supplements, steroids and more to make him look better while cutting his life span by half or maybe more? I think not! There are various short cut methods that are used in the name of “grooming flowerhorns” however; many of these methods actually use harmful chemicals and other ingredients that can reduce the life span of your beloved pet fish. So, how can you ensure that your flowerhorn stays healthy yet progresses in a realistic time frame? The tips mentioned below are subject to genetics and environmental along with dietary limitations but can work for most f lowerhorns of a medium to good grade. – A A diet Tip #1 – Use A Balanced Diet With Weekly Protein Boosting Foods Foods – that is rich in protein can bulk up your flowerhorn and help him get to his full potential in less than 3-4 months. However, keep in mind that that excessive amounts of protein are bad for the internal organs of flowerhorns. Due to this reason, giving your flowerhorn a medium protein pellet diet with weekly additions of either shrimp or bloodworms is a good way to bulk him up in a healthy way. Live feeders are a bad idea if you are aiming for healthy and parasite free meals. Tip #2 – Choose A Diet That Is High In Natural Colour Enhancers – Enhancers – Spirulina and Astaxanthin not only works wonders on the colours of flowerhorns but also works well to enhance pearls. Instead of choosing products that are created using artificially ar tificially synthesised colourants, choose a pellet that is created using naturally derived ingredients. Hikari Cichlid Excel is just one of the many examples of high quality foods that contain Spirulina. Alternately soaking pellets with a pinch of Spirulina or Astaxanthin powder made for fish/human consumption is a good method to control your flowerhorn’s diet while giving him the best. The parrot and mirror Tip #3 – Use A Mirror To Groom Your Flowerhorn – Flowerhorn – The technique follow the same principle which is to aggravate the flowerhorn to increase the KOK, colour and make him more active. The parrot technique is frowned upon by many and the author of this book condemns the use of parrots to groom flowerhorns, as parrots end up functioning as live punching bags. The parrot technique is both inhumane inhumane and unnecessary. Moreover, the parrot

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technique can backfire and in some situations regular mouth parrot fish can harm your flowerhorn. To use the mirror technique, get a mirror with a plastic casing, no sharp edges and place this mirror inside the flowerhorn tank for 15 minutes once a day for a time frame of 1-3 months. Ensure that the mirror is placed inside the tank and not outside. Placing the mirror mirror outside the tank can cause your flowerhorn to ram himself to the tank while being aggravated and this can in turn lead to spinal injuries and finally death. The mirror technique is recommended for flowerhorns over 2.5 inches in length as flowerhorns that are below this size might get spooked with seeing their own reflection reflection in a mirror placed at close proximity. proximity. It is also possible to get specialized specialized flowerhorn mirrors to groom your pet flowerhorn. While, the techniques mentioned here are old school techniques, they have been used since the start of the flowerhorn hobby in the early 2000s. These techniques take time to work and might not make a flowerhorn look 5 times better in 5 days. However, these safe and healthy techniques will ensure that that your flowerhorn’s life span doesn’t reduce due to using unsafe products and techniques. These safe and healthy can ensure that your flowerhorn reaches his full potential in 3-6 months within the limitation of his genetic composition. XXX

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Differences Between Zhen Zhus and Kamfas Flowerhorns are beautiful and mysterious fish for those who are just getting into the hobby as there is so much to learn about the origins and genetic mix of flowerhorns! While some of you might know that flowerhorns are essential hybrids which were created using a combination of various cichlid species, a few terms such as Zhen Zhu, Kamfa and white eye SRD might confuse you. What makes a flowerhorn get sub classified as a Zhen Zhu and what differentiates a Zhen Zhu (ZZ) from a white eye SRD. The most experienced flowerhorn keepers choose Kamfas over other types of flowerhorns such as Zhen Zhus. The primary reason for this choice is that Kamfas although not the easiest to groom, possess certain traits that make them very desirable. Flowerhorns are basically hybrids which makes it impossible to call a particular species a pure Kamfa or a pure Zhen Zhu however, a flowerhorn is classified as a Kamfa when that particular fish possesses at least 75% of “Kamfa traits” such as the ones listed below. Zhen zhus are a sub category of flowerhorns often the most sought after by new comers in the flowerhorn hobby due to the large koks they possess. Other sub categories include Kamfas, Kamalaus, Thai Malaus and up to an extent Red Texas. Zhen Zhu malaus are cross breeds that are created using a gene pool of both malaus and zhen zhus. The same same rule is applicable for Kamfa Malau as they have a mixture of both kamfa and malau genes. Thai malaus originate from Thailand while Indo Malaus originate from Indonesia and both are much sought-after strains. 5 Traits Kamfas Must Possess • Square body: A Kamfa must display a body shape that is square. A long and tapering body is typically the characteristics of a Zhen Zhu and not a Kamfa. • Round Lips: This is a must as high quality Kamfas have round lips, not a pointy mouth as seen mainly in Zhen Zhus. • No under bite/no overbite: Typically, an under bite and an over bite are Zhen Zhu traits. High quality Kamfas rarely display such zhen zhu traits. • Wrapped Fins: This is a prerequisite of Kamfas. Kamfas must have strong fins that are wrapped, for instance the dorsal fin and anal fin should wrap around the 10


caudal fin. In addition, the Kamfa should sh ould not have long and trailing fins as this trait is displayed mainly by Zhen Zhus. • A Strong Tail: The Tail: The rays in the caudal tail of a Kamfa must be strong and upright, they should not cause the tail to droop. Zhen Zhus are typically prone to a drooping and weak tails. Kamfas vs. King Kamfas Flowerhorns that possess majority of the traits mentioned above are termed as Kamfas. However; in addition to the characteristics mentioned above, King Kamfas also possess vivid colours, an excellent pearl coverage and strong markings which makes them a beautiful bea utiful sight when they swim majestically in their aquariums. It is important to know that in actuality, all kamfa fry from f rom any batch cannot be termed as King Kamfas, Kamfas, only the top 2% to 10% of a highquality batch of fry can be categorised as King Kamfas. Classic Kamfas Classic Kamfas have more of Vieja Synpila genes in them which causes them to possess dual colours. The colours can range from pink to orange, yellow and other pastel shades. In addition, Classic Kamfas Ka mfas are typically larger at adult size as compared to modern day kamfas and king kamfas. Classics also have white eyes as opposed to other types of regular and king kamfas. Kamfa Faders: Myth or Fact? Just like other types of flowerhorns, Kamfas can fade as well. The process of the scales going from a normal colour, to black and finally peeling is known as the fading process. Fader Kamfas typically have white eyes and should have vivid colours along with the other Kamfa traits such as strong fins, a square body, a lack of trailers and proportionate lips. Fader Kamfas like other types of faders are devoid of pearls with the rare exception of high quality faders. Golden base kamfas are typically not considered as faders, they are a different sub category altogether. Special Note on Eye Colours The older line of Kamfas possessed white, yellow or orange eyes. However, the modern day Kamfa and even king Kamfa have red eyes e yes as well. The eye colour is used as a guide by breeders to determine the fertility of a kamfa, usually white eye Kamfas are sterile, which implies that they cannot father a batch of fry. Yellow eye and orange eye kamfas are typically supposed to be fertile, but not all of them. There are very few exceptions, however, the general rule is that white eye Kamfas are infertile, yellow and orange eye Kamfas have a slightly higher chance of being fertile while red eye Kamfas have the highest chance of

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being fertile. It is important important to note that while the eye eye colour note can be used as a guide to select breeder kamfas, at times red eye Kamfas are infertile infe rtile as well or they are unable to raise a batch with care. Practice does make cichlids perfect while raising fry, thus if a flowerhorn male or females eats the first few batches of fry, it does not mean that he cannot learn to raise and groom fry later on in his life. Traits of Zhen Zhus Zhen Zhus have traits that set them apart from Kamfas and Kamalaus. These traits include, a pointy mouth, trailing fins, by default red r ed eyes, a long body, usually a weak caudal fin which ends up drooping with time as the caudal rays are not strong enough in most Zhen Zhus. An overbite or underbite is usually displayed by ZZs, where in the lips are uneven and either the above or lower lip protrudes. Dragon tears are also displayed commonly commonly by Zhen Zhus, which is the appearance of a tear shaped black mark below the eye of the Zhen Zhus. Double row Zhen Zhus can also be spotted from time to time and this double row should not be confused with stress bar related marks. Further Sub Categories of Zhen Zhus Zhen Zhus can be further sub categorized into pearly Zhen Zhus, Red Dragons, Super Red Dragons and Blue Dragons. Pearly Zhen Zhus can be of various colours but will display a combination of colours and pearls. Red dragons are usually pink in colour and display all the characteristics of ZZs. Super red dragons are an intense red and will display many if not all of the characteristics of ZZs. Fader Zhen Zhus Faders can either be Zhen Zhus or Kamfas, however red eye faders that display 2 or more traits like trailing fins, pointy mouth, long body, weak tail are ar e considered as fader ZZs. Faders are characterized by their pastel colours, lack of heavy pearls but they display other traits of ZZs/Kamfas which ever genetic pool they belong to. An An interesting fact about faders is that the fader gene causes most RDs, SRDs, BDs, Pearly Zhen Zhus to start off with normal colours, yet as they grow, they turn into a solid shade of black. Post this phase, their scales appear to “peel” and their colour appears to “fade” into a lighter pastel shade. Yellow, orange, pink, white are common colours displayed displayed by faders. High quality faders are known to display medium to high amount of pearls as this is bred into the batch of faders using various techniques. Blue Dragons and Red Dragons Blue Dragons are more or less an extinct version of Zhen Zhus however, it is possible to see this variety from time time to time. The main main characteristics of a Blue dragon is the blue-ish metallic sheen instead of the red colour displayed by Red 12


Dragons and Super Red Dragons. These days both Red Dragons and Super Red Dragons are bred to have pearls, while some of them have few pearls, others have a heavy amount of pearls and are a sight to behold. White Eye Red Dragons White Eye SRDs are considered as a hybrid of kamfas and zhen zhus as they display the white eye trait of kamfas, yet have majority of traits of Zhen Zhus such as body shape, fin shape, caudal fin structure and either an underbite or an overbite. White eye red dragons cannot be considered as true Kamfas, thus they are usually classified as cross breeds. Special Note and Considerations Considerations A special note should be laid on the fact that in many countries red eye modern day Kamfas are not considered as true Kamfas as they lack one of the main characteristics of the actual strain of Kamfas which is possessing white/yellow eyes. This is a debatable topic as even in competitions around the world, red eye Kamfas are accepted in the Kamfa category if they possess 80% or more of the other traits displayed by Kamfas. XXX

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Choosing Between Kamfas and Zhen Zhus Choices, choices! As hobbyists, we are often asked which type of flowerhorn do we like best and why? While some hobbyists have a tendency to fall in love with kamfas, others might prefer Zhen Zhus for one or more reasons. If you haven’t made up your mind as yet and are still confused about which type of flowerhorn to buy, then the following points might be helpful for you! Size of KOK An important deciding factor for most hobbyists is the KOK size of their desired flowerhorn. Zhen zhus typically have water koks, that have more fat in them. Zhen zhus are also easier to groom and raise. Kamfas on the other hand, age like fine scotch, they take time to progress, but once they do they are breath taking. Unique Appearance While most Zhen zhus look similar due to the standard appearances such as red colours, kamfas tend to look unique especially classic kamfas and king kamfas. It is possible to get Zhen Zhus with a good pearl coverage as well, but the general consensus is that, kamfas are ideal for those hobbyists who want to groom and rear unique flowerhorns. White eye kamfas with a square body and strong fan tail are generally preferred by experienced flowerhorn f lowerhorn keepers due to their majestic appearance. Double Row and Dragon Tears More often than not Zhen Zhus have both double row flower lines and dragon tears, while kamfas are devoid d evoid of these aesthetically pleasing traits. Keep in mind that exceptions do exist and at times it is possible to find double row kamfas with dragon tears. Special Note About Health and Genetics At the end of the day, the final choice on whether to buy a kamfa or a zhen zhu should depends on the overall appearance of the flowerhorn and if you feel that the flowerhorn is appealing to you or not. Irrespective of which type of flowerhorn you purchase, always remember that choosing a healthy flowerhorn that doesn’t show any visible signs of illnesses is always recommended. recomm ended. White spots, white poop, a silver shiny appearance on the skin and holes in the head are all signs of flowerhorn illnesses. Happy and healthy flowerhorns are active and are not afraid to follow your fingers when you slowly run your fingers by the tank glass. Also note that, both kamfas and zhen zhus will progress at their own space depending on their th eir genetic composition. High quality flowerhorns

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will progress faster than medium quality flowerhorns; however, giving your flowerhorn a large tank with ample space and good living conditions will indeed help your flowerhorn stay happy and grow well. XXX

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What Makes A Flowerhorn A Kamfa? If you have walked into a fish shop and stared in awe at a flowerhorn fish with white eyes and perfect fins then chances are that you were staring at one of the most beautiful crossbreeds there is! Kamfas are unique for more than 1 reason, some of the most desirable traits are mentioned below. Kamfa – Premium Premium Grade Flowerhorns Flowerhorns are crossbreeds and there are various sub categories of flowerhorns such as Zhen Zhu, Golden Monkey, Red Texas and Kamfa. Kamfas are considered a class above the rest because they stand out from the crowd due to strong features, powerful bodies and shapely fins. Premium Pre mium grade kamfas are the crème da le crème of the flowerhorn fish kamfas, they possess at least 90% of the traits mentioned here and come with a suitable price tag as well! Most hobbyists prefer to buy premium grade kamfas at a small size and then groom them with time. This allows hobbyists to save money and groom the kamfa as per their liking. White Eyes and Sunken Eyes Traditionally kamfas such as classics and old school kamfas had white eyes that looked breath-taking when combined with the right features. Modern kamfas however have orange, yellow and red eyes. Kamfas that have sunken eyes are believed to have a good KOK potential that implies implies that the nuchal hump on their forehead will grow large and beautiful. A flip side to flowerhorns with sunken eyes is that, at times stunted fish also show similar s imilar traits. It takes some amount of expertise to differentiate between a potential kok-ster flowerhorn and a stunted flowerhorn. Pearls and Markings A good quality modern kamfa will have at least 50% pearl coverage that will start from the tip of the operculum (gill cover) and till the tip of the tail. Classic kamfas are devoid of pearls but have exceptional colors and other o ther traits that make people say wow! Markings such as dragon tears, can be seen in many types of flowerhorns, but are usually seen in king kamfas and high quality kamfas. The dragon tear is basically a black marking below one or both of the eyes and resembles a tear. Premium grade kamfas have cross pearls on the kok and pearl coverage on the face as well. Wrap Fins and Strong Tail Wrap fins imply that the kamfa doesn’t have a gap between the dorsal, caudal fin and anal fin. The fins will also fall perfectly just like satin on a smooth skin.

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A strong tail implies that the rays in the caudal fin are strong, the rays do not cause the fin to droop even when the kamfa gets older. Trailers at the end of the caudal fin and anal fin are considered unsightly as far as kamfas are concerned. Body Shape A kamfa irrespective of classic, modern or king kamfa, should have a stocky and square looking body. Kamfas should not have a long and tapering b ody since this is a trait of Zhen Zhus such as Red Dragons and Blue Dragons. Kamfas look different, mainly because of their powerful, compact, square and stout body. It is possible to find short body and bonsai kamfas as well, but the points mentioned in this section section are applicable to long body or regular body kamfas. Mouth Shape Kamfas should have a mouth that is not pointed. They should ideally have a round and short mouth. An elongated mouth along with a pointy tip, are actually the traits of Zhen Zhus. Low to medium grade kamfas might show such traits, especially if they are of a mixed zhen zhu gene pool. KOK The KOK which is a nuchal formation on the head, the most aesthetical pleasing feature in kamfas, needs to be proportionate in size compared to the overall size of the body. While the general rule, is the larger the KOK, the better the grade, at times, kamfas with giant KOKs tend to look unsightly to many. What is a King Kamfa? These days, this term is flung around more than it ought to be. A true King Kamfa is said to be the top few alphas of every batch; however, it is possible to find up to 20 to 30 king kamfa fry in a batch of 100+ fry. Not all kamfas are kings, because a true king kamfa is more beautiful than the rest and will stand out from the rest. Traditionally king kamfas have all of the features mentioned above and also have an amazing red and black color combination along with a personality to match these beautiful beautiful traits. The sight of a true king kamfa will make you ache to buy that flowerhorn for your personal collection. XXX

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Identifying And Selecting High Quality Fry Selecting flowerhorn fry isn’t the easiest task as fry are yet developing and usually selecting fry is a gamble, at times you can get high quality fry, sometimes you are left with the runts of the batch. All hope is not lost though, with these easy pointers, you can successfully select high quality fry with ease. 1) Choose A Reputable Seller – Choosing reputable sellers who are known to Seller – Choosing sell exact pieces as displayed online can help you get exactly what you have paid for. If you are purchasing a store bough flowerhorn, then ensure the store keeps their fish well, check the tanks for dead fish, sick fish before making a purchase. Before selecting a fish and a seller, make make sure that you have checked feedback of various sellers online and offline. Ask others in the hobby if the selected seller has a good standing in the region you belong at and how has the experience of other hobbyists been so far with that particular seller. 2) Ask For Both Pictures and Videos in Natural Lighting – Majority of the Lighting – Majority sellers, including many top breeders, use us e strong pink lights to highlight and temporarily increase the colours of their flowerhorns while displaying them for sale. If you like a certain flowerhorn, ensure that you specifically ask for pictures and videos of the selected fry in either natural natural day lighting or white lighting only. Specifically inform the seller that you want to see the fry in plain p lain lighting and not pink or any other oth er coloured lights. 3) Look for Flowerhorn Fry Starting to Get Colours/Pearls/KOK – High Colours/Pearls/KOK – High quality fry show desirable traits at a young age. If you have the option to select flowerhorns from a large lot for a cheaper price, then hand pick fry that have at least 10% colour on their body and a slight bump on the forehead. More often than not, these fry turn out to be stunners when they grow as they have started developing before their siblings. 4) Choose a Fry with XO/Cross Pearls – Cross pearls also known as XO Pearls – Cross pearls, cover the forehead. In mixed lots, fry with XO pearls might be reasonably priced, however if sellers have posted pictures or videos of individual fry with such pearls then the price might be higher than that of mixed lots. Either ways, cross pearls are a desirable trait and a plus point if you plan to enter the fry in a competition in the future. 5) Learn About the Traits of Kamfas, Zhen Zhus, Malaus Before Making A If you want to purchase a kamfa fry, it is crucial for you to read up Purchase – Purchase – If and educate yourself about desirable traits of this sub category of flowerhorn fish. Granted that flowerhorn fry do not have all the traits of adult flowerhorns, however watching out for certain desirable and undesirable traits will help you 21


get a quality fry. For instance, kamfa fry should have compact bodies and should not have a long mouth with an under bite/over bite. Zhen zhu fry like red dragons and super red dragons should not have weak and small tails, the rays in the caudal fin should be straight and erect. Weak and small tails on fry can lead to drop fins and a drooping tail when the Zhen Zhu grows. This rule is also applicable to kamfa fry, although Zhen zhus are more susceptible to suffer from drooping tails as compared to kamfas. Remember that fry take time to develop and as they grow they will start developing along with displaying desirable traits. Patience and good care are the two factors that will help a flowerhorn fry develop beautifully if genetics are in place. XXX

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Partitioning Tanks While Permitting Your Flowerhorn To Grow As avid flowerhorn hobbyists, we all desire to keep as many beautiful flowerhorn fish as possible. To ensure that we can achieve this goal, some of us might get multiple tanks, while others might choose to partition tanks using acrylic/glass dividers and suction cup divider holders. While partitioning a tank might seem like a good option, you will be faced with some challenges if you do so! Some of the potential advantages, disadvantages and precautions are mentioned below Advantages ➢ Multiple Flowerhorns can be kept in 1 tank without the added investment of purchasing multiple tanks. ➢ A single sump or overhead filtration unit can be used to filter a tank with 2 partitions provided that the divider used has multiple holes to allow water circulation within the tank. ➢ The partitioned tank will display active flowerhorns as there will be constant sparring between the multiple flowerhorns housed hous ed there. ➢ A single heater or 2 smaller heaters of the right wattage can be used for the tank which means savings on electricity bills. Disadvantages ➢ When one flowerhorn falls ill with a communicable disease like ich or hexamita, the other flowerhorns might catch the illness quickly due to living in the same water with the same sa me filtration unit. Treatment for the illness will have to be done for all the inhabitants of that tank. The treatment will have to be done in the main tank which will imply more usage of medicines and a higher cost for medicines. ➢ Treating flowerhorns in the main tank will also imply that the nitrogen cycle might be adversely affected. ➢ If you do not have a sump or overhead filter, then you will have to use filters in each partition for both water surface agitation and filtration. Choosing to skimp on sponge, internal or other filters for each partition will eventually lead to illnesses and possibly the death of the flowerhorns in that tank. ➢ Space will eventually become a big concern if the partitions are not spaced correctly. The partitions par titions should ideally be at least twice the length of the flowerhorn and 4 times the width of the flowerhorn, 25% extra space should be kept for growth in the next 1 to 2 months. Anything lesser in terms of space will be considered as inadequate and borderline cruelty. 23


Water Changes and Other Constraints ➢ Irrespective of the type of filtration in the tank, daily siphoning with a daily 20% water is crucial to keep your flowerhorns healthy, active and happy. Failure to do this will result in higher levels of ammonia/nitrite/nitrates ammonia/nitrite/nitrates which will lead to diseases and eventually death of one or more inhabitants of that fish tank. ➢ Tank cleaning can become a concern if you have too many partitions and inadequate filtration as it will eventually become an overwhelming task to clean all the partitions in 1 go and every day! The grime, built up residue and uneaten food/excessive poop will have to be removed from the glass, partitions and base respectively. The glass of the tank must be kept clean clean from the inside and outside both. Would you like to live in a house with no view outside? No, then why should your flowerhorns live in a tank with a hazy view of the outside world. Safety Precautions ➢ Too many fine holes in the partitions or dividers can cause abrasions and cuts on the forehead/KOKs of your flowerhorns due to them hitting their humps/KOKs while sparring with other flowerhorns. This can lead not only to scars but also to infections if the water quality is not optimal. Treat all abrasions and wounds by adding non-iodised/aquarium salt to the tank water, 1 cup for every 70 gallons water should work fine! ➢ The suction cup divider holders must be checked every day to ensure that the glass/acrylic partitions do not fall. Ideally 1 or 2 extra suction cups divider holders should be used to prevent glass/acrylic partitions from coming loose. b elow the normal limit to ➢ The water level should be kept 3 to 4 inches below ensure that the flowerhorns that inhabit that tank, do not jump partitions. Two flowerhorns in 1 partition will lead to fights and death! This can happen in less than 5 minutes, so keep an eye out for any jumpers at all times. New Additions ➢ Any and all new additions have to be quarantined for at least 14 days to ensure that the new additions do not pass on any illness to the previous inhabitants of the established tank. ➢ New additions will be stressed out immensely due to both shipping/transport and the new environment. Even if the new additions are healthy, partitioning them will result in added stress for the new additions. New inhabitants are best quarantined in a new tank, preferably in solo tanks, just until they settle and are considered fully healthy. Quarantine tanks need a minimum of 25to 25 to 40 gallons water along with a heater and 1 or more sponge filters, if not better filtration units. 24


Special Note on Tendencies Te ndencies of Hobbyists While Partitioning Tanks The tendency to overstock and under filter will cause severe problems for your flowerhorns and will put undue strain on your pockets in terms of money for medicines and replacement flowerhorns when the sick ones kick the bucket. Partition tanks wisely, give them adequate space and a cleanliving environment to keep your beloved pets healthy and happy! XXX

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Flowerhorn Compatibility Guide While it is common knowledge that flowerhorns are aggressive and can kill other flowerhorns if kept together, a few people have successfully housed flowerhorns with various types of fish with success over the years. At times, flowerhorns have also been paired with a few types of incompatible fish and the result has been catastrophic. Now let’ let’s attempt to clear up myths about flowerhorn compatibility. c ompatibility. Myth #1: Flowerhorns Can Be Kept With Plecostomas AKA Sucker Fish While this arrangement can last for a few weeks to a few months, there are 2 possible outcomes. The first and more more probable outcome is that the flowerhorn will kill the pleco as he grows. The second and more devastating outcome is that, if the pleco is larger or faster than the flowerhorn, then the plecostomas might try to suck off the slime coat of the flowerhorn. This usually tends to happen when the flowerhorn is either sick or sleeping. Myth #2: Flowerhorns Can Be Permanently Housed With Parrot Fish Parrot fish are often used to groom and rear flowerhorns so that they look their best. Keeping a single male flowerhorn flowerhorn with a single male parrot can can result in the parrot being killed. If the parrot doesn’t do esn’t have the typical deformed parrot mouth then he can fight back and either injure or kill the flowerhorn. In some cases where space is ample and hiding spaces are many, flowerhorn and parrot community tanks can be managed, provided the ratio is 1 flowerhorn to 10 + parrot fish. Ensure that you only use male male parrot fish with the typical deformed mouths. Using female parrot fish might cause your male flowerhorn to pair up with 1 or more female fe male parrot fish, which will in turn result in fights due to breeding territory and this will eventually eventually result in a blood bath. Myth #3: Community Tanks Cannot Be Sustained Contrary to this incorrect yet popular belief, community tanks with 1 or more flowerhorns can be sustained provided a few important prerequisites prer equisites are met. The first of these criteria, is there should be ample space for all the fish to live in harmony without having territory fights. A tank with a capacity of 200 gallons or more works best for a few monster fish other than 1 flowerhorn. The golden rule applies here, the more the space, the higher the chances of success. The second of these criteria, is that the tank should contain enough hiding spaces as fights might break out from time to time. The third of these criteria is that, choosing younger flowerhorns and growing them together has yielded a higher success rate so far. Majority of the hobbyists who have succeeded in this task have put together juvenile fish together in a large tank and let them grow with the company of one another. 26


Special Note on Pairing Juvenile Flowerhorns Flowerhorns that have been reared alone even for a few months might react very aggressively when they are suddenly put in a closed space with other fish. In case you are pairing juvenile flowerhorns above 3 inches with other flowerhorns and/or fish of other species then knowing the personality of your flowerhorn and other fish is a bonus that can help pull off this mighty task. XXX

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Introducing A New Flowerhorn Into Your Aquarium If you have recently purchased a flowerhorn that has been bagged and sent to you then chances are that you have a stressed out flowerhorn on your hands. Recently imported flowerhorns are especially susceptible to severe stress and can developing health ailments if their stress levels are not reduced r educed quickly. These 3 tried and tested tips that can help get your new flowerhorn swim carefree in his new home. Tip #1: Use A Stress Reliving Agent: One Agent: One of the oldest remedies to get newly acquired flowerhorns to settle in quickly is to use 2 teaspoons on noniodised/aquarium salt per 100 litres/25 gallons of tank water. An alternative that has worked for many hobbyists, is to use API’s Stress Coat or Seachem’s Stress Guard as per the directions on the bottle. Remember to add only the mentioned quantities and not to overdose your tank as more often than not, too much of a good thing can have the reverse effect. Salt, Stress Coat and Stress Guard can also help heal minor injuries that might have occurred due to shipping. Remember to use any one of these products and not all of them together. Tip #2: Don’t Over Handle the Flowerhorn and Don’t Turn On The Tank Lights For 1 week- Shifting the flowerhorn repeatedly will only add to his stress. Before you get him/her, choose a tank you would like to place him/her in and stick to your choice for at least 2 weeks. In addition, do not go near the tank unless absolutely needed, watch the tank and new addition from a safe distance. Moreover, remember not to tap on the glass and refrain from switching on the tank lights for a week. When needed, approach the tank carefully to feed the flowerhorn preferably twice a day. Remember to perform small water changes once or twice a week all the while remembering not to spook out your new pet fish.

Tip #3: Set Up a Tank a Week Or Two In Advance And Use Old Filter Media: The Media: The benefits of placing a newly acquired flowerhorn in an established are many more than you can imagine! Before you get your new flowerhorn, make sure that the selected tank has completed the nitrogen cycle. To seed the tank with beneficial bacteria, use old filter media from a established tank that contains healthy fish. Do not use filters or filter media from tanks with suspected sick fish as doing this might transmit the infection from one tank to another. Since newly acquired flowerhorns are prone to ich and hexamita due to being severely stressed, consider setting the heater at at 30 degrees for 1 to 2 weeks. In addition, consider adding non-iodised/aquarium salt to the tank water as previously mentioned in point number one.

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Final Words Before You Get Your New Flowerhorn Home Keep a close eye on your new flowerhorn for any signs of symptoms of fish ailments. Remember to ensure that you feed your flowerhorn a varied diet that consists of staple pellets with little to no meaty items for the first week. As far as possible, do not feed store bought live fish to flowerhorns irrespective of whether they are with you for 1 week or 2 years. Live feeders are known to carry pathogens that are invisible to the naked eye. Now that we have covered the basics, you can sit back and relax while watching watching your new fish recover from stress and swim blissfully in his new home! XXX

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Live Feed V/S A Pellet Based Diet As flowerhorn keepers, we spend a significant amount of our time reading about topics on caring for our flowerhorns. While we aim to give our pet flowerhorns the utmost care we can provide, however; we often make a few mistakes that can be dangerous to our beloved pets. Choosing store bought live feed is one of these common mistakes, let’s learn why. 1 . Store Bought Live Feed Contain ParasitesParasites- Live feed that is bought from local fish shops are not quarantined, in fact they are kept in terrible conditions most of the times, that causes them to have internal and external parasites. par asites. More often than not, we cannot see these parasites thus we feel that it is alright, to give live feed to our pet flowerhorns. Live feed can consist of guppies, goldfish, shrimp, mollies and any other type of feed that is still alive, caught from unknown sources, bagged and tagged at fish shops and sold to hobbyists without a proper quarantine period. Due to the parasites that live feed f eed 2 . Live Feed Can Cause Hexamita – Due contain, our pet flowerhorns can be affected with diseases like Hexamita if we continue to feed infected live feed to our beloved pets. Certain live feed like goldfish can also contain excess amounts of fat, which can in turn cause health issues in flowerhorns later on in their life. 3. An Overdose of Proteins in Live Feed Can Cause Metabolic Issues – Compared to most brands of balanced diet pellets, live feed is significantly higher in protein which is why many hobbyists consider feeders as an excellent technique to boost the growth of o f juvenile flowerhorns. However, with time as the pet flowerhorn ages and grows, he can develop a series of issues such as metabolic issues due to a diet only of proteins, inadequate carbohydrates, fibre and other essential trace nutrients. Packaged pellets not only have 4. Packaged Pellets are a Balanced Diet – Packaged varying safe and approved amounts of proteins but also adequate amounts of carbohydrates and fibre which are excellent sources of nutrition for pet flowerhorns. Remember to feed pellets in limited quantities and to remove the excess pellets from the tank approximately 10 minutes after the flowerhorn is done eating. 5. Packaged Pellets Need Not be Enhancement Pellets- Flowerhorn Pellets- Flowerhorn pellets that are especially designed for kok growth and pearl growth are enhancement pellets. Hikari Excel and other other safe pellets are not meant for flowerhorns flowerhorns but can definitely good for your pet flowerhorn, as these pellets have wholesome, holistic and natural quantities of natural ingredients ingr edients such as spirulina. These 30


ingredients are excellent for colour development and the general well-being of your pet flowerhorn. Hikari Bio Gold is a high protein pellet and when used in combination with other pellets such as JBL, Hikari Excel and home-made food, it can help your flowerhorn grow well and at a stable pace. Special Note If your flowerhorns refuses to eat pellets, then consider starving him for 3-6 days and then feeding him with high quality and safe pellets. pe llets. Remember, flowerhorns can go without food for 7 days safely and starving them for a few days is better than feeding them with infected live food. Starving for more than 7 days is not recommended unless of dire situations. Consult with a hobbyist/mentor you trust before starving your flowerhorn for extended periods of time. XXX

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Home Made Diets For Flowerhorns The thought of cooking often bothers people, even me! That being said, making your home based flowerhorn food is actually easier than it seems, provided you follow a few basic tips. This recipe of flowerhorn home-made food doesn’t require you to use the gas stove at all! Have a mixer/blender ready and you can simply keep the food trays in your fridge! It doesn’t get any easier than this. Which Meats Can You Use To Create A Home Made Super Food? 1) Meats you should avoid: avoid: Beef, mutton, chicken or anything that doesn’t swim and cannot be digested easily by the flowerhorn. Organs in beef, mutton and chicken might also contain high levels of cholesterol which are not suitable for flowerhorns. 2) Meats you should choose : Shrimp, prawns, tuna, salmon, bass and other sea food with Omega 3 fatty acids and other natural goodness offered by Poseidon, the God of the Oceans. Which Supplements Should You Use Too Create a Well-Balanced HomeMade Diet? 1) Supplements You Should Avoid: Avoid: Anything that isn’t found in nature, any powder, tablets that that will enhance your flowerhorn’s looks temporarily. Any ingredient that will harm your flowerhorn’s internal organs, organs , i.e. steroids, hormones and certain “so called called natural natural minerals.” 2) Supplements You Should Use: Multivitamin Use: Multivitamin powder, pure astaxanthin extract, pure spirulina extract, all of which that are either marked for aquarium or human use. These powder supplements should be in their natural forms and shouldn’t be bought if they have preservatives or additives additives as this can dither the development of your flowerhorn. Vitamin C is an optional supplement but recommended as it can boost your flowerhorn’s immune system and keep him safe while he lives with you. 3 Vegetables That You Should Add To Your Flowerhorn’s New and Improved Diet 1) Garlic: A Garlic: A natural appetite enhancer as well as a natural deworming agent, garlic extract or powder can be added in small quantities to homemade flowerhorn foods.

2) Carrots: Carrots Carrots: Carrots that have been minced along with the other ingredients can be used to add fibre to homemade foods. 3) Peas: Peas Peas: Peas that have been skinned can be added to homemade foods in their raw form. Peas can prevent constipation and help avoid swim bladder issues. 32


Mixing Things Up And Adding Pellets To The Mix Pellets are required to bulk up the food, give the home-made food consistency and make it palatable for your flowerhorn. Choose the brand of pellets wisely, selecting brands like Hikari and JBL is always better than choosing cheaper fluff brands with no nutritional nu tritional values. Do not add enhancement pellets p ellets to homemade mix as this recipe already contains all the needed enhancement ingredients your flowerhorn will need to become beautiful and stay healthy. healthy. Other Points to Consider To Create This New and Improved Flowerhorn Food 1) You can play around with the ratio of sea food to vegetables and pellets, but keep in mind that the home-made food should not have too much much of protein, it should have a consistent consistency, it should contain at least least 1-part vegetables. Keep in mind that you will have to use a small amount of drinking water while you grind the ingredients into to create a paste. 2) A very small amount of Gelatine can be added to give the food a semi solid consistency. This will make the food easily storable and dispensable, however, this is not a must. If you either do not have gelatine or do not want to use gelatine, then alternately you can cut square pieces of plastic foil/wrap and place them inside ice cube trays. Pour the fresh food paste mixture into these ice cube trays and freeze. This paste should ideally be used within 14 days even if the tray is always frozen. In case you want to skip the plastic foil/wrap, you can do so, just be ready to clean the ice tray well before using again for the next batch of healthy and nutritious home-made flowerhorn food. XXX

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Flowerhorn Food FAQ There is a reason a varied diet is recommended by experts. A varied diet allows your pet flowerhorn to get maximum macro and micro nutrients. You might be wondering, are pellets enough for flowerhorns as they are carnivorous in nature, continue reading to find out. Pellets V/S Shrimp and Bloodworms Ideally, 2 – 2 – 3 3 types of different pellets should consist of the main part of your flowerhorn’s diet diet but adding market shrimp, thoroughly cleaned bloodworms is a good move as well. While selecting market shrimp, ensure that the shrimp are fresh and not stale. Also ensure that the shell and veins are removed before feeding to your beloved flowerhorn fish. Frozen and packaged shrimp have a lesser amount of nutrients but are safer and lesser of a hassle to clean and feed. Live feeders are a bad idea unless you are absolutely sure of the source of the live feed and that the live feed is free from parasites and contaminants. What size pellet should I feed my flowerhorn? The size of the pellets will depend on the size of your flowerhorn. Baby pellets sold by Hikari as first bites are suitable for fry, mini pellets are suitable for 1.5 – 1.5 – 2.5-inches flowerhorns, small pellets are suitable for 2.50 – 2.50 – 4 4 inches flowerhorns, medium pellets are suitable for 4.0 to 6.5 inches flowerhorns, large pellets are suitable for 6.5 to 8 inches inches flowerhorns and extra-large pellets are suitable for 8+ inches flowerhorns. How Many Pellets Should I Feed My Flowerhorn? The answer depends on the size of the flowerhorn and your tank cleaning schedule. Typically, a flowerhorn that is 3 inches should be given 10-12 mini/small pellets twice or thrice a day. Underfed flowerhorns grow slower than well fed flowerhorns. The standard rate of 1 inch per month rule is applicable until the flowerhorn is 6 inches. Keep in mind that over feeding and power feeding are two different concepts and should not be confused. Over feeding with a high protein diet can result in intestinal issues such as Hexamita, bloat, hernia and haemorrhoids . How Much of shrimp/ bloodworms should I give my flowerhorn? f lowerhorn? Thrice a week, all your flowerhorn can eat in 2 minutes is a good and safe rule to follow. This additional food item can be given as a treat on top of the flowerhorn’s regular flowerhorn’s regular pellet diet. What Is Power Feeding And Is It Recommended? Power feeding is a technique used to bulk up a flowerhorn in a systematic way. To power feed a flower horn a combination of pellets and prawns/bloodworms 34


are used on a daily basis. Small and frequent amounts of food are given to the flowerhorn once every 2 to 3 hours. While power feeding might ensure quick growth, this grooming technique is not always recommended as too much food leads to growth that is too quick, which can also affect the health he alth of the flowerhorn. Which Is The Safest And Most Effective Way To Feed A Flowerhorn? A safe and effective feeding technique is to give flowerhorns how much he can eat in 3-5 minutes. Ideally, feeding the flowerhorn 2-5 pellets every 1 minute is a good way to know when your flowerhorn’s stomach is full and to understand when to stop if he doesn’t want to eat more. Any uneaten food must be siphoned or netted out in 5 minutes after he stops eating. No exceptions, as uneaten food will spoil the water quality and lead to a rise of ammonia/nitrates/nitrates in your tank which will in turn lead to a sick flowerhorn. XXX

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Using Flowerhorn Supplements To Aid In Development and Growth We live in a world where time is of great importance, quick results matter and looks are crucial to one’s happiness. Unfortunately, our pet flowerhorns have become a victim to certain grooming techniques that provide excellent excellent results but at a heavy price. Here are a few secrets about flowerhorn grooming grooming that might alarm you and help you understand the safe and healthy way to groom your beloved pet flowerhorn. Not All Commonly Sold Supplements Are Safe There are various brands of flowerhorn powders, solutions, minerals sold commonly in every country. While some of these brands are marketed as completely safe, in reality sterility and a lower life span, are some of the side effects of better looks provided by these boosters. As a general rule, stay away from any products that do not disclose the ingredients on the packet, this rule is applicable to both small and big brands. br ands. More often than not, the quicker the results, the more the damage the product “might” do to your flowerhorn. Clays and Other Natural Products Should Be Used in Limit A safer alternative would be to use only natural products and in limited quantities. Remember, too much of a good g ood thing can be toxic as well! Koi clay, raw Astaxanthin powder and spirulina powder can be added to your flowerhorn’s tank and diet respectably. Salt is An Effective Tool In Grooming Flowerhorns Salt has been used as an age-old technique to groom flowerhorns; however, in excessive quantities it can be toxic to your beloved pet. While critics might argue that flowerhorns are freshwater fish and the composition of salt that is NaCl, NaCl, it doesn’t really benefit really benefit fish, fish, it’s a fad, a rad or more, more , people who have used salt and tracked the results over a few years will beg to differ. Using Salt or Not If you would like to experiment with using salt then choose to purchase NONIODISED salt or aquarium salt and try it for yourself. Remember that additives such as iodine are toxic to flowerhorns as fish have delicate systems which cannot process the additives used in edible salt. Ensure that you get the right kind of salt and add 2 to 6 teaspoons of salt after every water change. Adjust the quantity of salt to be used according to the size of the tank and the percentage of water being changed. As far as possible stick to the 1 teaspoon salt per 10 gallons water guideline and do not change more than 30% of your tank’s water at one go! 36


Supplements Such As Vitamin C Can Boost Immunity and Also Looks You might be wondering, what good can Vitamin C do to a fish and if it is indeed helpful then how can I use it? Vitamin C in its pure essence and for m can help your flowerhorn develop a better immunity which in turn can keep him free from diseases. A healthier flowerhorn will also look better, progress well and look much more colourful than a flowerhorn with suppressed immunity and overall bad health. A healthier flowerhorn will be stronger and be happier as well! Which Type of Vitamin C Should Be Used? Ideally, non-chewable tablets from a pharmacy should be used. Crush 1 tablet to form a fine powder. Mix this powder well in a quarter cup of water, soak pellets in this water for 20 minutes and feed only as many pellets as your flowerhorn can eat in 2 to 5 minutes. Freeze the remaining pellets and feed over the next 2 days. Repeat this technique once a week and watch your flowerhorn shine in good health and looks. XXX

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Important Facts About Enhancement Supplements A few years ago, when supplements were not easily available in the flowerhorn hobby, people would manage without any problem while raising flowerhorns as naturally as possible in the aquarium environment. These days however; at least a dozen supplements and general aid medicines are available in the market and people are casually tossing these products into into their flowerhorn tanks without thinking twice. Here are a few facts you must know about using any additional product to groom your flowerhorn to make make him a master piece. Types of Flowerhorn Supplements Available Such supplements and shortcuts are an absolute • Steroid Based Supplements – Such NO for fish lovers because steroid based supplements will make your flowerhorn look fabulous quickly but will also significantly reduce the life span of your beloved pet. Steroid based supplements might make your flowerhorn overly aggressive and bulk up in less than 1 month due to artificial enhancement ingredients being used in the product. Injections and consumable steroid based supplements are dicey at best and should be avoided. Products that use natural minerals and or • Non-Steroid Based Supplements – Supplements – Products other natural products fall under this category. Such natural supplements that guarantee quick results should be used with utmost caution especially if a list of ingredients is not mentioned on the pack. Any food f ood product or supplement that is actually safe should be approved by the right authorities such as an equivalent of FDA. Plain old home depot/aquarium/non• Aquarium Salt or Non-Iodized Salt – Salt – Plain iodised salt is a simple yet tried and tested method that is both safe and effective. Salt tends to de-stress and relax the fish while naturally replenishing lost nutrients after any illness and also helps in re-build the lost slime coat due to touching/netting the flowerhorn excessively. Keep in mind that the salt you use should NOT contain iodine. The approximate dosing for this supplement is 1 tablespoon for every 10 gallons or 40 litres of water. Re-dosing the aquarium with the lost amount of salt with every water change is a good practice to follow. Keep in mind that the tank should be re-dosed with only the lost amount of salt per water change. For instance, if you are changing 10 gallons of water with every water change then only re-dose with 1 tablespoon of non-iodized salt as soon as you are done with a water change. It should be noted that salt is a safe general aid supplement and it is not a medicine unless it is used with other techniques to cure illnesses in flowerhorns.

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Effects of Supplements on Flowerhorns Any supplement that makes your flowerhorn overly aggressive should be used with maximum caution. Products with undisclosed ingredients might or might not be safe especially if used excessively. Doing research and using your judgment to decide which products are safe for your pet flowerhorn flowerhorn is crucial to your flowerhorn’s well-being. If you are absolutely sure you want to use a supplement that is considered safe by most but most but doesn’t have a list of ingredients ingredients or an FDA equivalent approved seal, then keep in mind that there might be repercussions. Important Fact about General Aid Medicines and Supplements General aid medicines contain a combination of 2 or more medicines, these medicines should be used with care. Choosing a brand carefully is recommended. In most cases, flowerhorns that are healthy do not need general aid medicines especially if the water parameters are maintained and a varied diet is provided. As a general rule any and all medicines should only be used when the flowerhorn is sick. Medicines are meant to cure illnesses, they do not work well when they are used to prevent illnesses. Multi-vitamin tonics and powders that are made especially for flowerhorns are considered as supplements supplements an not medicines, they can be used sparingly as and when needed. Final Words on Using Supplements for Flowerhorns There have been cases of fish deaths reported at least in 2-3 countries with using/overusing different type of natural and man-made supplements. There have not be any cases reported of using salt as a general aid medicines to improve the health of flowerhorns. It should also be noted that irrespective of which type of supplement you decide to use, your flowerhorn will improve and progress only if he/she has the needed genetic make-up to grow a KOK, get good colours and pearls. Chances are that by giving your flowerhorn a spacious tank, maintaining water parameters, adding non-iodized salt to the aquarium and giving your flowerhorn a varied and nutritious diet, you might not feel the need to use any expensive supplements either natural or man-made. XXX

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Writer’s Note This e-book focuses mainly on holistic and natural techniques that are both humane as well as tried and tested. Nikita Nain, the writer has been a hobbyist since 2005, she has been a part of the FHRUS admin team for over 5 years and is dedicated to helping hobbyists around the world learn more about the wonderful world of flowerhorns. FHRUS is a forum that has been around for over 10 years! This is a not for profit platform that is meant to solely help hobbyists learn the right ways to purchase, groom and breed flowerhorns. If you would like to support FHRUS and purchase merchandise then please visit http://flowerhornrusforum.com/site/

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If you would like to support the creation of the second e-book that focuses on treating illnesses in flowerhorns, tips on water parameters and suggestions on purchasing filters along with other equipment then please reach out to contribute via Paypal or any other payment method. Please do drop an email at [email protected] [email protected] or or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/informatio naboutflowerhorns/

Thank you for for taking the time to read read this Informative e-book! e-book! You are now a part of the magnificent world world of flowerhorns! flowerhorns!

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Raising a Healthy and Happy Flowerhorn Just Got a Lot Easier by Nikita Nain V2.Output

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