Quality Flowerhorn

The Flower Horn fish is believed by the Chinese as the most lucky fish that is acquired by hobbyist to date. Its every characteristic is somehow related to prosperity, health and wealth, to the owners of the fish, of course! The hump, the colur, the aggressiveness, the so-called "pearls", etc is much sought after. For the bigger, the brighter or more active fish believes to tell instantly on the owner's level of abundance. So, how do you select the best fish?

The forehead or "Nuchal Hump" of the Flower Horn fish is the main focus of attraction of the Flower Horn fish and is much sought after. After all, the main reason (among others) that this fish is so popular is because of its unique feature: the head!

A fully developed forehead, which is round and tender, is a symbol of luck, prosperity, longevity and happiness. It enhances the glory of its owner. A huge and beautiful forehead that harmonizes with its body qualifies it to be a fish of choice.

Some even believe that as the head grows bigger and bigger, so does the level of prosperity to the owner! A fully developed forehead decorated with evenly spread red spots is more preferred. Such a forehead is called "li-zhi" forehead resembling the auspiscious Chinese fruit : Lychee!


The color on the fish should be naturally pleasing yet intense enough to generate excitement. The more varied and intense the colors, the more outstanding the fish will be. The base colour of the fish should not be pale and dull.

Nowadays, the Flower Horn fish possess lots of shimmering/luminiscent scales or so-called "pearls". There are generally 2 colors on the "pearls": blue and green. Some "pearls" are by patches, like an armour and some are bright dots like stars in the sky. These "pearls" add more spectrum of colors and shine to the fish and is a considered a "must-have" on the latest Flower Horn fishes. The most auspiscious gem for generations of Chinese must be pearls, hence, the more "pearls" on the body of the fish, the better!

Other Stress Factors of FH

OTHER FACTORS:

Stress is also induced by insufficient oxygen levels (fish gasping for air), old fish food, and an unbalanced diet.

Fish are not good travelers, even on short distances. Good care should be taken during the acclimation process.

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS:

Fish does not eat or eats less than usual
Fish hides
Fish hovers at the surface or motionless at the ground
Wounds do not healing
Fish gets sick
A lot of contributing factors have to be considered. Eliminating some causes will raise the resistance of other stress factors.

The more stress the weaker the fish.

Stress Flowerhorn

Everything outside the required environmental- or behavioral needs of your fish causes stress. Stress greatly affects the health, reduces the life span, and and closer your fish to vulnerability for diseases. Stress is also the main cause of a deteriorating slime coat that protects the fish. This slime coat is the defense system toward infections. Fish can adapt to slightly different conditions in their environment. Understanding the factors that contribute to stress, will eliminate or reduce unnecessary risks. Stability in the water column and a balanced environment are as important as eliminating some other potential stress causing factors.

This are the main factors of fish stress:

TANK MATES - Compatibility is the key. Aggressive fish chasing others, naturally or as part of a mating ritual or territorial defense. Smaller species without adequate hiding places feel unsafe among bigger fish. Some species require larger groups (schooling); others are best kept individually as some tend to get aggressive towards their own. Fish communication (body language/ behavior) also might not be recognized by other species, again potentially leading to aggressive behavior. Stress also occurs when feeding if the fish have to compete for food. Needless to say they will always compete. The thing to remember is to distribute the food evenly throughout the water surface. Avoid spot feeding.

TANK SIZE - Does overpopulation trigger a thought? The rule of thumb is about 1 inch of fish per 2 Gallons of water. This guideline should only be used in order to get a sense of the limitations of your tank. However, some species can be kept in a 10-Gallon tank, others need more physical space. Territorial fish require a larger tank as they chase intruders out of their claimed territory.

WATER TEMPERATURE - An often overlooked topic. Fluctuations of temperature should be moderate and controlled at all times. The optimum temperature varies from fish to fish, but too cold or to warm will cause stress. Keep in mind that a tank in direct sunlight will heat up during the day. The water temperature may also rise during the light-on period. This can be more of a concern with smaller tanks. Water changes cause stress as well. It is important to replace the water with fresh water, which is about the same temperature as the tank. Further, the cleaning and removal process disturbs fish. Considering this, it ads validity to the discussion about proper water changes = change less water more frequently.

WATER PARAMETERS - Poor water quality is the most significant cause for stress. Fish can survive sub-optimal conditions if not too far out of range. But sudden changes within the water chemistry will cause severe stress. Adjustments in pH, salinity, or water hardness should be made gradually. Ammonia and nitrite are extremely stressful and can be detrimental if high levels persist.


OTHER FACTORS:

Stress is also induced by insufficient oxygen levels (fish gasping for air), old fish food, and an unbalanced diet.

Fish are not good travelers, even on short distances. Good care should be taken during the acclimation process.

Determining your FH Gender

Tips on determining your flowerhorn gender:


Dorsal black spot - flowerhorns are hybrids,therefore this method will not be 100%accurate.this method is usally use on pure bred cichlid
however the rest of the method we are going to talk about here will not apply to fries under 3 in therefore this one is included.

90%of fry with out dorsal spots,will be males.
60% of fry with dorsal spot will be females.


Pelvic fin and pelvic spine method - female flowerhorn need to use their pelvic fin as a fan to fan the eggs while breeding,therefore when you touch the pelvic fin and pelvic spine of your fh,if it is soft,and the spine is not as hard that will make you bleed,your fish is highly possible to be a female.

Body structure - male flowerhorn often have more angular and muscular lines ,while females often have a rounder,smoother body line.

Dorsal spine method - look at the first 6 dorsal spines of your fh, males often have rounded and thick spines, while females have a more flatened and thiner look to the first 6 dorsal spines.


Anal venting method - hold your fish upsidedown,look at the anal vent,males have a V shape and females have a U shape.
now look from the side,males should have their tube pointed toward the back ,while females have straight tubes.


Chest line(chin line) method - if you view your fish from the side,behind the gill jucture and before the pelvic fin,right under the petoral fin,this is the chest of your fish,if your fish have a bulkier chest,the it is more possible to be male,females often have a smaller,and smoother chest(unlike human).


FEMALE



MALE

Flowerhorn Fish Tanks

Fish tanks are beautiful in the eyes it can relax you and release your stress out. But it would be better if your fish tanks are clean. Your fish is like a person that needs a clean environment for them lo leave. Proper fish tank management and beautiful Flowerhorn fish complements each other perfectly. Therefore, it is crucial for all hobbyists to have proper knowledge of good fish tank management. This time I will share to you the ways on choosing material in to make your tank look like there fish habitat.


As Flowerhorn fish or any fish pets is essential to set up a tank to a close simulated natural habitat for the fish, which at the same time, pleasing to the eye.

Several sizes and designs of fish tanks are available at your nearest local fish store. Select one that will complement your house. Always assume that Flowerhorns will grow to be about 500 mm in length. Thus, it is recommended to get at least a 3 feet tank to start comfortably. Acrylic aquariums are suggested as these tanks are leak proof, light weight and the wall materials provide exceptional clarity. Always have a tank top or tank cover to keep your fish from jumping out. This is one basic mistake of many hobbyists that lead to their fish "common suicide".

Several attractive background designs for aquariums are available easily. Select one that will fit the natural environment of the fish. Pebbles, stones and gravels is a must in your flower horn tank because it be used as substrate for biological filtration. The fish is also a naturally active "excavator" and this creates an environment closer to its original habitat.

Hobbyist advice is to prevent pebbles that have sharp edges. These types of pebbles usually inflict cuts on the mouth of your fishes and if not treated, it will be infected. Many flowerhorn fishes are prone to mouth infection because of minor cuts sustained when they constantly dig at the pebbles.

Other unnatural tank ornaments are discouraged as these do not serve any purpose at all in the tank. Furthermore, these objects may even be hazardous, which might cause accidental cuts and injuries on your Flowerhorns as these fish possess fierce territorial behaviors and is always actively swimming.

I love my Flowerhorn

Aquariums should be considered to be miniature versions of natural habitats. Even though we are not able to establish perfect ecosystems in our aquariums, we can try to provide environments as close as possible to natural habitats to enjoy their beauty. 

- If you buy a flowerhorn for the nuchal hump, take a look at the frontosa (Cyphotilapia frontosa) a Tanganyikan cichlid. When left in small groups in a big enough tank the dominant male develops a hump which no flowerhorn will produce. 
- If colour is what you seek in a fish, then take a look at the redheaded cichlid (Cichlasoma synspilum). It's got all the colours of the rainbow. 
- If you desire black markings, a trimac (Cichlasoma trimaculatum) has a distinct pattern. 
- If you are looking for pearls, consider the Texas cichlid (Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum). 

If there are natural specimens that have all the traits one expects in terms of sheer beauty then why go for the man-made stuff? There are 1500+ known species of cichlids in the wild and hundreds with striking beauty and amazing personalities available to the hobby. This availability is rich enough to fit anyone's need. Let us respect Mother Nature. Doing something awful is not difficult but the consequences would have to be faced. As far as we know only one planet holds the key to create, support and cycle a phenomenon called Life. Let us not cheapen it or take it for granted. 

Some reports claim that the Flower Horn Fish is a "mutated" breed of fish. Rest assured that this is just a claim. Flowerhorn have gone through a lot of selective cross breeding in order to have the best characteristics of the respective strains of the Cichlid family. For instance, most breeders are striving to produce Flower Horns with a bigger nuchal hump on the forehead, better colouration, bolder black markings on the body (which at times resemble Chinese characters), more elegant fins, and wider bodies. No chemicals, or biogenetic engineering have been incorporated to improve on the traits/characteristics of the Flowerhorn. Thus, the claim that this is a mutated fish is unfounded. Its a big NO!

This fish is very hardy, and can endure water conditions that are not suitable for most breeds of aquarium fish. This is also part of the reason why the Flower Horn is well received by many tropical fish hobbyists.


What ever Negative statement I encountered, I will never let go loving the most wonderful fish.

Tips on feeding Flowerhorn

In feeding a pet you must know what will be the best food that can help them stimulate there proper growth and make them as fit as possible also away from the any illness.

I can share a simple tips on how to feed a right food for your flowerhorn fish.
Flowerhorn like similar sized fish, astronotus ocellatus for example, need a live food integration to be healthy and in shape. Their diet can consist of live food, frozen food, and standard dry fish food. The live food should be of good dimension, or the fish could not notice it, earth worms and big meal worms or wax worm are accepted; moreover you can give small fish, poecilia reticulata could be a good choice since the high number of fry they spare monthly. Remember to feed every live food you choose, and in case of live fish be sure they are healthy.

Frozen food is another good solution, especially when you do not have the live one. Young Flowerhornusually eat chironomus, brine shrimps and other frozen fish foods, while older ones could not notice them; at their place you can offer frozen fish for human use, you have a great choice, anyway if possible get freshwater fish and avoid the sea ones. 

Both live and frozen food can pollute the water, so be sure that Flowerhorn eats all the given food in 5 minutes maximum, in case of rests remove them fast; for this reason it is better to have an aquariumset up that allow you to clean fast without needing to move objects.

Dry standard fish food is a good complementary option, especially if it is of good quality. You can find special food produced for cichlids that usually consist of big pellets that Flowerhorn like. 

A Flowerhorn cichlid should be fed two times a day, everyday, anyway be careful with the quantities and avoid to overfeed it, reducing the food amount specially if it is really rich of nutrients.


Happy fishing!

Grade Your Flowerhorn

This is how breeders grade their ZZ flowerhorn (AAA,AA,A,B or C) while they are still at fry size. This process must be use or observe to make or select the best fry and comes out the best among the rest flowerhorn. You know why? First of all when a flowerhorn lay an egg they comes in a thousand, if you got lucky, this eggs will be 90% fry. So having this thousand fry and will be free swimming fry there will be a time that you do not have time to take good care and them they will not develop to there potentials and competitive fish. So usually most breeders will cull and partition their breed at the size of 1" to 1.5". Since they are such a young & small size, not much thing could be seen out of them except of their flowerline.

Firstly let us understand what does ZZ mean. ZZ means zenzu (mandarin) it equals to pearls. So what is a ZZ pearls? As you can see the earliest of ZZ do not have any pearls dots on their body so how did they come about the name pearls? For your information, the pearls on the ZZ means the each dark flowerline found on the ZZ body which was surrounded by some metalic hue & glow which resemble a black pearl shine. You may want to get back to your ZZ flowerhorn now to know what I am saying.

Ok, so it is the flowerline that determine the grade of a ZZ. This will be a great grading system of a flowerhorn fish.

Grade A - flowerline should be more than 75% to 100%. Perfect!
Grade B - flowerline should be more than 50% to 75%. Good!
Grade C - flowerline which are less than 50% or only a few dots. Average!

From Grade A, we could gradually know if the ZZ is going to be a AA or AAA later by determining the growth traits of the fish with the written explanation.

1. Kok (Head) - the bigger the better.
2. Colors(Body Color) - the more solid & colorful the better.
3. Body ( Shape of the Body)- the stout & thicker the better.
4. Finnage & Tail - Balance & proportion.
5. Flowerline (plums) - the darker & more shiny pearls surround it the better.

Hope this will help you grading your Zenzu, selection and enjoyment of this wonderful fish!! It's a beautiful thing to know the quality of your Flowerhorn.

Acclimatization on a Fish Pet

Shifting a fish can be stressfull and we all know that this fish is really sensitive to the point that this action my cause there delay of physical development. I would like to share what are my techniques in dealing this kind of problem. The following steps or point can be helpful for you. This method can be use in any kind of fish.


1. Newly arrived fish may suffer intense stress or trauma subsequent from unexpected exposure to blinding light, in order to make sure to switch off the aquarium lights, and dense the room's surrounding lighting where you open the shipping box. Do not open the package in burnished light.

2. Float the plastered bag in the aquarium for 15-20 minutes. Do not open the shipping bag yet. You need to allow the water in the shipping bag to adapt slowly to the temperature in the fish tank, while sustaining a high level of dissolved oxygen.

3. Take away or cut the tied bands at the top of the bag while it is still adrift in the aquarium. Wrap the top edge of the bag down one inch to create an air pocket within the lip of the bag. This will enable the bag to float on the surface of the water.

4. Add 1/2 cup of fish tank water to the shipping bag, and repeat the procedure every 5 minutes until the shipping bag is full.

5. Bring up the shipping bag from the fish tank and dispose half the water from the bag.

6. Swim the shipping bag in the fish tank again, and continue to add 1/2 cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag every five minutes until the bag is full.

7. Immediately your fish is ready to be discharged into the fish tank. Submerge the bag in the aquarium, and easy allow the fish to swim out from the bag into its new home.

8. Take away the filled shipping bag from the fish tank and dispose the water. Try not to spill the shipping water directly into the aquarium.

I hope you can get some point in this.

Happy fishing.

Taking Care with your King Kamfa

Kamfa Flowerhorn is one of the best breed flowerhorn in this planet. This kind of fish is the first flowerhorn variant that come out in the market. Kamfa is the result of the curious breeding of cichlids fish. As time goes by the beauty of this fish was discover because of some difficulties to raise and breed this variant fish. The fact that this fish are hard to raise because this flowerhorn fish needs more attention, care and love also it will eat your time to make this flowerhorn unleash his wonders to your eyes.

The following are some tips to make your king kamfa develop over all beauty.


1. Background of the tank. It is a need to invest in a colorful background for the fish (designs of coral / water plants). Also to make your eyes more relaxing.

2. Gravel – the fish needs to have colorful gravel and crushed coral as well.

3. Depth of the tank – it requires a minimum of 15 to 18 inches in depth.

4. Heating – the water temperature should be around 85 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Ideal pH will be around 7.5 to 8 for Kamfa.

6. Tank – it is recommended that the fish has it own tank of at least a 50 to 70 gallon tank for large kamfa.

7. Lighting is also of importance – make sure that the tank is properly illuminated for at least 8 – 12 hours a day.

8. Kamfa also requires a tank mate – a blood parrot / an unwanted flower horn. Be sure that they are smaller than the Kamfa .

9. Water change – the frequency depends wholly on the filtration system of the tank, but do only around 20 percent of water change each time. I personally conduct a water change to my Kamfa's tanks once every 2 weeks. You need to make sure of this because this fish are sensitive and got stress easily.

10. Feeding should be done around 3 times a day, and should be fed with a variety of food – bloodworms, feeders, and pellets (which also includes color enhancer as well).

11. Place the tank of the Kamfa in a low traffic area at home, especially for small to medium size Kamfa. For larger ones, they should have no problem in adapting quickly. Always put your Kamfa in a tank where the tank is around 4 feet above ground.

Hope this information can make your kamfa nice and beautiful.

Cyphotilapia frontosa

Cyphotilapia frontosa are commonly know as Zaire blue because you can see a blue markings below its body runs to its fins. They possess hump like a flowerhorn with a big mouth and huge eyes. Frontosa are friendly and lovable fish. Cyphotilapia frontosa is one of the largest of the cichlids collected from the Rift Lakes, Lake Tanganyika, specifically. The most common are the "Six-stripe" and the "Seven-stripe". Others include the "Cape Chaitika", "Mpimbwe Blue", "Samazi Blue", "Zambian" and the "Zaire Blue"

Frontosa is present in different populations (color variations) in all parts of Lake Tanganyika. They are found in both sandy and rocky parts of the lake. They are deep water inhabitants, ranging between 40 and 350 feet, and when collected have to be brought to the surface in stages so they don’t get the bends or end up with swim bladder problems.

This fish likes hard alkaline water around 76-82 degrees, although they will tolerate slightly higher or lower temperatures. Some salt may be added but they do fine without. As stated, C. frontosa likes a sandy to rocky habitat and caves and/or large flower pots should be included. Minimum tank size is a 29 or 30 gallon tank for one fish. They do best when kept in groups. For a group of 5 or 6 adults a 75 gallon tank would be overcrowded. I recommend no less then a 125 gallon tank, the large, the better.

Cyphotilapia frontosa is a monomorphic species with little or no difference between males and females. Males usually have a larger hump than females, but this characteristic is by no means a garauntee. Frontosa can only be sexed reliably by venting, and even this method cannot always be trusted. Venting frontosa accurately requires experience. Males also tend to be larger - they can grow to over 12 inches while females are lucky to reach 10 inches - but this too is not always true. In short, be cautious of any one ready to sell you sexed frontosa; make sure they're experienced and reputable.

The Zaire blue frontosa is a predatory fish and needs protein rich food. Shrimp, fish meat, crayfish etc makes good food choices for picky frontosa but most specimens can be trained to accept cichlid pellets as well. A varied carnivorous diet is important.

Frontosa cichlids are best kept in a colony of their own species. They can be very aggressive to other fish, especially those with a similar striped pattern to their own.

Adopt a fish and take good care of them. Good Luck with your frontosa.

Convict Cichlid

Convict Cichlid are commonly know as zebra or convict in the aqua world there scientific names are cryptoheros nigrofasciatus. They originated in the river Central America from Costa Rica to Panama. They are terittorial and aggressive fish but they are very easy to keep and breed in aquariums and is therefore an ideal beginner’s fish and especially suited for those who want to keep their first cichlid. The name convict cichlid describes these beautiful fish and its black stripes on a white background very accurately.

Convict cichlids is a hardy species that can adept to just about any water condition which is one of the reasons behind this fish suitability as a beginner cichlid for all aquarist how can offer them an aquarium of at least 100l/ 24gallon You should however know that Convict cichlids can sometimes be white aggressive towards other fish which means that they shouldn’t be kept with other to small or timid fishes. Suitable tank mates to keep with convict cichlids are instead fish species that are large enough to stand their ground or hardy species that are fast enough to avoid the convict’s aggressions such as some barbs. Another good option is to keep a pair of convict cichlids alone in an aquarium without any other species in the aquarium. Keeping them alone will make it easier to observe their fascinating breeding behaviour including the rearing of the fry.

Convicts are one of the most commonly available fish in the hobby. With their ease of breeding, these pocket-sized monsters from Central America are often referred to as the "rabbits" of the fish world. One male Convict plus one female Convict equals babies on a regular basis, usually every 4 to 6 weeks, for the rest of your original pairs life. Pound for pound, Convicts are one of the most aggressive of all Central American cichlids, but this is often overlooked, due to their small size. Spawning time is when you will see the most aggression, and I have heard of Convict pairs taking down full grown Oscar's more than twice their size. These are n ot community fish and cannot be considered safe unless a very large tank is involved.

The Convict Cichlid is probably ranked number 3 out of all cichlids as far as popularity goes, with Angelfish and Oscars being 1 and 2 respectively. They have the common name of "convict cichlid" because of the white and black contrasting patterns they sport. Males may be larger than females of the same age and the females may have a pink or orange tint to the belly region. There is an Albino Convict Cichlid as well. This fish can get to be about 4 inches (10 cm) and should do fine in a 20 gallon (78 liters) or larger aquarium.

This is a fascinating species that is known as being a profilic breeder. If you have a male and female, chances are you're going to get some baby convicts soon. All they need are stable water parameters and a cave or flower pot for securing the eggs. They will get quite aggressive in protecting their territory and they should not be kept with peaceful community type fishes. The great part about breeding convict cichlids is watching the parental care given to the fry. This can provide hours of enjoyment.

Keeping a pair in a community tank is just asking for trouble. If you have only one, you may be able to get away with keeping them with peaceful species but caution is still advised.

They should eat nearly everything offered including flakes, frozen and live foods. Look for cichlid pellets which can give them all the vitamins and minerals they need.

An aquarium intended for convict cichlids should be decorated with a few flat stones and perhaps a cave or two. Plats are not necessary and most plants will be destroyed by the fish. There is however a number of hardier plants that can be kept with convict cichlids such as Amazonian swords plant and java fern. Using plants of this type can be beneficial by making the fish feel more at home and by making the aquarium more beautiful to look at. The fact is that convict cichlid will make them selves feel at home however you decide that you want to decorate as long as you avoid using harmful or toxic things in your aquarium decoration.

They will accept a very wide temperature range and pH level range as long as it keep relatively stable but is best kept in 20-28C/ 68-82F and pH 6-8.

Feeding convict cichlids is very easy since they accept any food you may choose to give them and can without any problem be kept and bred on foods such as flake food and pellets.

There are several colour variants of the convict cichlid such as an albino variant often sold as ivory cichlid and a pink variant. These variants can sometimes be a little harder to breed then the regular convict cichlid but you should be able to succeed as long as you keep the water clean, the fish well feed and have patience.

Good luck with your convicts cichlids!

Altum Angelfish

The largest of all angelfish in the earth is the altum angelfish or commonly know as orinoco angelfish. This fish is a closerelative to the freshwater angelfish and can be found in a relatively large area around Rio Orinoco and Rio Negro in Brazil, Venezuela, colombia and some parts in the philippines that are really abundant in nature.

The Altum Angelfish are not so widely available in the aquarium trade due to being more sensitive and harder to breed then the common freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) You should however be able to Altum angel fish without to much problem, but you will however have to be prepared to the fact these fish can be quite expensive, especially compared to the regular angel.

Altum angelfish is as earlier mentioned considerable more sensitive then the regular angelfish and needs a care similar to that of discus fish. They need due to their height a high aquarium tank and should never be kept in aquariums shallower then 75cm/ 30". The aquariums don’t need to be very large in other aspects and an aquarium that is 120 cm/ 4 ft long is sufficient. The aquarium should be decorated with large pieces of bogwood that if possible should reach the waters surface. Large leafed plants like Amazon swordsplants can also be beneficial and are usually left alone. The water should be kept in very soft water that is not so slightly acidic. A pH level of 4.5-6.5 is suitable for Altum Angelfish. They prefer very warm water and they are best kept in 28-30°C / 82-86°F. The nitrates levels should be kept very low and the water should be slightly circulated to mimic the environments this species are normally found in, in the wild

Though they are considered a community fish, Altum Angelfish may get territorial as they get older. They are reportedly a more peaceful fish than other angelfish species, but being in the cichlid family smaller fish may not do well with them. As they mature they will pair off, developing a strong nuclear family, and defend a territory in which to breed. A nice thing about the Altum Angelfish is that they don't burrow or disturb plants!

Altum angelfish are suitable to be kept with most calm fish, and are ideally kept with other calm species from the same area such as Discus and Tetras. Small fish might be considered food and should not be kept with cardinal and neon tetras since Altum angelfish as all angelfish seems very fond of eating these. They should never be kept with regular angelfish since they can hybridise.

The Altum angelfish is a more delicate flower than the regular angelfish and requires a more caring environment but is without a doubt worth the extra effort.

Solid Platinum Ogon Koi

No one, it seems, can agree on the exact origin of these festive-colored carp. Perhaps no one truly knows. It is known that nishikigoi have been around for thousands of years. They definitely have Asian ancestry probably bred in China first, possibly more for a food source, then the art was mastered much later in Japan. The carp was used as a subject in many Ancient Asian sculptures and drawings. Asians believe these beautiful fish bring good luck and prosperity especially when presented as a pair.

Platinum Ogon High Quality Koi, imported from Asia, are a striking solid white color with a brilliant metallic sheen. Their deep, pure coloration does not contain blemishes of any kind. These beautiful Koi have a ghostlike appearance and stand out dramatically against the dark background of a typical pond. Ogon Koi are in the family Hikarimuji, which translates to "light without pattern." The Platinum Ogon Koi we offer are rated by breeders as AAA Grade Select - the highest rating these fish can receive. They are produced by some of the best brood stock in Asia. While Platinum Ogon HQ Koi can live longer than 200 years, they typically live 25 to 35 years. These high quality Japanese Strain Koi are a product of years of professional breeding, and will turn your pond into a showcase of champions.
The ideal setup for Platinum Ogon Koi is a 1000+ gallon pond with a fine gravel substrate, rocks, and hardy plants. Because these Koi savor plant roots and will dig to get to them, be sure to place large rocks around the base of plants to protect them. You will also need to provide adequate filtration to maintain proper water conditions.

Males are easily recognized by their concave anal section and occasionally by breeding spots on the head. Spawning may result in as many as 1,000 eggs, with fry emerging in approximately 4 to 7 days, depending on the water temperature. Feed fry small live foods or frozen daphnia for the first 3 to 4 weeks. At that time, gradually change their diet to crushed flake and pellet foods. Their color will emerge in about 3 to 12 weeks.

Nishikigoi are most often referred to as “koi” by those who speak English. That’s probably due to the fact that “koi” is easier to say. Regardless of what we call them, they are basically carp that have been bred for color though most koi-keepers will refer to them as more of an obsession! It’s hard to resist buying “just one” for the pond — and it’s tough to decide which one to buy. They come in so many different colors and styles. It’s almost like picking out a car or a new sofa!

Basic Flowerhorn Set-Up

Flower Horn Fish are very territorial and very aggressive. They usually will not tolerate other fish, and will often eat smaller fish that fit into their mouths. Some aquarists have said that they can play with their Flower Horn Fish, but instead of playing the Flower Horn is probably trying to get rid of what it sees an intruder, your hand.This fish is very hardy, and can endure water conditions that are not suitable for some types of aquarium fish. Their hardiness is one of the big reasons that the Flower Horn is enjoyed by many tropical fish hobbyists.

Due the big size they can reach, Flowerhorn need big aquarium with a lot of free space for swimming; a 200 litres tank is the minimum you can offer to an adult fish to let it live healthily. It is a really strong fish and can live in different water conditions without having problems, anyway it is important to provide a temperature between 28°C and 32°C; pH value is also important, because acid water can tone down fish colours and make it sick, the ideal condition is a light alkaline water, with a pH between 7 and 7.8. Moreover it is necessary to avoid sudden condition changes of temperature and chemical values, because they can make Flowerhorn being more sensible to sickness like bacteria attacks.

Water filtration is really important because this big fish produces lots of refuses that end increasing nitrite and nitrate levels in the water. You can choose both internal and external filtration, even if the second one is preferred to leave more free space to the fish. The biological part must work properly, so be sure to have a well activated aquarium before to house a Flowerhorn cichlid.

Take also a look to the water current, an excessively strong one can damage the fish, anyway it is important that a slow movement is present, because it oxygenates the water, and avoids that the water heats only near heater.

Tank decorations are important to make the fish feel quieter. Use a layer of fine gravel and be sure that rocks and woods are stable and do not risk to fall easily on the fish; be sure, as well, that all the decorations do not make the tank cleaning too much difficult. You may also use a substrate to equalize the ph of the water, this can help shane the pearl of your fish and look healthy. Live plants are important for filtration and oxygenation, anyway choose strong plants like big anubias, because any Flowerhorn cichlid use to dig a lot; you can also use plastic plants, even if they are not useful and you can risk that the fish accidentally eat them. But some of the hobbyist don't pud plans because they want to play there fish. Space will be a great elp to make your fish grow big and more decorations can affect them. Make sure that your decoration must not be eaten by your fish.

Being big and aggressive is better not to house it with other fish species, specially if they are smaller. While if you plan to house more than one Flowerhorn, provide a big tank and divide it with accessories to let fish divide the territory; to avoid fights it is recommended not to keep more than two or three fish together in the same tank.

The success of your flowerhorn will be in the cleanliness of your aquarium.

Basic type of Flowerhorn

The Flowerhorn chichlid is a result of hybridisation between different South American chichlids. The Flowerhorn was developed in Malaysia during the second half of the 1990s, and exactly which South American cichlids that was used and in which combinations is still a secret. The following are the basic type of flowerhorn.


Kamfa

The territorial Kamfa has a larger, more blocky build. It often has white or yellow recessed eyes, small mouth, fan tail and sometimes head flowers. More aggressive than other flowerhorns, Kamfa are difficult to breed because they remain immature longer and have fertility problems. They prefer heated water that has been sitting for a day. With a black double flower row and white pearling, the King Kamfa is a member of this family.

Zhen Zhus

With a name that translates as "pearl flowerhorn," Zhen Zhu are the most common flowerhorn in the United States. They usually have a rounded tail, large mouth, bulbous red eyes, and a noticeable head flower. Known for the pearling pattern, Zhen Zhus mature early and mate readily. A hardy fish, Zhen Zhus are popular because they demand little special attention. These agreeable breeders are often bred with other flowerhorn types. The pearling creates a desirable skin quality in their offspring.

Golden Monkey

Golden Monkey flowerhorns have the traditional large head hump with a coat that features pearling all over. When bred with a Zhen Zhu male, a Golden Monkey female produces the popular IndoMalau strain. A Golden Monkey male crossed with a Kamfa female produces a fish with a face and body resembling the Golden Monkey while the fins and eyes mirror the Kamfa. Fins have a rare frosted pearling over the head.

Golden Base (Faders)

Golden Base flowerhorns are also known as faders because as juveniles they lose color and turn black. The black then disappears, leaving vivid color in its place, traditionally red or yellow. One of the two original fader types in the United States retained their natural color, eventually replacing its gray skin with a golden hue. Red Texas cichlids are related to faders. To get the desirable red color the earliest flowerhorns, King Kong parrots were crossed with green Texas cichlids.

This fish are nice to keep and dominating the aquarium world because of their bright colors and exotic appearance, flowerhorns are coveted as pets, although their care requires thought and consideration. Most need a spacious aquarium where they can be kept alone because of their size and aggressive nature. While breeding flowerhorns raises controversy among fish enthusiasts because of genetics and overbreeding, their popularity remains strong.

Flameback Angels

Flameback Angels are a small angel that makes a beautiful, colorful resident in saltwater aquariums. These Angels are adored by the people who keep them. Centropyge acanthops is known under several different common names in English, such as African flameback angelfish, African flameback angel, African pygmy angelfish, African pygmy angel, Orangeback angelfish, African cherubfish, and Jumping bean. The African Flameback Angelfish, also known as the African Pygmy Angelfish or Orangeback Angelfish, has striking contrasts of blue and orange-yellow colors. While the body is predominately blue, there is a broad and bright orange to yellow swatch from the head along the back to the tip of the dorsal fin.

Flameback Angels are a small angel that makes a beautiful, colorful resident in saltwater aquariums. These Angels are adored by the people who keep them.

The Flameback Angel often brightens up an aquarium with its activity and coloration. However, it may be kept most easily singly. Flameback Angelfish can be aggressive toward fish that they perceive as threats to their territories. Often, fish of similar species, size, or temperament are not accepted. To remedy this, a larger tank would be ideal, in order to allow each fish its own sizeable territory. Flameback Angels have also been reported to nip at coral polyps, which could be a problem in reef tanks, so they must be observed when placed in such situations. They are generally considered to be reef safe and are reported to show the less destructive behavior than most dwarf angels. If you must keep a dwarf angel in a reef environment, it is often recommended that you choose a Flameback Angel. Flameback Angels usually do best in established aquariums containing live rock, which they will often pick through in order to supplement their diets with small organisms.

At maturity, Flameback Angels may reach about three inches (7.5 centimeters) in length. They are deep blue to bluish-purple in color and have bright yellow to orange shading along their backs, from whence their names arise. This coloring extends from the top of the head down the back toward the tail.

Flameback Angels are found along the western coast of Africa, and are commonly collected from the Kenyan coast. They are also known as African Flameback Angel Fish, probably for their origin.

The African flameback angelfish is found in the Western Indian Ocean, from the coast of Somalia down to East London in South Africa. You can also be encountered it around certain oceanic islands. Its range includes the waters of the Cargados Carajos Shoals (dependency of Mauritius), the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory), Kenya, Madagascar, the Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Reunion, the Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Yemen.

The African flameback angelfish inhabits environments with coral rubble and is found from 6 m / 20 ft down to a depth of 40 m / 130 ft. It forms groups consisting of up to about 10 individuals.

The largest scientifically measured African flameback angelfish was 8.0 cm / 3.1 in.

The African flameback angelfish is a strikingly coloured fish where golden-yellow to orange shades contrast sharply against dark blue and purple. The upper sides, head, dorsal and caudal fins are golden yellow to orange, while the lower two-thirds of the body and the anal fin is dark blue and adorned with a profusion of close-set purple dots. In many specimens, a blue ring can be seen around the eye.
The African flameback angelfish (Centropyge acanthops) looks very similar to its close relative the Brazilian Flameback angelfish (Centropyge aurantonotus), but the African flameback angelfish has a somewhat transparent yellow caudal fin.


It is not advisable to house the African flameback angelfish in an aquarium smaller than 30 gallons / 115 litres. The aquarium should contain plenty of hiding spots and a lot of algae covered live rock for grazing.

The African flameback angelfish is considered reef safe with caution. It may nip at small-polyped stony corals.

The recommended water temperature for an African Flameback angelfish is 72-78º F / 22-25.5º C. The specific gravity should be in the 1.020-1.025 range and the pH-value at 8.1-8.4.


In the wild, the African flameback angelfish feeds chiefly on algae and small invertebrates. It is important to provide it with a varied omnivore diet in the aquarium to keep it healthy. You can for instance combine fresh and dried marine algae, spirulina, angelfish preparations, high-quality flakes or pellets suitable for algaevore fish, and various types of meaty foods such as mysid shrimp and brine shrimp.

A Flameback Angel is best kept in a reef environment, so long as they are not nipping at other inhabitants of the aquarium. Conditions would remain in the mid to upper 70 degrees Fahrenheit (23 to 26 degrees Celsius) with a pH value of 8.3 or 8.4. The specific gravity should remain between 1.020 and 1.025 if the fish is kept alone, and normally the lower end of this range would aid in keeping parasitic infection at bay. If it is kept with invertebrates, specific gravity should remain between 1.023 and 1.025.

Flameback Angels should have a variety of foods in their diets to ensure they are receiving proper nutrition. Many will accept live mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, lettuce, plankton, vegetable-based foods, or food formulated for Angelfish. Most Flameback Angels graze on algae in their enclosures. When introducing a Flameback Angel to your aquarium, it is important to choose a healthy fish that is eating in the supplier's aquarium. When introducing a Flameback Angel into an established aquarium, you could rearrange the landscaping to render all fish in the enclosure without a territory. Keep the lights in the aquarium off for a day and monitor the fish as closely as possible.

Flowerhorn Care

The Flowerhorn fish is very aggresive in nature and highly territorial. It is not adviced to coexist it with another fish. Also, if your planning in having 2 or more Flowerhorn fish in one tank, have your tank patitioned or better yet, put the other fish in another tank. Some hobbyist say that they can play with their fish, real deal is that the Flowerhrn fish is trying to get rid of the intruder because of this trait.

This hybrid fish is very easy to feed. It eats live and fish pellets and it has a big appetite. There are a number of types of fish food in the market that you can buy. Have a diet planned. Giving live feeds is good, but it can be heavy in your wallet. Give your fish pellets and every once a week live feeds as a reward. Also excessive feeding of color enhancers is not recommended because it may contain harmful chemicals. Please do it in moderation.

The Flowerhorn fish does not require much when it comes to its environment. A thin layer of gravel will do. The idea is to make your fish feel at home and avoid stress. Stress could cause discoloration, loose in nuchal hump or stop its growth.

In caring your Flowerhorn you need to have a basic knowledge on the do's and dont's of this fish. I will discuss the basic tips on how to give your love to them.

The Flowerhorn fish is no different from other tropical fish when it comes to temperature of its habitat. It flourishes in temperature between 20-30 C. It is recommended to maintain a temperature between 28-31 C.

The Flowerhorn fish requires a moderate PH level, between 7.5 to 8.0. It would be best to have regular water change, intervals of once every week. It would be advisable if ou could mix crushed corals with your gravel to maintain pH level. Please be cautious that drastic changes on pH level can be harmful to your Flowerhorn. To avoid this periodically check the pH level of your tank.

To bring out the best from your Flowerhorn, a good filtration system is recommended. Usually an overhead filter is used because it is easily cleaned and clogging is minimized. The good criterias in choosing a filtration system would be its ease in cleaning, efficiency and minimal clogging.

A good water flow is recommended. This will distribute even water temperature, oxygen and will prevent thin film from forming on water surfaces which hinders gaseous exchange between the air and the water in your tank.

Salt helps the fish stabilize by providing sodium and chloride ions. It also help kill some parasites in your tank. In addition, dissolved salt contents in your tank helps make your fish feel at home.

The very important is waterchange. The water in your tank should be changed at least once a month. Be informed that your filter does not clean you tank 100%. Regular partial change of water, around 25 to 50%, once a week is recommended. This will surely make your fish heathier and happy. So don't let laziness overcome you.

For more question just drop a comment.

Flower Horn For Sale

Bomboo


Thai ZZ
2 inches

Reason For Selling: Busy on work.





Ratsada




Thai ZZ
2 inches

Reason For Selling: Busy on work.

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Carberryi

The Carberryi Anthias is also known as the Threadfin Goldie or Threadfin Anthias and comes from the reefs of the Indian Ocean. The Carberryi anthias has a yellow body with a purple field that stretches over the lower half of the body from the upper part of its head to the bottom of the tailfin peduncle. Females are of an orange yellow color. A striking fish, it is purple on the head and abdomen and the back and tail are yellow. It is a very active fish and will help to draw out shier fish that share the tank.


The Carberryi anthias is a stunning little fish that unfortunately only occasionally is available in the trade. You will likely be able to find it in the trade if you are patient but it make take some time. If you want to keep Carberryi anthias try asking your local fish store to order it for you or try to find and order it online. The Carberryi anthias is also known under the name Threadfin anthias.


The Carberryi Anthias does best when kept in a species-specific tank of at least 70 gallons for a group. Tank mates should be nonaggressive. It dwells in the middle of the tank and requires the availability of multiple hiding places. It does best in tanks with strong water movement and needs excellent water quality. The Carberryi anthias is best kept in groups with one male and several females. In the wild they are often found in groups of thousands of fish.

This is a sensitive fish and only advanced marine fish keepers should try to keeping Carberryi anthias. They require frequent feedings and perfect water quality. Carberryi anthias should only be introduced to well established aquariums. They can sometimes have a hard time acclimatizing to a new aquarium. The presence of another anthias species can make the process easier. Give your fish 4 hours to acclimatize before releasing them into your tank. Carberryi anthias is one of the more aggressive anthias species. They do best if kept alone or with another friendlier anthias species in a large aquarium. If you want to keep them with other fish you should only keep them with small friendly species.

Anthias species all share the trait of being hermaphroditic. If a dominant male perishes, the largest female of the group will often morph to take its place.

The diet of the Carberryi Anthias is consistent with other members of the Anthias group – zooplankton and floating filamentous algae. In the aquarium, it should be fed a varied diet of mysid shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, frozen preparations, and other meaty items for zooplankton feeders. Feed the Carberryi Anthias small quantities, at least 4 times a day.

The Carberryi anthias needs a large aquarium despite being a small species. This is due to the fact that they live in open water above reefs and like to swim a lot. They should not be kept in aquariums smaller than 70 gallon / 250 L.

Carberryi anthias prefer an aquarium with plenty of small hiding places among live rock and a lot of open space to swim in. Strong water circulation is important but it is beneficial if there also are a few calmer areas where the fish can rest. They prefer if the aquarium isn't too brightly lit. Excellent water quality is very important when keeping Carberryi anthias

Ideal conditions for the Carberryi anthias are pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025, and temperature 72-78ºF (22- 26°C).

The Carberryi anthias needs a large aquarium despite being a small species. This is due to the fact that they live in open water above reefs and like to swim a lot. They should not be kept in aquariums smaller than 70 gallon / 250 L.

Carberryi anthias prefer an aquarium with plenty of small hiding places among live rock and a lot of open space to swim in. Strong water circulation is important but it is beneficial if there also are a few calmer areas where the fish can rest. They prefer if the aquarium isn't too brightly lit. Excellent water quality is very important when keeping Carberryi anthias

Ideal conditions for the Carberryi anthias are pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025, and temperature 72-78ºF (22- 26°C).

The Carberryi anthias is a hermaphrodite species that lives in harems. All fish are born as females. When the male dies the dominant female transforms into a male. This means that you can buy a group of juveniles and be sure to get a harem when they grow up. Although we have heard rumors about Carberryi anthias being successfully bred in aquariums we have not been able to confirm those rumors or find any information on how to breed them in aquariums. It is an egg laying species.

Tips on caring Midas Blenny

The midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) is from the family Blenniidae. This bottom dwelling species is native to the shallow water reef systems of the Indian Ocean.

The Midas Blenny is a hardy fish and easy to take care of. It is a great choice for amateur aquarists. In the proper environment you can expect these fish to live anywhere from 5 to 8 years.

Midas blennies are small fish. They can reach a maximum length of 5 inches but are more typically 3.5-4 inches. It has a slender, cylindrical shaped body that varies in color from solid golden-yellow to orange. There is a pale blue region on anterior of their under bodies and usually a brighter blue trim around their eyes. This fish's coloration will morph into a light gray when it is experiencing escalated stress levels. Blennies are often confused with another small bottom dwelling creature, the goby. Although they are closely related, blennies can be distinguished by the tiny antenna like appendages projecting from their heads. These appendages are called cirri. The Midas blenny is also marketed under the aquarium trade name Persian blenny.

Blennies are generally docile in temperament. They make an excellent addition to a community tank provided they are not mixed with larger more aggressive species. This species is rated reef safe. They will fit in perfectly in marine reef setups. They will not disturb your anchored inhabitants or your ornamental crustaceans. They do however often demonstrate territorial behavior toward other bottom dwelling fish and rival blenny species. Plenty of hiding places and an adequate food source will lessen these tendencies. You do not want to overcrowd your reef aquarium with bottom dwellers. The larger the bottom surface area, the more diverse a population you can realistically expect to maintain.


Blennies are hiders by nature. They will seek cover in the small cracks and crevices of rock work and create burrows for sanctuary at the base of these rocks. They will frequently be seen peaking out at their surroundings form the relative safety of theses borrows. The Midas will also spend a fair amount of time perched atop of rocks and coral formations near their burrows. This species swims very similarly to an eel. Its body undulates creating as a means of propulsion through the water. They commonly back into their burrows just like an eel would.


In an aquarium setting the Midas is not a particularly finicky eater. They will readily accept frozen foods, marine flakes and pellets. Make sure to provide them with plenty of protein to help maintain their vigor and coloration. They can be fed vitamin enriched brine shrimp, zooplankton and finely chopped fresh seafood such as shrimp, octopus and squid. You will also want to address their need for vegetable matter. They have an affinity toward micro and blue-green algae. A well established living rock collection will help give them plenty of options to choose from. A supplement of dried algae sheets is also a recommended.

The Midas blenny is an opportunistic omnivore. It has a higher concentration of protein based matter in its diet than most other blennies. It has even been known to nip at the fins of gobies and firefish.

Bandfin Cardinal fish

Bandfin Cardinal fish or in laten called it Apogon Menesemus. This fish where originally found in the western and Eastern Indian Ocean, Northwest, Western Central and Eastern Central Pacific. And in the philippines at Samal Island they discover the one beautiful extraordinary bandfin cardinal fish. The color of this fish arereds, electric blues, yellows and blacks. Bandfin are come from the family of apogonidae and it will grow up to 6 to 8 inches. They are peaceful fish and social.

As with all the majority of cardinalfish they must be given a dark shelter under which it can hide during the day. Keep nitrate, nitrite and ammonia levels as low as possible. They will hide under ledges and in crevices throughout the day, becoming more active at night time.

Apogon menesemus (Bandfin cardinalfish) like lower temperatures better, but 72-78 degrees F. is fine. They must be given a dark shelter under which it can hide during the day. Keep nitrate, nitrite and ammonia levels as low as possible. Brisk filtration is usually necessary.

The Bandfin cardinalfish feeds on zoobenthos, benth crustaceans, small fishes and invertebrates (particularly crustaceans). In an aquarium, you can feed your Bandfin cardinalfish shrimps, small fishes and other fresh and frozen meaty foods. Apogon menesemus (Bandfin cardinalfish) can also be trained to eat frozen processed foods. Avoid dry prepared foods, such as flakes and pellets.