Flowerhorn cichlid
hybrid
A hybrid cichlid with a huge forehead hump that becomes very aggressive with age; the classic one-fish-per-tank pet.
Key facts
- Body length
- 11.8 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 202 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Care level
- 4 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Cichlid pellets, frozen krill, shrimp and bloodworm
- Origin
- Captive-bred hybrid
- Hardier than17%
- Bigger than92%
- Calmer than14%
Water: their range vs yours
Flowerhorn cichlid tank mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Clown loachGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Three spot gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bala sharkGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Kissing gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Yoyo loachGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Silver monoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidFlowerhorn cichlid attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Blue dolphin cichlid.Risky
- Bristlenose plecoFlowerhorn cichlid can eat young or small Bristlenose pleco; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 17550 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Convict cichlidFlowerhorn cichlid attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Convict cichlid.Risky
- DiscusFlowerhorn cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Discus.Risky
- Firemouth cichlidFlowerhorn cichlid can eat young or small Firemouth cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Neon tetraFlowerhorn cichlid can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 7.2 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraFlowerhorn cichlid can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 7.2 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyFlowerhorn cichlid can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 7.2 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasFlowerhorn cichlid can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 7.2 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusFlowerhorn cichlid can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 7.2 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpFlowerhorn cichlid can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 7.2 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for flowerhorn cichlids: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 30 cm (TL)
- Adult mass
- 414.72 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 42.79 BU
- Min. water
- 648 L net
- Min. footprint
- 180 × 60 cm per specimen
- Min. height
- 60 cm
- Group
- 1+ (best 1)
- Swims in
- middle, bottom
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- deep bodied, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Practical Fishkeeping: How do I keep these hybrid cichlids?
Care notes
Flowerhorns are captive-bred hybrids of Central American cichlids, growing to about 12 inches with a large fatty hump on the head. They become very aggressive and territorial as they mature and often live well over a decade.
Keep one fish alone in a 6-foot tank of 180 gallons or more. They destroy live plants and push decor around, and males can kill a female during breeding attempts.
Questions
What size tank does a flowerhorn cichlid need?
At least 202 gallons (648 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 11.8 inches without fins.
How many flowerhorn cichlids should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do flowerhorn cichlids need?
77–86 °F, pH 6.5–8 and 0–0 dGH. Flowerhorn cichlids come from Captive-bred hybrid.
How long do flowerhorn cichlids live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with flowerhorn cichlids?
Good tank mates include Angelfish, Clown loach, Common pleco, Leopard sailfin pleco and Three spot gourami. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.