Breeding your pet Flowerhorn and maintaining it to be as healthy as possible is not an easy job especially if you are the type who does not have the proper training and background in doing such procedures. The health of your Flowerhorn ultimately depends on the way you give it shelter and the way you take care of it.
A typical Flowerhorn fish could healthfully survive in waters that have tropical temperature. The usual temperature should range from 24 up to 31 degree Celsius. However, the very best water temperature is basically from 26-28 degree Celsius. When the fry is still premature, it is very advisable to keep such range of temperature.
Furthermore, most Flowerhorn fish can stay alive in a water that has a neutral pH between the values 6-8. Also, it is always recommended that the pH value should always be between 6.5 and 7.2 when taking care of premature Flowerhorns. One of the best ways in order to maintain the stability of the pH level is by changing the tank's water in a regular basis once a week. Crushed corals mixed with gravels could be an alternative solution when you cannot do water changing that often. With this, severe instability in pH levels of the water will be prevented. Having the proper instruments would also be very helpful as it is essential to inspect the pH levels of the water on the aquarium frequently.
As mention earlier, changing of water is also one of the most important aspects in maintaining a healthy environment for the fish. However, having extremely clean water is not actually the best for Flowerhorns, because this is actually very hard to maintain. Furthermore, water coming from the tap is also dangerous for the fish as it has chlorine and various minerals that are apparently unhealthy. A good measure would be when it is time to change water; it is actually a good thing not to spill all of the water. It is advisable to leave even a small bit of water in the tank that is "dirty". When all the water has been changed, this will also cause a severe shift in the environment of the fish. This will eventually leave all the fish stressed in familiarizing its new environment. It is challenging as well to change all of the tank's water because it will entail the process of getting the fish out of the water. And since it is actually an aggressive type of fish, it is very tricky to keep it inside a net for a particular time. Chances are it could jump out of the net or worse; it could be active enough to attack even the owner.
It should also be noted to keep an effective system of filtration when fish are being kept inside a fish tank. Without a good filtration system, the excess food of the fish and even its waste could actually be a contaminant to the water, which will eventually make the tank very dirty. Filters should as well be checked and cleaned on a regular basis. It is recommended to keep a sucker fish inside a tank because a sucker fish could act as the tank's janitor, cleaning all the excess food and wastes of the Flowerhorns. However, this does not apply when it comes to keeping a very territorial and active Flowerhorn, as it would just murder a suckerfish. Therefore, it is really a requirement to brush and clean tanks always for serious keeping of Flowerhorns. Also, changing water could not be substituted by the filtration systems. The filters could be clogged up by wastes, and basically not every waste particle could be filtered. Filters also have the inability to screen algaes that are sticking on the tank's sides. These are the very reasons why the water should be changed regularly and tanks are being maintained clean.
The presence of oxygen pumps is as well essential for the health of flowerhorns in a tank. These pumps do the job of replenishing and dissolving the oxygen in the water. Oxygen pumps are also capable of keeping the flow of water and mild currents, which prevents the unequal distribution of oxygen concentration in the water temperature. It is a must to keep the water flowing as this makes the filtration system operate effectively. Putting salt in the water is also an efficient technique in stabilizing sorts. It keeps the condition of water well and makes Flowerhorns healthy. Salts have the abiulity to disinfect and eradicate parasites present in the water. However, it is recommended to put just a small amount of salt into the water because excessive salt presence could actually kill any marine creature.
Placing photos in the background of the tank and positioning plants that are actually fake is also advisable as it give the fish the same feel with its natural environment. The belief that real plants are better placed in tanks rather than fake plants is actually false. This is because real plants are very challenging to maintain without proper care. And if ever the plants die, chances are they will just have the water contaminated.
Artificial plants and photos in the background will be helpful as well in having a good-looking tank. These materials could also harmonize the appearance of the fish.When it comes to the feeding department, a typical Flowerhorn fish has actually a ravenous appetite. However, there are no specific times as to when they should be given food. It is recommended to feed the Flowerhorn in tiny amounts. In addition, this type of fish is carnivorous by nature and has a preference to be fed with meat and live food. Flowerhorns could actually be fed with small-sized types of fish and even shrimps. In shops in the country of Singapore, feeds like blood worms are in demand as meals for Flowerhorns.
Having a perfectly maintained tank and a perfectly healthy Flowerhorn may seem hard to achieve, but the mentioned techniques are helpful in accomplishing your 'fishy' goals.