Flowerhorn grading and types.

ECW

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Sep 11, 2011
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Oahu, Hi.
Why do we have these posts? Is there some weird inferiority complex? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Are you not happy with what you have? Or are you seeking solace? Both flowerhorn above are pretty good quality. You want a grade? Truthfully? Crash’s flowerhorn is a meh. Aq’s is a stunner fader. It’s what you want in your fish. Flowerhorn grading is pretty straight forward but not... We can all search and find the perfect (or near ideal perfect) fish if you took the time to find exactly what you wanted and if your willing to sacrifice in money and time. My flowerhorn’s are trash compared to some of them i’ve seen personally and online. But hell with that. I get my ideal traits and love em. No need to be jealous. We can’t all have the most beautiful! There will always be better and more attractive. it’s like looking at what what you want in a partner! Lets post pics of our wives and girlfriends! Lol. Same idea.
 
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Magnus_Bane

Redtail Catfish
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Jan 26, 2020
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Why do we have these posts? Is there some weird inferiority complex? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Are you not happy with what you have? Or are you seeking solace? Both flowerhorn above are pretty good quality. You want a grade? Truthfully? Crash’s flowerhorn is a meh. Aq’s is a stunner fader. It’s what you want in your fish. Flowerhorn grading is pretty straight forward but not... We can all search and find the perfect (or near ideal perfect) fish if you took the time to find exactly what you wanted and if your willing to sacrifice in money and time. It’s like looking at what you’d want looks wise in a partner. Lets post pics of our wives and girlfriends! Lol. Same idea.
Totally agree on that fact that ppl should only buy a fish if they love the way it looks to them personally. But I do understand why some ppl want a highly graded FH as well. Mainly when I think of the grade of a FH is when it comes to breeding for profit or competions. A low grade FH will not make you $ like a high grade FH will, however it may look like the best FH in your eyes which is fine. If you have no plans on breeding it or only plan to breed for fun go for it, get the FH you like the most and don't pay any attention to grade, but if your strictly getting one to breed for profit or for competions that's the only time you need to pay attention to the grade of it.
 

ECW

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Sep 11, 2011
1,324
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Oahu, Hi.
I guess if your looking for a zz... Straight flower lines. Triple row. Grapefruit sized kok. 9/10 of its body red or more. With crazy blue pearling throughout (50% or more). Intricate full worm pearling on kok with full coverage and full color covering the face (especially in the space between the eyes and kok). Full fins with wrap tail and full color, no clear edges and with intricate blue lines and pearling. Box body shape. Short face. And super aggressive. Good luck! Lol.
 

ECW

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Sep 11, 2011
1,324
576
150
Oahu, Hi.
Totally agree on that fact that ppl should only buy a fish if they love the way it looks to them personally. But I do understand why some ppl want a highly graded FH as well. Mainly when I think of the grade of a FH is when it comes to breeding for profit or competions. A low grade FH will not make you $ like a high grade FH will, however it may look like the best FH in your eyes which is fine. If you have no plans on breeding it or only plan to breed for fun go for it, get the FH you like the most and don't pay any attention to grade, but if your strictly getting one to breed for profit or for competions that's the only time you need to pay attention to the grade of it.
I agree. That’s why we have some of the most beautiful flowerhorn’s easily in this day and age. But even then. That true mp most of us wish for is not gonna be found by most of us. Good luck buying it off a breeder. I haven’t seen a flowerhorn online or in any competitions that have bested the kamfa mix mascot that my lfs had over 10 years ago. Dream to take the perfect FH off a breeder... Come with a lot of cash and only when he’s done with it. ;)
 

Magnus_Bane

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Jan 26, 2020
2,735
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Canton SD
I guess if your looking for a zz... Straight flower lines. Triple row. Grapefruit sized kok. 9/10 of its body red or more. With crazy blue pearling throughout (50% or more). Intricate full worm pearling on kok with full coverage and full color covering the face (especially in the space between the eyes and kok). Full fins with wrap tail and full color, no clear edges and with intricate blue lines and pearling. Box body shape. Short face. And super aggressive. Good luck! Lol.
Sounds spot on for what they would be looking for from that specie in a competition. Comps are very strict on what they are looking for in a fish. Usually you won't even find anything as low as a AA grade in a comp, usually they are all AAA-S grade.
 

Magnus_Bane

Redtail Catfish
MFK Member
Jan 26, 2020
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Canton SD
I agree. That’s why we have some of the most beautiful flowerhorn’s easily in this day and age. But even then. That true mp most of us wish for is not gonna be found by most of us. Good luck buying it off a breeder. I haven’t seen a flowerhorn online or in any competitions that have bested the kamfa mix mascot that my lfs had over 10 years ago. Dream to take the perfect FH off a breeder... Come with a lot of cash and only when he’s done with it. ;)
O yeah most true competition grade FH's just aren't out on the market just because of how valuable they are to the breeder/competitor. Lol you'd almost have to sacrifice your first born child just to get one with how expensive they can be.

I dream of one day entering a competition and I'd be happy if I could even place. Granted this dream will probably remain just that, a dream. Might enter this girl into one if I can get her pearling to show more and if I can get her to develop a nice red color but if not she is still a very nice looking lol lady imo. She's one of the 2 daughters of my late Jr. I mentioned earlier.

cameringo_20200129_010708.jpg
 
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Ruturaj

Goliath Tigerfish
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Aug 6, 2011
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Seattle, WA
Why do we have these posts? Is there some weird inferiority complex? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Are you not happy with what you have? Or are you seeking solace? Both flowerhorn above are pretty good quality. You want a grade? Truthfully? Crash’s flowerhorn is a meh. Aq’s is a stunner fader. It’s what you want in your fish. Flowerhorn grading is pretty straight forward but not... We can all search and find the perfect (or near ideal perfect) fish if you took the time to find exactly what you wanted and if your willing to sacrifice in money and time. My flowerhorn’s are trash compared to some of them i’ve seen personally and online. But hell with that. I get my ideal traits and love em. No need to be jealous. We can’t all have the most beautiful! There will always be better and more attractive. it’s like looking at what what you want in a partner! Lets post pics of our wives and girlfriends! Lol. Same idea.
It has become a pissing contest on Facebook groups.

I guess if your looking for a zz... Straight flower lines. Triple row. Grapefruit sized kok. 9/10 of its body red or more. With crazy blue pearling throughout (50% or more). Intricate full worm pearling on kok with full coverage and full color covering the face (especially in the space between the eyes and kok). Full fins with wrap tail and full color, no clear edges and with intricate blue lines and pearling. Box body shape. Short face. And super aggressive. Good luck! Lol.
No one really looks at any other factor, just kok size, it's a dick measuring contest.

I agree get what you want than what everyone thinks is best. I wanted most eye pleasing qualities (kok doesn't count), you helped choose a pretty one, thanks.
 
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Flowerhorn Supply

Exodon
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I was wondering if there is anyone that can help explain this to me or if there is a good link with it.

How do you determine aaa to aa to a to b to c. Then what are the types like ZZ and Kamfa and all the other ones?


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Although there are vairiygs
I was wondering if there is anyone that can help explain this to me or if there is a good link with it.

How do you determine aaa to aa to a to b to c. Then what are the types like ZZ and Kamfa and all the other ones?


Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
I look at quality not as a grade but as low, mid, and high quality based on the quality traits they are graded on in comp.( i.e. Kamfa should have sunken in eyes, flat face, rectangular body shape, wrap fins, vibrant color, nice pearls, full cross head pearl, kok size that is proportionate to body, ect.). The more of these traits the fish has, the higher the quality.

Most of the grading (i.e. VIP, VVIP, Comp Grade, Super Comp Grade, ect.) used when selling FH is just marketing as are the various names (i.e. Blue Diamond, Galaxy, King, ect.).

There are only two types of FH, Kamfa and ZZ. Something like a Kamfamalau could fall into either category depending on what traits are most dominant in the fish. A Fader could be a Kamfa or a ZZ.

If you are not planning on competing, don't worry about grading and quality. Find a fish that is visually pleasing to you and within your budget and enjoy.
 
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Flowerhorn Supply

Exodon
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O yeah most true competition grade FH's just aren't out on the market just because of how valuable they are to the breeder/competitor. Lol you'd almost have to sacrifice your first born child just to get one with how expensive they can be.

I dream of one day entering a competition and I'd be happy if I could even place. Granted this dream will probably remain just that, a dream. Might enter this girl into one if I can get her pearling to show more and if I can get her to develop a nice red color but if not she is still a very nice looking lol lady imo. She's one of the 2 daughters of my late Jr. I mentioned earlier.

View attachment 1407878
In the USA it does not take a "true comp. grade" fish to win or place at a comp. Majority of the really high quality fish end up in Singapore and India. These fish typically run $700 - $3000.

This is my sons ZZ Fader that took 1st place in the Freemarking category at a UFA comp. This is far from a perfect fish and it did not cost a arm and a leg.

FB_IMG_1576981080692.jpg

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Flowerhorn Supply

Exodon
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Feb 6, 2018
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It has become a pissing contest on Facebook groups.



No one really looks at any other factor, just kok size, it's a dick measuring contest.

I agree get what you want than what everyone thinks is best. I wanted most eye pleasing qualities (kok doesn't count), you helped choose a pretty one, thanks.
This is not a true statement! Most experienced hobbyists want a well rounded fish, and the majority of the new FH keepers tend to want a more colorful fish. With that being said, head size is one determining factor in judging quality as FH are bred to have KOK's. A FH does not have to have a huge head to be high quality but it should have a decent size head proportionate to it's body.

If you do not like fish with a big KOK, that is YOUR personal preference.
 
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