Red dragon or zz flowerhorn?

[Brandonclark88]

Some flowerhorns you get lucky and get great genetics and they have a nice hump at the 2-3" range. I live in BFE in the Midwest and took a shot on this guy and got lucky lol. Just give yours some time and some tlc and I'm sure it will make a great wet pet, regardless if it's head comes in or not.

 

[Khoi Ta]

Same one. Pictures are less than a month apart. His head started growing once he stopped being shy. He's between 5-6" now. Picture is a little over a week old. In the original pic he's around 3" in the second pic it's around 5". He's growing like a weed. Just keep up on feedings and keep his water clean. I also noticed a difference when I raised his water temp from The upper 70s to the lower and mid 80s.

What do I feed mine? I live near Petsmart and Petco, they only have shrimp, pellets, bloodworms for flowerhorn and that is the best option and crickets of course.

But when do I stop feeding him feeder fish? I know feeding him feeder fish is a bad thing but J want him to grow fast

 

[Brandonclark88]

Stop feeding him feeders immediately. If he's hungry, he will eat. Petco sells hikari and new life spectrum pellets. Both are a lot better for your flowerhorn than feeders. Feeders are also a lot more likely to get your fish introduced to diseases unless you can quarantine them for a while.

 

[Khoi Ta]

It been exactly 3-4 days, I put the smaller one back in the tank because without the smaller male with it in the same tank, it doesn't even move and I tested it for a few days and the smaler male was about to die so I put it back in and it went super exited to see it but then a few hours, it go to the bottom of the tank like always and doesn't swim up omg.

it been exactly 3 weeks now. he is still shy, the small one is always confident and aggressive, even after it almost die. the i fed the small one only (kamfa), and the red dragon doesn't eat still, and it been 4 days, so how many days till i feed it? idk what to feed it, shrimp, crickets, pellets, etc always stay up at the top of tank.

only feeder fish swim around, that why he eat it because he see it

 

[Man-made Monsters]

These two flower horn should not be in the same tank!!!!! They each need their own tank. Your little Flowerhorn isn't moving around because he hasn't settled in and you put the other flowerhorn back in. So he is stressed out and if you are feeding him feeders he's going to get sick and die. If he had his own tank after a few days he would eat pellets. People on this forum are giving you advice, and you are not listening.

 

[Khoi Ta]

The big flowerhorn is not moving now had parasites or white poop

 

[Chaory]

The big flowerhorn is not moving now had parasites or white poop

Most likely it is from feeding feeders. Live foods may carry parasites and diseases, unless you quarantine them first etc. Also feeders are Coldwater fish. Your fish is a warm water fish. Cold water fish has more fat. Too much fat isn't a good diet. In the wild, bigger fish do eat smaller fish, but in the wild there's natural remedies etc to keep fish healthy. Also always quarantine a new fish, before adding to a established tank or you may get your other fish sick, if the new fish is sick etc.

Flowerhorns needs their own tanks. As they age, they get more aggressive. Much more than most cichlids. Plus learn about cycling a aquarium if you haven't. Proper filtrations, temperature, tank size, and water changes is a must for keeping your Flowerhorn healthy.

I keep my temperature around 84-85 degrees F. He seems to be more comfortable and thrive better in that range. If lower than 82-83 degrees he tends to stay near the heater.

Hope you learn and get better at the hobby.