Should or should not put pebbles and stones in flowerhorn aquarium?
- Thread starter Percival Cuan
- Start date
Hello, Flowerhorns like to rearrange their substrata, so rocks and driftwood and ornaments on sand or bare bottom. (sounds like a nude beach) if you get gravel, get rounded gravel pebbles. River Gems sells some nice looking agate substrate. The bags are sold in 2 and 5lb bags. The bags have a mix of small agates, that go from beige to milky white to clear. Forget the exact price. Reasonable though. You can get rounded gravel in any color. I have white sand mixed with sky blue round gravel. My cichlid is constantly rearranging. Looks nice with occasionally changing vistas. I have the River Gem agates in the other tank.
Since flowerhorns and some other fish use their mouth to move the substrata, best to use something round so as not to scrape or cut the inside of their mouth.
If you have a light colored fish you might go for a darker color substrata to make your fish stand out. Live plants are not adviced as they will uproot and/or eat them. I have underwater gardens in several of my tanks. Except in the cichlid tanks. In one I have nice looking fake plants. I do throw in an occasional sprig of water wisteria or narrow leaf Ludvigia for them to munch on.
Since flowerhorns and some other fish use their mouth to move the substrata, best to use something round so as not to scrape or cut the inside of their mouth.
If you have a light colored fish you might go for a darker color substrata to make your fish stand out. Live plants are not adviced as they will uproot and/or eat them. I have underwater gardens in several of my tanks. Except in the cichlid tanks. In one I have nice looking fake plants. I do throw in an occasional sprig of water wisteria or narrow leaf Ludvigia for them to munch on.
Big stones are all right but they can burrow away and cause them to topple maybe on the fish. Mine has done it, but fortunately it didn't land on my fish.
It is written you can seat your ornaments on the bare bottom, but if you have a glass tank be careful. I found rocks that have a lot of mostly flat surface area at the base are stable. Good luck.
It is written you can seat your ornaments on the bare bottom, but if you have a glass tank be careful. I found rocks that have a lot of mostly flat surface area at the base are stable. Good luck.
Some decor is needed as it helps to reduce stress in tanks. If the fh is doing fine then wouldn’t worry about it.
I agree with kno4te, my tanks have multiple grottos and caves and rock mountains and plants, but also free swimming space. If a fish has hollows to retreat to it will feel more secure and will also then be out swimming about. I try to create a Habitat. I make certain my rock formations are stable and use a mix of artificial and real rocks. Volcanic rock purchased at your fish store has thousands of minute holes for more beneficial bacteria to inhabit, and make striking ornaments.
It's also sharp as all get out, and with one of the most genetically weak designer fish on the planet I would never risk keeping lava rock in a FH tank.
I have kept several FH over the years, all raised in bare bottomed tanks, for this exact reason. A cut on the lip, side, or head, often leads to a bacterial infection, which with a FH can sometimes become a death sentence. Considering that many FH keepers also keep their water temp at 82F or more, it's also a perfect breeding ground for some of the nastiest bacteria that one can find in aquariums. Fun stuff like columnaris aka flexibacter aka duck lips.
Hmm, Good points @RD about the sharp edges of volcanic stone. I never had a problem with it, that I know of but I don't have FH. Will have to rethink my tanks and replace the Volcanic rock or file sharp edges. I have small broken pieces in my Cannister filters as a matrix exra biomaterial. That won't hurt the fish. Thanks for that.
I have had fish about a my life. For the last 5 - 6 years I lost interest in my tank but now I have a new one and I read all these posts and advice. I look at youtube. Lots of catching up on aquariums and fish. The one thing I personally do not like is bare aquarium boxes. I think an aquarium should show a natural setting. I know Flowerhorns are special bred but they are still living fish. The glass box is the easy way out. Glass box with clay pots ugh!!
I agree, I try to make a Habitat in my various tanks for my Finned creatures. I do have a few Volcanic stones, but besides that I have a lot of rocks and caves and plants. My fish seem happy. One of my tanks has a castle with two swim through s and large hang out cave that some of them sleep in.
Of course this comes down to personal tastes, no need to look down on or insult either approach -- but may I ask LBDave, have you ever owned a masterpiece Flowerhorn worth $500-$1,000+? If you did, which I kinda doubt, you might change your thinking to be more in line with RD's recommended full bare bottom, or at least something like my minimalist style (complete with 'designer' clay pots lol)...
And yes that's his house, he sleeps there every night, then comes out to play all day -- and he's as happy or happier than any fish in any of your natural tanks, I have vids to prove it
