Breeding Flowerhorn Part 9
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Previously, we discussed how to raise the Flowerhorn fry. Now we will review how to grow out and raise the Flowerhorn fry. This will the last post in our series on how to breed Flowerhorn.
Flowerhorn have large spawns and there usually is 100 to 600 eggs, so you will need at least a 10 gallon tank to start the fry raising process. We recommend that the tank set up be simple, a 10 gallon tank, a submersible heater with thermostat and a sponge filter. That’s it.
Flowerhorn grow very fast. If kept in the proper conditions, they can reach the one inch size in two to three months. As they grow, you will want to move them into a 20 gallon tank or spread them out over several tanks. Flowerhorn are very aggressive, but can be kept together in large holding tanks until they grow to three inches. At that time, we move them into 20 gallon individual grow out tanks with about 10 in each tank.. When you keep 10 Flowerhorn or more in tanks to grow out, it is important to add lots of distractions and hiding places. For distraction, we will put three strong bubblers in the tank, The water currents keep them distracted as they have to constantly swim to move with the current and the exercise helps them to grow faster. To make lots of hiding places, we will add in eight 3 inch elbow PCV pipe fittings. These work good as they stay will be stable on the bottom and as there is a 90 degree angle, a bully Flowerhorn cannot see one hiding on the other end of the PCV tubing.
Food is very important. We feed the fry 4 times a day, as much as they can eat in 5 minutes. We feed them Beef Heart Flake twice, Egg Yolk Flake one and Freeze Dried Blood Worms once. Beef Heart Flake is very high in Protein and should be their main staple. We feed at least once at night with the lights off to make sure that all of them can get food.
Flowerhorn are very hardy. Do not spend a lot of time worrying about the conditions. They will adapt to what is their set up. We do recommend a 80% water change once a week for the first three months to avoid ammonia spikes. Keep the temperature high near 84 degrees to increase their metabolism and stimulate rapid growth.
