Breeding Flowerhorn Part 1
Posted on
This the first installment of a new series of articles on how Flowerhorn are breed.
Sexing Flowerhorn is where we will start. It is very difficult to sex Flowerhorn less than 3 inches. Sometimes a male will start to grow the KOK (hump) early and if so if so it is probbable that it will be a male. Females at that size just really cannot be sexed at 3 inches or less.The only other techniques that can be used at that size is the males will grow slightly faster and will usually be the most dominant fish in a tank of baby Flowerhorn. With that said, there will be exceptions to both.
At somewhat around 4 inches males will start to develop the KOK (hump). The size of the KOK will vary drastically by the age and strain of the Floerhorn. Monster Hump Flowerhorn have the biggest KOK. The hump is made up of fluid and fatty tissue and will actually increase and decrease in size depending on the conditions. When spawning, it will slightly increase in size.
Males will also grow much longer streamers from both the Dorsal and Anal fins. Once again, this can vary significantly. Males will usually grow to a larger size than females, often significantly larger. Females will have a more robust, plump and rounded belly. When they become egg laden, this will become even more obvious. When mature female sexual organs will become apparent and are directly before the anal fin. This female organ is called an oviduct.
In females it will be a round opaque tube (for laying eggs). In a mature female Flowerhorn it will often be 1/16-1/8 inch long and about the width of a regular spaghetti noodle. Males will have a much smaller Urogenital Tube and it will also be at the very front of the anal fin. It will look like a very small penis, but is not intended to ever be inserted into the female. Instead it helps them direct the spray of sperm onto the eggs that the female lays. You cannot usually see it, but typically at spawning, it does become visible. The male urogenital tube will be about the width of a straight pin. Males when breeding will be MUCH more agrresive than females and will bite your hand if put into the tank. The bite does not really hurt, but it will definitely startle you.
