The Flowerhorn fish, a hybrid cichlid species, is renowned for its vibrant colors, distinctive nuchal hump, and intricate patterns resembling a flower. Originating from selective breeding in Southeast Asia, they exhibit diverse color variations and unique markings. Popular in the aquarium trade for their striking appearance, Flowerhorns are known for their aggressive behavior and territorial nature. Their diet consists of high-protein pellets supplemented with live or frozen foods. Flowerhorns are prized by enthusiasts for their beauty and personality, making them sought-after additions to freshwater aquariums.

1. University of Chakwal, Pakistan

2. Department of zoology
PRESENTED BY: HAFSA KHIZAR
REG. NO: UOC-BSZOL-F2020/011
BS ZOOLOGY
SESSION 2020-24
SUBJECT: Ichthyology
SUBMITTED TO: DR SYEDA NADIA AHMAD
TOPIC: Flower horn fish

3. ➢ The flower horn (Cichlasoma
trimaculatum) is an
ornamental fish which is very
expensive.
➢ It is aquarium fish kept as
ornamental fish.
➢ It is brightly colored fish with
colorful scales.
➢ It has a large hump on head
due to which it is called flower
horn.
Introduction
Figure 1: Flower horn fish
https://www.tfhmagazine.com/-/media.

4. ➢ They are artificially created ornamental fishes.
➢ They are man made hybrids.
➢ They were initially created in Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan in
the 1990s.
➢ Through careful cross-breeding of different Cichlosoma species.
➢ Despite being omnivorous, hardy, aggressive, and territorial.
➢ Flower horns are well-known for their vibrant colors and
unusually formed heads, which made them popular with fish
hobbyists (Herder et al., 2012).

5. c
Classification of flower horn
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopetergii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Amphilophus

6. Morphology
➢ Flower horn is a famous aquarium fish often bred with other
cichlid species.
➢ On the basis of body patterns, color and presence of hump on
head they are divided into different species.
➢ There are different varieties such as:
▪ Kamfa
▪ Zhen zhu
▪ Golden base
▪ Nakeemix (Sari et al.,2023)

7. Body shape and size
➢ The mature flower horn fish is about 35 to 40 centimeters in
length (Sari et al.,2023).
➢ Flower horn fish usually have a deep, compressed profile and a
sturdy, elongated body form.
➢ Flower horn fish have a diverse spectrum of body forms that
can change according on individual traits, breeding methods,
and genetic heritage.
➢ The common body shapes are oval, rectangular and heart shape.

8. Head structure
➢ The most distinguishing
characteristic is the nuchal
hump on the head.
➢ It is present on forehead
between the eyes.
➢ The size and shape of hump
vary between species.
➢ It is the desirable trait and
result of selective breeding.
Figure 2: Head of flower horn
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9. Mouth and fin structure
➢ Mouth is often large and
upward or downward
oriented.
➢ Large eyes are present on
head.
➢ Fins are elongated and consist
of filaments or extensions.
➢ The dorsal and anal fin show
different patterns and colors
in different species of flower
horn (Barlow, 2008). Figure 3: Mouth and fin structure
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com.

10. Color patterns of flower horn
➢ Variety of color patterns are
available according to species.
➢ Red, yellow, silver or brown colors
along with white or black patches.
➢ The most common variety is Red
Dragon flower horn.
➢ It turns brightly red in color when
matures.
➢ The females are brightly colored
than the males (Barlow, 2008).
Figure 4: Red Dragon Flower horn
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2015/08/flowerhorn5.jpg

11. Behavior of flower horn
➢ Flower horn feed on variety of food.
➢ They lay almost 500 eggs during their burrow spawning.
➢ The parents provide excellent protection for the fry, and after
they mate, they will continue to spawn when the fry reach
adulthood.
➢ Flower horn parents may keep looking after their fry for a few
weeks or months until they are mature enough to take care of
themselves (Nasution et al.,2022).

12. Conditions for cultivation in the aquarium
➢ For a single Flower horn, a minimum tank size of 75 gallons
(284 liters) is advised.
➢ The temperature range of 32 to 35 degrees Celsius is good.
➢ For Flower horn fish, a pH range of 7.4 to 8.0 is usually advised.
➢ This range offers somewhat alkaline water conditions, more in
keeping with Flower horn fish's natural habitat.
➢ Especially in the areas where their progenitors evolved
(Ngarianto et al.,2022).

13. Importance of flower horn
➢ Because of their distinctive look and fascinating activity, flower
horn fish are important for aquarium keeping, culture, the
economics, and conservation.
➢ Their beauty enhances the visual experience for aquarium
lovers and spectators by bringing beauty and vitality to public
displays, home aquariums, and aquatic shows.
➢ They are considered as source of luck and positive energy.
➢ They are displayed in the traditional ceremonies as gifts or
decorative items.

14. Economic impact
➢ Flower horn fishes are man made hybrid and considered as
invasive specie.
➢ Flower horns are omnivorous and considered as threat for small
fishes, fry and eggs.
➢ Additionally, introduced fish may outcompete native species by
taking use of scarce resources (such as food or breeding
locations).
➢ Fish that have been introduced may serve as parasite and disease
carriers (Herder et al.,2012).

15. ➢ This sector also generate a large
revenue by exporting in countries
such as Malaysia and Indonesia
etc.
➢ A research in lake Matano show
that flower horns spread along the
coast (Herder et al.,2012).
➢ Then they started feeding on the
endemic fauna including fishes.
➢ They become successful invasive
specie.
➢ And become threat to biodiversity.
Figure 5: Flower horn feeding
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16. Interesting facts
➢ "Flower horn" refers to a hybrid between two species of South
American cichlids, Cichlasoma and Amphilophus, that resulted
in hybridization.
➢ The specific South American cichlids that are the ancestors of
the Flower horn are kept a trade secret.
➢ The Flower horn was bred in Malaysia in the latter part of the
1990s.
➢ Its origin has recently been the subject of much speculation,
with several ideas proposed to explain it.

17. Theories of origin
➢ According to one theory, the Trimac Cichlid (A. trimaculatum)
and Goldfish genes were combined in a Malaysian genetics lab to
artificially produce the Flowerhorn Cichlid.
➢ The most likely origin, however, points to hybridization between
the Trimac Cichlid and other South American cichlid species.
➢ Including the
▪ Red-headed Cichlid (Viejasynspila),
▪ Midas Cichlid (A. citrinellum),
▪ And Red Devil Cichlid (A. labaitum) (Sari et al.,2023).

18. ➢ The Flower horn, being a member of the cichlid family,
demonstrates exceptional parental care.
➢ It results in a high rate of young one survival.
➢ While the Flower horn is a predatory fish that feeds on smaller fish.
➢ It can quickly destroy any tiny fish in its natural habitat.
➢ Flower horn fish are important to Asian cultures, especially in
Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and other Asian nations.
➢ They are frequently seen as representations of good fortune, wealth,
and positive energy.
➢ The price of flower horn depends upon its for head size (Ngarianto
et al.,2022).

19. References
▪ Barlow, G. (2008). The cichlid fishes: nature's grand experiment in evolution. Basic Books.
▪ Herder, F., Schliewen, U. K., Geiger, M. F., Hadiaty, R. K., Gray, S. M., McKinnon, J. S., ...
& Pfaender, J. (2012). Alien invasion in Wallace's Dreamponds: records of the
hybridogenic" flowerhorn" cichlid in Lake Matano, with an annotated checklist of fish
species introduced to the Malili Lakes system in Sulawesi. Aquatic Invasions, 7(4).
▪ Nasution, S. H., Akhdiana, I., Muchlis, A. M., & Cinnawara, H. T. (2022, July). Size
distribution and length-weight relationship of invasive species flowerhorn (Cichlasoma
trimaculatum (Günther, 1867) in Lake Mahalona, South Sulawesi. In IOP Conference
Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1062, No. 1, p. 012002). IOP Publishing.
▪ Ngarianto, H., Purwanto, E. S., & Andrean, H. (2022). Cultivation of Flowerhorn Species in
Search of Superior Quality Seeds using IoT and Open CV. International Journal of Emerging
Technology and Advanced Engineering, 12(12), 75-83.
▪ Sari, D. W. K., Achmad, H., Rahman, H., & Bimasuci, H. (2023). Molecular Identification
of Several Morphologically Distinct Flowerhorn Fish (Family) Using Mitochondrial COI
Gene Marker. Journal of Tropical Biodiversity and Biotechnology, 8(2), 78459