Q. How do I make my Flowerhorn fish breed, and how do I rear the fry? At what period should I separate the baby flowerhorn from its mother?

Time To Breed

Sexual maturity is reached once the female flowerhorn grows to about four inches. The female flowerhorn lays eggs periodically, with or without a male. Signs of ovulation are decreased appetite, increased aggressiveness and a darkening of colors, with enhanced vertical striations on the body. At the same time, the egg tube or ovipositor will elongate. The ovipositor has a blunt end, as opposed to the sharper end of the spermatic duct of the male, which is also shorter.

Breeding Flowerhorn

For breeding, a compatible pair has to be found first. What you can do is place the intended pair in a tank, separated by a clear partition. If, after a week or more, they don’t seem to show aggression towards each other, you can remove the partition and let them mingle. If all goes well, the female will lay eggs for the male to fertilize. Like most cichlids, both parents have a brooding instinct and will take cared of the young.

Tips on Rearing Flowerhorn Fry

Food suitable for the fry include newly hatched brine shrimp and commercially prepared liquid food. As they grow, they can proceed to live daphnia or chopped tubifex worms, and later, bloodworms. Rinse live worms thoroughly before feeding.

It’s hard to say when you should separate the fry from their parents. But when the parents no longer show interest in protecting their young, separation is imminent.