luohanaus.com • Flowerhorn Strains

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Flowerhorn Strains
Flowerhorn strains There are 4 main strains of flowerhorn, all of which can vary a great deal depending on where they came from, and who bred them.. Everyone has a different take on how each strain should look, so as these fish are bred more, there becomes a lot more difference within each strain.. As an example, you may find a ZZ (Zhen Zhou) with large kok lots of red, but be lacking when it comes to pealrs and script (flowers) and body shape.. Then the next one you may see might have great script, good body shape, good pearls, good body and fins, but has small kok (nuchal hump). The reason for this is that each breeder has there own idea of their perfect flowerhorn, and breed for there most desired traits. This example is also true for all other breeds of flowerhorn.. The 4 groups we have are: ZZ/Zhen zhou, Kamfa, gold base/ Faders, and Kamalau/golden monkey.. Firstly,Zhen zhou.. Zhen zhou means pearl flowerhorn, and these are the most widely available, mostly because they are the most hardy, and the most fertile, therefor making them much easier to breed.. For this same reason, ZZ have been bred with most other strains to improve fertility/hardiness and certain desired traits.. Zhen Zhou Breeding: ZZ are very fertile, and can be bred the same way as most aggressive american cichlids.. The use of a divider is very handy and is the most common technique used Zhen Zhou Care: They have no special needs in terms of care, they can tolerate a wide range of ph (6.8 - 7.6) 7.2-7.4 seems to get the best results.. They can also tolerate quite high temperature of up to 32*c, with 26-28 being the optimum range Basic routine maintainence is all that's required.. Clean water and varied diet is all thats need for these to thrive.. Classic Zhen Zhou Strains: within ZZ there are 2 strains, Red Dragon, which is known for it bright red collar and Blue Dragon, which can still have the red collar, but has more of a blue sheen on the body rather than the brighter pearls of a red dragon.. As mentioned above, there can be a lot of variation within each strain.. Red Dragon Red Dragon Blue Dragon Blue Dragon Kamfa Identification: Some Kamfa charecteristics are white/yellow eyes, although they can be red also, they can have a larger square body and large water kok, also a wrapped tail and sunken eyes are desirable.. A basic Kamfa can be made by crossing a Zhen Zhou with a blood parrot or king kong parrot, but these normally carry more of the zz traits with yellow or white eyes and a stronger tail.. More desirable kamfa can be made using many of the vieja (paratheraps) species. Breeding Kamfa: Kamfa have been known to be less fertile than ZZ, and it is said that yellow and white eyed kamfa are likely to be infertile where as red eye kamfa have been known to be more fertile.. Because of these fertility issues it can take a lot longer to produce high quality kamfa, and they therefore demand a higher price.. Kamfa Care:Looking after a kamfa takes a bit more work, as they can be more sensative to water parameter changes.. It's best to use aged water (water that has been heated, airated and conditioned for at least 24 hours) Newer strains arent as bad, but do require good tank maintainence to look there best.. Gold base/ Faders: They are called "Faders" because when they are juvies, they turn a dark colour, and then fade to a nice yellow/orange or red colour.. As stated above there is a lot of variation within this classification, for example, the red texas is also classed as a fader.. Fader Breeding: faders are quite fertile and are as easily bred as the ZZ strains.. Fader Care: no special care is needed, just good water conditions and a good diet the same as a ZZ will bring out there best potential.. This fader is still going through the "fading" process.. Last but not least, Golden monkey/ Kamalau.. I'm not going to get into the big argument that can be had about kamalau, what ill do is give a quick overview.. The original Kamalau does not exist anymore, what is around is a replacement for them.. They are as close as breeders could get (the original breeder couldnt even replicate this breed) To be classified as GM, it should have a shorter face then ZZ, an underbite, stronger tail than zz, but not as wrapped as kamfa, and generaly worm pearl covering covering at least the head.. Remember this is just my opinion.. I could write a couple pages just on GM, but i wont, ill just end this thread on some nice new age GM for all to enjoy.. Hope you enjoy..

Flowerhorn Strains

Flowerhorn strains

There are 4 main strains of flowerhorn, all of which can vary a great deal depending on where they came from, and who bred them..
Everyone has a different take on how each strain should look, so as these fish are bred more, there becomes a lot more difference within each strain..
As an example, you may find a ZZ (Zhen Zhou) with large kok lots of red, but be lacking when it comes to pealrs and script (flowers) and body shape..
Then the next one you may see might have great script, good body shape, good pearls, good body and fins, but has small kok (nuchal hump).
The reason for this is that each breeder has there own idea of their perfect flowerhorn, and breed for there most desired traits.
This example is also true for all other breeds of flowerhorn..

The 4 groups we have are: ZZ/Zhen zhou, Kamfa, gold base/ Faders, and Kamalau/golden monkey..

Firstly,Zhen zhou..
Zhen zhou means pearl flowerhorn, and these are the most widely available, mostly because they are the most hardy, and the most fertile, therefor making them much easier to breed..
For this same reason, ZZ have been bred with most other strains to improve fertility/hardiness and certain desired traits..

Zhen Zhou Breeding: ZZ are very fertile, and can be bred the same way as most aggressive american cichlids..
The use of a divider is very handy and is the most common technique used

Zhen Zhou Care: They have no special needs in terms of care, they can tolerate a wide range of ph (6.8 - 7.6) 7.2-7.4 seems to get the best results..
They can also tolerate quite high temperature of up to 32*c, with 26-28 being the optimum range
Basic routine maintainence is all that's required..
Clean water and varied diet is all thats need for these to thrive..

Classic Zhen Zhou Strains: within ZZ there are 2 strains, Red Dragon, which is known for it bright red collar and Blue Dragon, which can still have the red collar, but has more of a blue sheen on the body rather than the brighter pearls of a red dragon..
As mentioned above, there can be a lot of variation within each strain..

Red Dragon

Red Dragon

Blue Dragon

Kamfa
Identification: Some Kamfa charecteristics are white/yellow eyes, although they can be red also, they can have a larger square body and large water kok, also a wrapped tail and sunken eyes are desirable..

A basic Kamfa can be made by crossing a Zhen Zhou with a blood parrot or king kong parrot, but these normally carry more of the zz traits with yellow or white eyes and a stronger tail..
More desirable kamfa can be made using many of the vieja (paratheraps) species.

Breeding Kamfa: Kamfa have been known to be less fertile than ZZ, and it is said that yellow and white eyed kamfa are likely to be infertile where as red eye kamfa have been known to be more fertile..

Because of these fertility issues it can take a lot longer to produce high quality kamfa, and they therefore demand a higher price..

Kamfa Care:Looking after a kamfa takes a bit more work, as they can be more sensative to water parameter changes..
It's best to use aged water (water that has been heated, airated and conditioned for at least 24 hours)
Newer strains arent as bad, but do require good tank maintainence to look there best..

Gold base/ Faders: They are called "Faders" because when they are juvies, they turn a dark colour, and then fade to a nice yellow/orange or red colour..
As stated above there is a lot of variation within this classification, for example, the red texas is also classed as a fader..

Fader Breeding: faders are quite fertile and are as easily bred as the ZZ strains..

Fader Care: no special care is needed, just good water conditions and a good diet the same as a ZZ will bring out there best potential..

This fader is still going through the "fading" process..

Last but not least, Golden monkey/ Kamalau..

I'm not going to get into the big argument that can be had about kamalau, what ill do is give a quick overview..
The original Kamalau does not exist anymore, what is around is a replacement for them..
They are as close as breeders could get (the original breeder couldnt even replicate this breed)
To be classified as GM, it should have a shorter face then ZZ, an underbite, stronger tail than zz, but not as wrapped as kamfa, and generaly worm pearl covering covering at least the head..
Remember this is just my opinion..
I could write a couple pages just on GM, but i wont, ill just end this thread on some nice new age GM for all to enjoy..

Hope you enjoy..

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