Flowerhorns are a hybrid cichlid bred for one thing above all: presence. Commonly called luohan or ca la han, they are intelligent, interactive, genuinely aggressive, and unlike most fish they develop individual character you can read from across a room. We hand-pick every one we carry.
Every flowerhorn is sold as an individual
You are not buying a species, you are buying a specific fish. Two siblings from the same spawn can finish completely differently in kok size, pearling, flowering and base color, which is why we list them one at a time by tank tag rather than as generic stock. What you see in the photo is the fish you get.
Strains, and what actually differs
Thai Silk lines are prized for the metallic, near-uniform sheen across the body — often silver, blue or white, with less emphasis on flowering. SRD and ZZ lines are bred for intense red coloration and heavy pearling, and tend to be the showier fish at a distance. Beyond the strain, grading comes down to the individual: kok shape and size, how the flower row sits along the flank, pearl coverage, fin quality and how the fish carries itself.
Kok development
The kok — the nuchal hump — is genetic first and environmental second. Good genetics set the ceiling; conditions determine how close the fish gets to it. Consistent warmth, quality high-protein food, stable water and enough space all contribute. No food or supplement will produce a large kok on a fish that does not have the genetics for one, whatever the packaging claims.
Housing one
A single flowerhorn wants a tank of its own. They are territorial enough that most tank mates end up either injured or dead, and a full-grown fish is large, produces a heavy bioload, and will rearrange anything you put in the tank. Plan for strong filtration and a lid. Many keepers run them bare-bottom or close to it, simply because the fish will move everything else anyway.
We write more about flowerhorn keeping at Flowerhorn.Co, our flowerhorn-specific site. Our flowerhorn stock is held at the Mid-City University Ave location.
