When I first saw a flowerhorn Cichlid, I was stunned. It was a super-red dragon. It looked almost like an ET from a sci-fi movie. A few years later, I am the proud owner of several of these fish.

This blog will cover the various types of flowerhorn Cichlids. Let’s start with a brief introduction.

Flowerhorn Cichlids: Introduction And Origin

The ornamental aquarium fish Flowerhorn cichlids are well-known for their unique looks and vivid colors.

Flowerhorns are not accidental, unlike blood parrot cichlids. In 1993, they were selectively and deliberately bred in Malaysia. They are hybrid Central American cichlids.

Amphilophus trimaculatus was the original parent of this first generation of cichlids. They have acted and resembled this species until now.

These fish are hugely popular in Asia, particularly in Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia and Malaysia. They also have a growing following in Western countries.

They are believed to bring luck in Taiwan.

There is a fascinating story behind the name flowerhorn. The name flowerhorn comes from the famous flower-like pattern and the hump at the top.

Naturally, fish with the best markings and the largest hump sell at high prices.

Breeders have made sure that the bloodlines are not crossed in order to breed healthy cichlids despite artificial breeding. These fish are protected from the many genetic defects that hybrid fish can cause by careful breeding.

Flowerhorns, for example, are extremely fertile and a rare find among hybrid fish.

Let’s now, and without further delay, look at the various types of flowerhorns that are commonly found in fishkeeping.

10 Types Of Flowerhorns

• Kamfa
• King Kamfa
• Zhen Zhu
• Golden Monkey
• Golden Base
• Kamfa Malau
• Thai Silk
• Super Red Dragon
• IndoMalau
• Tan King

Kamfa

Kamfa is undoubtedly the most desired flowerhorn type we know. Kamfa are comparatively difficult to raise but fish-keepers often choose kamfa over Zhen Zhus.

Kamfas are the result of luohans, who were the first generation of official flowerhorns.

To be a Kamfa fish, it must possess certain characteristics. These five qualities are: a square body with rounded mouth, wrapped fins and strong tail; no underbite, overbite, or drooping.

The caudal tail’s rays must be strong and straight to prevent the tail from drooping.

Kamfas’ older generations have yellow, white, and orange eyes. However, the new generation has ruby-red eyes.

The eyes are used to usually determine the fertility status of a cichlid.

Sometimes, white eyes can indicate that the fish is sterile. Red-eyed Kamfas, however, are considered the most fertile.

King Kamfa

The moniker reveals that King Kamfas are the most elite members of the Kamfa family. Only 2 to 10% of high-quality batches of fry are King Kamfas.

The fish must have strong markings, great pearl coverage and vivid colors to be considered King Kamfa.

This fish is best known for its massive nuchal hump (also known as Kok) and unique patterns. These fish also have longer bodies and tails than the standard Kamfas.

This strain is distinguished by its deep black double flower row and thick white pearling.

The eyes are usually yellow or white, but the modern King Kamfas have a red one.

King Kamfas were first produced in Thailand. They are now widely produced commercially in Vietnam. They are the most expensive flowerhorn variety.

Zhen Zhu

Zen Zhu, another breed of flowerhorns, is derived from the Louhan lineage. Although they were a little later than Kamfas, they are still very popular.

To be Zhen Zhu, a flowerhorn must have certain qualities. It should be tapered and long in order to be Zhen Zhu, as opposed to the Kamfa’s rectangular shape.

It should have a pointed mouth, an underbite or overbite, long fins and a drooping tail.

Zhen Zhu flowerhorns have large head flowers and protruding red eyes.

Zhen Zhu literally means “pearl flowerhorn”. This variety is known for its pearling ability.

Zhen Zhu is often used to breed other flowerhorn types in order to improve the pearling (flowerline), for the next generation. Unfortunately, weak and drooping tails are often carried over.

Golden Monkey

Golden Monkey Flowerhorns are not like monkeys. They are vibrant and colorful with a prominent nuchal head.

Golden Monkeys are not mixed-blooded, unlike Zhen Zhu and Kamfa. They are the original Louhan-based fish.

They are muscular with thick chins and long hardtails at their ends.

Golden Monkeys as juveniles look rather dull with silver and brown linings. As they get older, their upper bodies develop amazing red and silver patterns.

Lam Soon and Lam Seah, who are affectionately known as Good Fortune, were the first to breed Golden Monkey cichlids. They were sold to A-1 Aquarium after three generations of success.

These fish are highly sought-after due to their rarity and beauty.

One Golden Monkey sold in Malaysia for more than $600,000.

Golden Base

Golden Base flowerhorns are a grouping of many varieties such as Faders or Golden Trimacs.

Faders has a fascinating story. Because they lose almost all their colors as young animals and become opaque black, they are called Faders. As they age, the black slowly fades and is replaced by a vibrant color, usually orange or red.

A Golden Trimac is a cross that produces a fish with yellow and red color.

The Golden Base family is also closely related to popular Red Texas cichlids. These cichlids were originally created by crossing a Green Texas with Mammon and Blood Parrot, and then crossing the offspring back into the parents to achieve a deep red color.

Red Texas’s most important parameter in grading is the color intensity.

You can rate them as:

Deep Red: Most desirable color

Coral: Coral with pink undertones

Orange is the most common color

Yellow: Second-lowest Grade

Unfaded: The lowest grade

Kamfa Malau

Kamfa Malau, as the name implies, is a mix of a Kafma male & a Malau woman. These fish are blessed with the best qualities from both their parents.

The Kamfa’s face, body, sunken eyes and finnage are often reminiscent of one.

Kamfa Malau cichlids are distinguished by their pearlings. The fins are unique in that they have a stunning-looking, frosted pearl appearance.

Similar to the pearling, which often crosses the entire length of the head bump, this is another unique feature only found in these fish.

These fish inherit the best traits of their parents.

The Kamfa Malau female flowerhorn is a pale yellow.

Males, on the other hand will mature to different degrees of color and nuchal size. They also have longer dorsal and anal fins.

Thai Silk

Thai Silk, also known by Titanium flowerhorn, a relatively new variety. It is characterized by a gorgeous powder blue color with gold and white undertones.

Cherry red eyes. The good news is that the eyes are associated with higher fertility.

Although the origin of this fish is unknown, a new strain was developed recently to produce square-shaped fish. However, their eyes can be either white, yellow or red.

This new strain is a mix of pure Texas, White Tigers and Vieja.

Thai Silks aren’t aggressive, unlike other flowerhorns. They can be kept in a tank with other cichlids that are similar in size and temperament.

These fish are also quite hardy. They will show their best colors if the water conditions are right and they get a healthy diet.

Super Red Dragon

There are many flowerhorn breeds available, but the Super Red Dragon is the most famous and most valuable (just the male, the females aren’t as flashy).

This fish is deep red in color with black markings or “flowers” down its sides. It also has a large nuchal hump over the head that sometimes bears black flowers.

The eyes are small and hollow and the teeth are sharp and tiny. The lower lip protrudes and the Churchillian fold is beneath the chin.

Anal and dorsal fins both have a braid-like end. The tail is also almost round.

Because of their large bodies, they can swim slower than smaller fish due to this.

IndoMalau

The Indonesian Luohan Club created the IndoMalau variety. According to reports, they bred a Malau or Golden Monkey female with a Zhen Zhu man.

The second generation was born from the Elvis selection and a Golden Monkey male.

The flowerhorns of IndoMalau have extensive pearling on their bodies, heads, and faces.

Their pattern is also very fine, comparable to Zhen Zhus and King Kamfas. As they get older, their pearls become more delicately woven and thinner.

Deep red is the upper body, which is located between the pectoral fins. The tail is dominated by the lower half, which has a golden gradient.

The body is also quite large and tall, much like the original luohan types.

The chin is also prominent and the head protrudes forward. The tail is also fan-shaped, similar to a Kamfa’s.

Tan King

A Mr. Tan, a Vietnamese man, created the Tan King strain. He crossed a Zhen Zhu and a Kamfa, according to reports.

This fish is adorned with pearls and has a Kamfa-like flower. The body and fins of this fish closely match those of Zhen Zhu.

The eyes protrude and the tail is rounded like a Zhen Zhu.

This is our list of the most well-known flowerhorn strains.

Through American breeding programs, several new flowerhorn varieties have been created. It’s difficult for the US, however, to compete with East Asia’s well-established and successful breeding farms.

Let’s take a look at some of these earliest flowerhorn varieties.

List of Early Flowerhorn Strains

• Unique track
• Perfect harmony
• Tornado effect
• Coronation link
• Exotic wonder
• Ancient warship
• Absolute wonder
• Creative measure
• Quantum grace
• Pacific miracle
• Living legend
• Legacy
• Royal degree
• Scarlet passion
• Rising rainbow

Question of Ethics

Commercial farming and flowerhorn raising pose a moral dilemma. I have had my fair share of doubts.

Hobbyists and environmentalists have criticized the breeding of flowerhorns for many reasons.

First, the deformed and surplus flowerhorns left in the wild in Singapore or Malaysia have survived and disrupted ecosystems.

Second, it is selfish and inhumane to breed for anatomical defects. Although the fish might look unique and appealing, they are often plagued with genetic defects.

Flowerhorns can live for a very long time. The question of ethics will be left to their respective owners.