When I met with Nico, he did not strike me as someone who would be into Flowerhorn fish. Perhaps it is because of a bias I have that keeping a pet fish is something someone older would do. After all, many people I have interviewed for this section have told me that spending hours watching a fish swim helps relieve stress. And keeping fish does not require as much attention as, say, owning a dog.
OK, so I am wrong.
And yes, the Flowerhorn is the fish to have for this Period 8 in the Chinese calendar as the reign of the Arowana ended when the Year of the Monkey began. This means that for the next 25 years, the Flowerhorn is it.
And no, Nico did not start his affair with the Flowerhorn because of the luck it is said to bring. "I really like the face of the Flowerhorn. They also have such beautiful colors," shares Nico.
Yes, Nico says that he heard a story at the pet store near his house that one of the owners of a Flowerhorn bet the numbers he read on the body of the Flowerhorn on the lotto. He won the consolation prize. But if he had rearranged the numbers he bet on he could have won the major prize, so the story goes. It is believed that the Flowerhorn is the magnet of prosperity luck and good fortune in everything – from career to fame, to wealth and even good family life.
So, has Nico’s luck improve since he started collecting Flowerhorns?
Nico smiles as he thinks. "The course I needed in order to graduate opened a few months after I started collecting Flowerhorns in Dec. 2002. I was able to graduate in June 2003," he says.
Today, Nico has 30 35-gallon aquariums where he keeps his 30 Flowerhorns. Why? Nico says that Flowerhorns are aggressive fish and that they are happiest when they have an aquarium all to themselves. But this same aggression is what attracted Nico to the Flowerhorns. "They are the only fish that I have had that behave like dogs. They approach the glass when they see me – unlike other fish that retreat when the glass of the aquarium is tapped," adds Nico.
We checked out the www.luohan manila.com which is operated by the Philippine Arowana and Luo Han Society of the Philippines for the history of the Flowerhorns. Here’s what we got. "The Flowerhorn is actually a mongrel of a fish which was first marketed in 1998. The fish was originally developed in Malaysia. The original first-generation Flowerhorns were a result of cross-breeding the following cichlids: Trimac(Amphilophus Trimaculatus), Festae (Amphilophus Festae), Red Devil (Citrinellum), Midas (Citrinellus), and Red Parrot. Although the next generations of Flowerhorns have been the result of breeding Flowerhorns with other Flowerhorns. It took decades before the first variant of Flowerhorns were developed."
Nico says that the Flowerhorns are actually known for their size. An adult of the Pendian strain grows anywhere from 12 to 14 inches and lives from eight to 14 years. The other strain of Flowerhorns is the Jin Hua it can grow from 14 to 18 inches and has a lifespan of 16 years.
The search for the best-looking Flowerhorn is always on Nico’s mind. He has gone as far as Angeles, Pampanga in search of good-looking Flowerhorns and has even asked a friend to bring in a few from Thailand. The Flowerhorns can actually be classified into two main kinds – there is the Zhen Zhou Flowerhorns which generally have red eyes and the Kamfah or Jin Hua which have eyes that are either yellow, white, blue, orange, purple or black. The Jin Hua also have greater potential for having a big nuchal hump which is what collectors of this fish look for.
And when dealing with Flowerhorns, size of the lump on its head (nuchal hump) matters. The bigger the lump, the more expensive the fish. The luckier, too.
And just what should one look for when choosing a Flowerhorn?
"It is important that the the nuchal lump be proportional to the body size and the its fins should always fan outwards," says Nico. "But it is also good to look for a fish that has a good temperament and one that you like."
Nico is happy that everyone in his family has grown fond of his Flowerhorn collection. His two sisters have become experts at looking out for good Flowerhorns, helping Nico when he goes to check out the new fish on the market once every quarter. And his mom has become a believer in the good luck the fish brings, since Nico says her luck has improved with the fish in their lives.
OK. So is there anything more for Nico and his Flowerhorns?
"To join a show and win," says Nico as he informs us that there have been a few shows here. "And I want to be able to breed the best Flowerhorn in town, too."
Nico believes that anyone who wants to start a hobby should look at Flowerhorns. "Fish are not expensive and the joy of watching them swim is so relaxing," share Nico. "Of course, looking at their beautiful colors and markings is another plus."
Nico says that since there are so many Flowerhorns around it is important that one do his homework before going out to buy the fish. Of course, getting a 25-gallon aquarium and a filter is a must.
Nico suggests that people interested in getting Flowerhorns look into the following:
1) Fish should have a broad body.
2) Fish should not shy away from the glass when it is approached.
3) Fins should fan out.
4) Belly should not be tucked in.
5) The water in the tank should be clean.
6) The mouth of the Flowerhorn should not be pointed.
7) The overall appearance of the fish should be balanced.
"When I am not busy working I spend time with my Flowerhorns," says Nico. "I just love watching them swim. They make all my worries disappear for a while."