Mystery Cichlid at Aquarama 01
Hi Bob
Do you still remember the new breed of cichlid with a hump head that was on show at the last Aquarama in Singapore?
<Yes, did send the pix in I shot at Aquarama last year to the hobby mag.s>
They have been well received and certain specimens with nice colours have been reportedly sold for as much as S$70,000. It is not advisable to walk around in certain parts of Malaysia holding them in plastic bags or you will be robbed at knife point.
<Thanks for the heads up. Can/will send you the piece (in German) re that cichlid... and my fave image as a jpeg if you'd like. Bob F.>
Perry

Monster fish by Arlina Arshad 
IF YOU think luohan fish are ugly, just look at this specimen with its Mick Jager lips and ball-like body. Probably the result of breeding gone wrong, say marine biologists and those who rear fish. Enthusiasts have been breeding them, then dumping the 'mistakes' in ponds and rivers. Two breeders and three other people who rear fish admitted they'd done this. The Sunday Times also spoke to fishermen who have spotted sick and dead luohan, four aquarium owners, two marine biologists, and officials from agencies that have to deal with this problem. Two luohan breeders said they sought to breed exotic-looking luohan, with blue or white eyes instead of red, or all-blue or all-red bodies instead of the usual red-green-black. When the experiments went awry, they had to get rid of these mutants with 'elephant-trunk lips' and 'monkey faces'. Neither would agree to be named, fearing flak from fish lovers and repercussions from the authorities. Said one breeder: 'Some fish had bloated bodies and no humps on the heads; others were skinny and had no fins. What do you expect me to do with them?' The other one said: 'At least I release them in the water, not like some I know who flush them down toilet bowls!' Abandoning fish is an offence under the Birds and Animals Act, punishable by a $10,000 fine and 12 months' jail. 'This is an act of cruelty,' said Dr Leow Su Hua, head of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore's animal welfare education. Dumping luohan into public ponds can also turn the ponds' ecology upside down, because they are aggressive and breed quickly. Said Professor Chou Loke Ming of the National University of Singapore's department of biological sciences: 'They may outcompete for food with local species and take over ponds and rivers.' The National Parks Board (NParks) and Public Utilities Board have found reptiles and non-native fish in ponds, lakes and reservoirs. Said an NParks spokesman: 'The released fish may not survive. They could carry disease and this would affect the native animals in the ponds.' Luohan fish, also known as Flowerhorns, are believed to be descended from wild cichlids. A year or two ago, they were all the rage because people thought they brought good luck. High-quality ones, characterized by red eyes and large humps on their heads, went for as much as $8,000. But now, they are no longer hot. One breeder said he'd released about 100 into Tengeh and Punggol rivers in the last three years. He said: 'Some had holes in their heads and others had eyes popping out of their sockets.' 'One had a diseased mouth and rotting lips like this,' he said, turning his lips inside out. 'I couldn't save it; it was too sick.' Aquarium owners also say people leave buckets of luohan at their doors in the dead of the night. Madam Shirley Lim, owner of aquarium shop Yun Feng in Pasir Ris, said she would receive 'fish mail' three times a month. 'Nobody wants them any more. They're being chucked into dustbins like those unwanted babies in China. I could sell one at $4,000 last time, but now if I can sell one for $20, I'm very lucky,' she said. IP Address:202.156.2.202
This message was forwarded to you from Straits Times Interactive (http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg) 

Flowerhorns
WWM,
I want to how to distinguish the sex of the Flowerhorn,
<The males will develop a larger hump on their foreheads, I would not be surprised if you could the difference by their finnage, or even venting them, but I am not positive.>
and how to cure white spots  and discoloration of the fish.
<If by white spots you mean Ich, your fish are sick, sick fish are not going to display good coloration.  I used Quick Cure on my Horns, seemed to do the job (primarily formaldehyde with a dash of malachite green).  IME I have never seen a fish with the healing abilities of a Flowerhorn, I had one get sucked up into a filter for an unknown amount of time, I got him out, thought he was doomed, the next day I could not tell which was the damaged one.  Once you get the parasites cleared up, color enhancing food, a varied diet, excellent water quality (I cannot stress that point enough), good lighting and a dark substrate should bring out their colors.  If you have a group of these fish in a tank you need to watch out for aggression, these are very aggressive fish.>
And what is latest Breed of Flowerhorns.
<Not sure on this one, it seems like the LFS are always making up new names and overcharging for these fish.  Check out FlowerFish.com  Best of luck, Gage>
Thank you very much....
Very Truly Yours,
Leugim

Flowerhorn Cichlids
WWM,
Hi! I am a new hobbyist of cichlids. Will you help me for I am in need of new breeds of Flowerhorn for my collections.
< The Flowerhorn cichlid is an artificial fish that does not exist in the wild. It is a cross between a couple different fish that happens to produce fertile fry. They were somewhat marketable for a few years but the market seems to be dropping fast, at least hear on the west coast. The new breeds or color forms you may be seeking may not still be available. I would recommend a web site called Aquabid.com. It is a web site dedicated to buying and selling all kinds of fish. Hopefully you can find what you are looking for there.>
What does LFS  mean?
<Sorry don't know. I don't keep flower horns and am not familiar with the LFS notation.><<Livestock Fish Store, or such>>
can you give me at least 5 new breeds of Flowerhorn fish?
< Check the site mentioned above or do a google search on the internet for more info. I have seen one book put out on these fish but don't know how available it is -Chuck>
Sincerely Yours,
Leugim

Super Red Syn Flowerhorns
Dear Mr. Robert,
<Hi, Gage here this afternoon.>
Can you send me a detailed information regarding Super Red Syn
Flowerhorns? Appreciate also if you can send some pics.
<I checked with Bob and a few others on the crew, we really do not have much information on these fish besides what is at the link below.  
http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/flowerhorns.htm
I would try using the Google.com to search for more information on this particular color strain.>
Thank you for your assistance.
Fatima Valle