Flower Horn fish is a Cichlid which is classified under the genus Cichlasoma that comes from the South American Cichlid family. Within just a few years, it has ignited a new trend in the tropical fish market all over Asia and spreading to western countries as well. Flowerhorns are hardy and very undemanding fish to keep in an aquarium. They do, however, require large aquariums due to their large size - they can grow up to 16 inches long. They are aggressive and carnivorous, and thus can only be kept with other large fish. There is a belief in the Far East that ownership of a Flowerhorn brings good fortune, especially in business and gambling. The hump that the adult male fish develops is said to resemble the Chinese god of longevity, and it is believed that the owners luck will grow if the fish's hump grows. Another interesting feature of the Flower Horn is the black horizontal markings or known as just ‘flowers’. Some of these markings resemble Chinese characters and this fetch a high price for the owner. Additionally, rumor has it that early Flower Horn hobbyist had won lottery numbers by the digits supposedly seen on these horizontal black markings / flowers. This resulted in a believe that Flower Horn brings prosperity, luck and longevity.The adult males are thus the most commercially valuable. Flowerhorns have distinctive markings on their sides, which can be interpreted as recognisable symbols. It is also noteworthy that the original species from which these cichlids were hybridised also display a number of these traits.
(Courtesy: Wikipedia)