Why does a flowerhorn fish spit out food sometimes?

Question

My flower horn fish is spitting out his food. Not eating food sometimes. What could be the reason? He is active as normal.

Answer 1

It appears that you aren't the only one with a picky flower horn fish. I had one and it was very picky and use to spit out the food quite often. I decided to do thing a bit different and this seemed to work well.

1. Before feeding the fish I would soak the pellets in water.
2. I would only give the fish 2 to 4 pellets at a time.
3. If he continued to spit them out. I would stop feeding him for 3 days and then feed him again.
4. I found out that feeding my flower horn every 2 to 3 days was perfect and the fish was fine.
5. Once the fish is fattened up, you don't need to find him daily.
6. Also mixing up the food you feed him will help.
7. Don't try and overfeed the fish because you are just wasting your money and your aquarium filter will get dirty in the end and you'll need to change the bowl more often. 

Answer 2

Already got a nice well explained answer here from Ann Leflore and I find the 5th point in her answer more relevant here. Don't overfeed any fish. A bloated gut may be a problem here. One who is keeping fishes should understand one thing fishes can live days or weeks without food. So allow them to do fasting atleast once a week. They will be more healthy then. If you feel sad to make your fishies starve for one day, then you too take fasting. Both will be healthy. 

And the next thing to consider is the water quality. If water quality is not that good then flower horns will keep starving by not taking any food even if their favourite food has given.

Answer 3

It is like a cow that spits bolus and eats it again. It is also the same thing with flower horn fish. Another thing is that the size of their mouth is too small. It means they cannot engulf their food and needs to breakdown into pieces before eating them again.

Answer 4

A flowerhorn fish spits out food sometimes if they do not like the food or the pieces are too big for them.

Part of this ongoing buffet is the tempting bits of algae and microscopic organisms that live on gravel. Because their fins aren't exactly equipped to pick off these tasty morsels, goldfish will pick up a pebble, scrape off as much algae from the gravel as they can, then spit the gravel piece back out.

Answer 5

It is possible that your flowerhorn fish is spitting out its food due to an underlying health issue. It could be indicative of a digestive issue, such as an infection or internal parasites. It is also possible that your fish is not getting the correct type of food for its nutritional needs, or is being overfed. If the problem persists, it is best to consult a veterinarian or aquatics expert to help diagnose the issue.

Answer 6

All fish including flowershorn fish require very small amount of food so try feeding them a little less. Some fish also spit their out if particles are too big . 

Answer 7

There could be any number of reasons, but a possible possibility is that he isunching on his food and is ready to eat it up when he sees the other flower horn fish Spitaca. If you are the other flower horn fish, it may be difficult to forage among the others. Alternatively, he may be feeling energetic and would like to take all the food he can before bed.

Answer 8

this fish doesn't like to be overfed. though it takes more than it could at the moment, it will spit out the extra. Sometimes, the food might have got stuck somewhere, to remove it the fish does a flush.

Answer 9

Before feeding the fish I would soak the pellets in water.I would only give the fish 2 to 4 pellets at a time.If he continued to spit them out. I would stop feeding him for 3 days and then feed him again.I found out that feeding my flower horn every 2 to 3 days was perfect and the fish was fine.Once the fish is fattened up, you don't need to find him daily.Also mixing up the food you feed him will help.

Answer 10

Yes, this fish doesn't like to be overfed. though it takes more than it could at the moment, it will spit out the extra. Sometimes, the food might have got stuck somewhere, to remove it the fish does a flush.

Answer 11

Flowerhorn fish are known for their unique behavior, and one common behavior they exhibit is spitting out or blowing food. There are a few reasons why a Flowerhorn fish may spit out food:

Evaluating food: Flowerhorn fish have a highly developed sense of taste and may spit out food to examine and assess it before consuming it. They use their mouths to test the texture, flavor, and quality of the food. If they find it unsatisfactory or not to their liking, they may spit it out.

Territory marking: Flowerhorns are territorial fish, and spitting or blowing out food can be a way for them to establish or defend their territory. By forcefully expelling food, they can signal their presence and dominance to other fish in the tank.

Answer 12

Flowerhorn fish are known for their unique behaviors, and spitting out food is one of them. There are a few reasons why a Flowerhorn might spit out its food:

Evaluation: Flowerhorns are known to be picky eaters. They may spit out food initially to evaluate it. This behavior is similar to how they might react to unfamiliar or unappealing food items.

Territorial Behavior: Flowerhorns can be territorial, especially during feeding time. Spitting out food may be a way for them to mark their territory or assert dominance, particularly if they are in a shared tank with other fish.

Mouth and Throat Adjustments: Flowerhorns have a unique mouth structure, and sometimes they spit out food to reposition it in their mouths. They may need to adjust the size or orientation of the food to make it more manageable.

Health Issues: In some cases, spitting out food could be a sign of health problems such as dental issues, digestive problems, or an underlying illness. If this behavior is persistent and accompanied by other concerning signs, it's advisable to consult a vet or an experienced aquarium specialist