5 Ways To Differentiate Between A Kamfa and Zz?

One of the most frequently asked question is how to differentiate a pearl lo-han(zhen zhou,zz) from a flower lohan (kamfa/jinghua). Here are the differences of each as conceptualized by the FH founders.

1.The forehead.

The head of the flower lo-han rises higher than the pearl lo-han.

 

                                     Flower Lo Han                     Pearl  Lohan

But some zz now a days have equally high heads.

2.The Black Mark/Dark Flower
On the side of the forehead we see that the Pearl Lo-han has a more conspicuous mark than the Flower Lo-han.

But some pearl Lo-han will have less conspicuous mark or no mark as they get bigger.

"Uber" Owned by Doc Wilson Photo by blue ice

"Fagioli" Thaksin zz

And some flower Lo-han may have conspicuous mark.

"Pag-asa" Owned by Howell

3.Mouth/Lips

The lips of the Kamfa is smooth and circular.

"MB" By sir Ernie aka Trojan

The lower lips of the ZZ is sticking/protruding out and the upper lips is shorter.

                                        "Twiggy" owned by Twigtwig

4. Eyes
The eyes of the pearl Lo-han are outstanding/bulge out.

Chianmai crossbreed club

The eyes of the flower Lo-han are hollow/sunken.

"MB" By sir Ernie aka Trojan

Nice king kamfa with prominent sunken eyes.

5.Finnage

The dorsal fin and anal fin of the Kamfa would wrap around the caudal fin and they would look like one whole fin.

Chan2009

Lamborghini diablo by Master Bejita showing nice wrap tail

The dorsal fin and anal fin of a ZZ would usually go upward and downward. The caudal fin of the ZZ is usually smaller also .

5.Tail

The bigger and older ZZ, it would have a droopy caudal tail.

P&P

This condition would not occur to the Kamfa strain because tail are stronger and more fan like.

                                                              "Pagkakaisa" by Denl

Just a reminder that these are guidelines that have been set by the masters. A newbie would be advised to patiently study these different traits and to see as many fish as he could see before being able to differentiate between a kamfa and a zhen zou. Other experts would say that a simpler way of diffentiating between a kamfa and a zz is that if the fish has features which are predominantly amhipolus trimaculatus then it is a zz. If it looks more like a vieja then its a kamfa.

Here is a picture of a zz and a trimaculatus.

Amphilophus trimaculatus regarded as the staple in creating the zhen zhou flowerhorn.

Fagioli modern day thaksinzz. Any resembalnce to the trimaculatus? How close to a trimac is he?

Vieja synspila regarded as one of the ancestors of todays kamfas.

Pagkakaisa how close to a vieja is he? Any resemblance to a vieja?