Flowerhorns are rather aggressive and very territorial fish. They are so territorial that they need lots aquarium space all to themselves. This aggressiveness can also be observed during flowerhorn breeding. Nobody does love making as passionately and as violently as the flowerhorns.
After being introduced to each other, the couple immediately goes into a ritual dance. The male would encircle the female several times rubbing his body against her. Then he heats things up a by hitting her body alternately with his tail and his mouth. Then they bite each other pushing each other back and forth and around their nesting plate. They do this for several minutes until the female ultimately reaches her climax and lays her egg. The male then starts to fertilize the eggs by swimming over them and releasing his sperm.
After egg laying both parents would swim on top of their nest guarding the eggs and maintaining the cleanliness of the nest.
