Why a Severum shouldn't f*** with a big Oscar...

[FINWIN]

Welp, it finally happened...three nights ago a major incident happened. I didn't see it, it was gangsta style. My Severum Chip was extremely subdued, not even offering resistance when he was nudged and pushed. No aggressive shaking at all, just floating quietly. Found out why. Somebody tried to bite his head whole.

You can see the circular wounds. The white areas are meat sticking out. From the size/shape, only one mouth in the tank could do this. BP doesn't have the mouth size. Choc has nicked the Severum (squabbling) but this size wound is too large.

You can see in pics the circle shaped bite scars.

 

[FINWIN]

So Brick went ham...the Severum just wouldn't leave other fish alone, following them and being annoying, even snatching their food. He always feared the Oscar but now he just drops to the bottom when Brick approaches. Did a huge (90%) w/c today. Chip is currently in a bucket with a salt dip. After a few hours his wounds look much better and he shows no discomfort. I may leave him in a timeout mode for a couple of days...pretty much out of ideas on how to save this fish from himself.

Here he is in the bucket. You can see the improvement. I used sea salt at a high concentration.

 

[FINWIN]

One of the catfishes has scratches on his head and sides...seems like this stuff always happens on the weekend. Bobo the Choc also is sporting a minor scratch on his side. The only two fish with no marks are you guessed it, the BP Boss and Oscar Brick.

I've posted ad nauseum about this Severum and his ridiculous aggression. It gets him nowhere and he holds no real territory. He'll sit motionless then suddenly go charge after a fish like a tic goes off in his head. Sometimes I wonder if he has brain worms. He seems to have PTD now. I know if someone tried to bite my head off I'd be pretty traumatized too. I'm hoping this will at last help him calm down. He's solid, with fine color and weight, nearly full grown. His appetite is unaffected through all this and he doesn't hide. But this aggression will be the end of him if he doesn't stop. He's been chased, beaten and battered and still doesn't get it. At times there are quiet hours but not consistent.

Heirarchy goes like this:

Chip is fourth among the cichlids. A@hole.
Bobo the choc is third. Despite their squabbles, he's the one that will cut Chip a break provided he shows no aggression. In fact they often sit together.
Boss the BP is second/co-first. Neutral to averse against the Severum. Relentless when his area is invaded.
Brick the O (first) openly despises the Severum. He either ignores him or charges at him unexpectedly. Keep in mind the Severum would trail him closely and peck at his tail, but run like hell when the O would turn on him.

Chip will stay in the bucket a couple of days. Hopefully it makes a difference.

The Maw. You can connect the dots with the shape...

 

[FINWIN]

At 12 inches, Brick is nearly half as tall as he is long...Chip has less than no chance. I am really hoping this incident stops the madness.

 

[Magnus_Bane]

It might stop but I wouldn't count on it for long. Might end up having to house the Oscar by himself eventually. Btw he is a gorgeous Oscar. Lol need to get my 80g resealed so I can get myself another eventually. Been thinking of getting a pair of Astronotus crassipinnis. They are sometime refered to as dwarf or fat Oscars as they don't as large as the regular Astronotus ocellatus that most ppl have.

 

[MrsE88]

Wow! The red is blinding! He may be a brat and a half, but he is gorgeous!

 

[FINWIN]

It might stop but I wouldn't count on it for long. Might end up having to house the Oscar by himself eventually. Btw he is a gorgeous Oscar. Lol need to get my 80g resealed so I can get myself another eventually. Been thinking of getting a pair of Astronotus crassipinnis. They are sometime refered to as dwarf or fat Oscars as they don't as large as the regular Astronotus ocellatus that most ppl have.

Wow! The red is blinding! He may be a brat and a half, but he is gorgeous!

Yes he is a brat! And rotten, too lol...gets his pats and tickles and is hand fed. Loves throwing his weight around at times but the parrot won't take his junk, They're like a couple! I'm hoping Brick will mellow once he's around 3 or so.

Tank is completely calm for the most part. Any problems are usually started by the severum.

 

[FINWIN]

It might stop but I wouldn't count on it for long. Might end up having to house the Oscar by himself eventually. Btw he is a gorgeous Oscar. Lol need to get my 80g resealed so I can get myself another eventually. Been thinking of getting a pair of Astronotus crassipinnis. They are sometime refered to as dwarf or fat Oscars as they don't as large as the regular Astronotus ocellatus that most ppl have.

lol a fat oscar...they're built for it. Brick's 2 1/2 wide now.

 

[Magnus_Bane]

lol a fat oscar...they're built for it. Brick's 2 1/2 wide now.

To me they kind of look like a shorter wild tiger O but with freckles lol. Always loved O's and their goofy personalities but never understood how they could make it out in the wild. Mine were almost always push overs when it came to fights. But maybe that's all just do to so many years of captive breeding.

 

[dr exum]

Sorry to hear about your troubles... I acquired a pair of red spot’s to help get my bass to eat pellets... they have attacked all their tank mates ranging from 6” p bass to a 16” TSN ...

They live solo now in a 75 and attack my hand whenever I try to do maintenance in the tank... severums...

Maybe look for a new tank for the sev... he’s in a bucket?