Anyone seen aggression in Severum juveniles?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
bozatron

bozatron

Gambusia
MFK Member
Apr 12, 2012
202
2
18
Dubai
Hi All

I have been wanting to keep some Severums for a while now but never see them for sale in any of my local LFS. Last Thursday I got lucky and found some juvenile, reds and golds, all about 1" that had just arrived in a new shipment. So I picked up one of each. The gold has some damage to its fins/tail but that is common here as we don't get the best quality fish, but they will heal up fine. The red is in really good shape.

I already had a 30G set up with only a few neon tetras and some plants in, the filter is an Eheim 2213, so no worries there, temp is 30. So I thought they will be ideal in there till they grow a bit more and then I will move them to one of my bigger tanks.

Friday and Saturday they were still a bit spooked and hid, but today they are out and have taken some flake, so all good. Trouble is now they have started flanking each other and lip locking. So far this battle has been going on for about an hour. I really thought they were supposed to be placid and if you did get any trouble it would be with breeding adults. Anyone else seen aggression in ones so small? Any suggestions?

A couple of pics . . .
photo 1.JPG
photo 2.JPG
photo 3.JPG

Thanks B.

photo 1.JPG

photo 2.JPG

photo 3.JPG
 
Most cichlids will show some level of conspecific aggression. Severums do tend to be peaceful, but that is toward other species (and still there are exceptions). They will still fight amongst themselves.

What you are seeing is probably two fish trying to establish their dominance. In a new tank, after first being introduced to each other, they will have to work out where they fall in the pecking order.

As long as they are not doing serious damage to each other, I'd let them work it out. Using a larger tank or adding more severums will sometimes reduce this aggression, but nothing will eliminate it. Most young severums go through this phase. Once they figure out their place in the pecking order and adjust to your tank they should settle down a bit.
 
Also, if you value the tetras, you may want to remove them. In most cases the severums will pick them off as soon as they are large enough to catch them.
 
Thanks for the reply, I figured that would be the case and they would simply sort it out in a few hours/days and then it will calm down with the heirachy established.

I don't plan on keeping the tetras with them long term, it was only a temp measure. I have 4 tanks running so will move either the sevs or the neons in time. The Tetras keep the tank running when there are no cichlids in it ;)
 
x2 to what that guy said. When they get bigger move them to a 75-90 gallon where there is enough space for them to settle their territorial disputes. Tankmates would be chocolate cichlids, other severums, (if you want a dither giant danios) and uarus but tank size is gonna limit that.
 
Thanks for the reply fish042099 :thumbsup: I am building a 120G at the moment (1.8m x 500mm x 500mm) for them in the future. The stand is designed but I am waiting to finish the glass first before I start to put it together, 10mm glass is ordered and I have two spare Fluval 405s to cover filtering. However I want them first to put on a little size then they will go in there with some Geos. I actually picked up two more gold juveniles, so I now have 4 or the basis that this might help with the aggression. So I may keep all four or just wait and see if I get a pair and then move two.

I kind of enjoy the waiting game, there is no rush as half the fun is building the bits, taking my time, watching the fish grow and generally enjoying the hobby at a slow pace. Besides if I finish it all too quickly I will only want to start another project.
 
I have 4 adults and 2 babys in a 75g, not planning on keeping them all, but i have no aggression.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom