Are these juvies Rotkeil Severum?

[Lauren Deadly]

I just got in my special order of fish and I'm very excited! I ordered Blue acara, vieja synspilum, green terror, and rotkeil severum. I grabbed 2 of each fish hand picked before they were even added to the tanks at my LFS and I planned to send back one of each (except the severum, keeping both) once I saw their colors come back since they were all pale from the drive. Already picked my green terror, which was super easy: Calm easy going GT>ahole GT

Vieja might take a week to figure out since one is still hiding out, and blue acara are in my QT/grow out/hospital tank with my healing firemouth until they aren't so snack size. Anyways, I'm unfamiliar with the Rotkeil since this will be my first attempt at them, but I'm having a hard time confirming since they are so tiny.

They're a little beat up from shipment, but their colors are progressively getting better and already since I took these photos. They go back and forth with full bars and having just bars on the belly. They both have the bright tail, one just doesn't show it off as often. They got added to the tank less than 24 hrs ago.

 

[Mythic Figment]

I just got in my special order of fish and I'm very excited! I ordered Blue acara, vieja synspilum, green terror, and rotkeil severum. I grabbed 2 of each fish hand picked before they were even added to the tanks at my LFS and I planned to send back one of each (except the severum, keeping both) once I saw their colors come back since they were all pale from the drive. Already picked my green terror, which was super easy: Calm easy going GT>ahole GT

Vieja might take a week to figure out since one is still hiding out, and blue acara are in my QT/grow out/hospital tank with my healing firemouth until they aren't so snack size. Anyways, I'm unfamiliar with the Rotkeil since this will be my first attempt at them, but I'm having a hard time confirming since they are so tiny.

They're a little beat up from shipment, but their colors are progressively getting better and already since I took these photos. They go back and forth with full bars and having just bars on the belly. They both have the bright tail, one just doesn't show it off as often. They got added to the tank less than 24 hrs ago.

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Rots look a lot like greens for the first several inches of their lives. It isn't until the 4-5" Mark that you will start seeing the red color build up around their necks. If they haven't started seeing red around the neck by 5", you got the wrong thing.


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[ryansmith83]

Rotkeils have 8 vertical bars; these have 9. So they're either not rotkeils or they're rotkeil x non-rotkeil crosses.

 

[Lauren Deadly]

Rotkeils have 8 vertical bars; these have 9. So they're either not rotkeils or they're rotkeil x non-rotkeil crosses.

Where do you count 9? You got me jumping up and counting their stripes haha. They both have 8, except one looks like it has a small flaw marking but it's not a stripe even when it darkens and it's on one side.

As far as getting the wrong ones, does that happen often at the wholesaler? These guys are about 1"-1 1/2" so it'll be awhile until I'd be able to see their colors then : /

 

[ryansmith83]

The bar through the eye is the first one, then you have six across the body, then the eighth is the strong, dark bar that runs through from the dorsal to the anal fin, and the ninth is a small bar on the caudal peduncle right at the base of the tail.

 

[Lauren Deadly]

The bar through the eye is the first one, then you have six across the body, then the eighth is the strong, dark bar that runs through from the dorsal to the anal fin, and the ninth is a small bar on the caudal peduncle right at the base of the tail.

So thanks to your help bringing this to my attention; I did some further research and figured out you were indeed correct. I believe it's a safe bet that these are actually "redneck" hybrid severum. The good news for me is that I have a barter agreement with my LFS so I didn't take a hit paying for a purebred. The bad news is I kind of suspected this has been happening, hence the inquiry. My friend is a very knowledgeable fish keeper, but I'm sure he trusts his wholesaler's word instead of examining thoroughly. So could this be an honest mistake on the wholesalers part or could they be ripping him off? I've noticed a couple times that they've given him hybrids of things and I just didn't say anything.

I'm actually pretty mad (not at him) because I specifically wanted a rotkeil, not a hybrid even if they do end up pretty.

 

[ryansmith83]

Most LFS will list fish the way they're sold by a wholesale dealer, and a lot of wholesale dealers use common names and are not 100% on species ID. This is why Geophagus abalios and G. altifrons are still sold in so many places as G. surinamensis. A wholesale dealer lists them wrong and then it just trickles down.

If you want a specific fish it's usually best to deal with either someone who's breeding them, or a knowledgable, reputable dealer like Jeff Rapps who is usually really good at ID.

 

[decoy50]

On a positive note, they look to be healthy & fairly bulky for being in a supplier's tanks. Sevs, after oscars & JDs, seem to be one of the more poorly treated fish out there. I hate seeing sevs w/ giant bug eyes, misproportioned to their body and an overall emaciated look. Give these guys a good staple pellet & some freeze dried foods & I think they'll turn out really nice. Good luck.

 

[Lauren Deadly]

Thank you! I'll probably hold onto them and still search from some Rotkeil. I currently feed spirulina, tropical flake, hikari floating sticks, hikari sinking and cut up raw market shrimp every other day with occasionally bloodworms instead of the shrimp. Will throw in veggies that are in the house sometimes as well. apparently I'm crazy about feeding time. It takes me about an hour to prepare and feed. I feed small amounts and creatively so everything gets food and also avoid overfeeding. Like I drop 8 sinking pellets so the silver dollar each have one in their mouth so I can feed my shy fish without the gluttons snapping it up. I do feed tiny bits multiple times a day for my younger fish i.e. the new tiny blue acara who are under 1".

Is there anything it particular I should make sure these severum eat besides my routine? Or is there a particular veggie I should make sure to keep in handy

 

[ryansmith83]

They like Romaine lettuce and also the roots of pothos unfortunately. I can't keep pothos roots in my tanks to absorb nitrates unless I put a screen or something around them. I don't notice mine going for non-leafy vegetables. For instance, I feed zucchini to my plecos and the severums don't even give it a second glance. I also notice that a lot of severums will not develop a taste for that stuff until they're adult size. The juvies will be fine on just a staple pellet with occasional bloodworms, red wrigglers, or other treats. I raise most of my severum fry on Hikari and NLS pellets with occasional bloodworms and that's it. A spirulina flake/pellet is a good idea to throw into the mix, too, so I'd keep that.