Green severum has never been green

[vr6fan]

I bought 2 green severum at my lfs a month ago..both were nearly black until they were acclimated to my tank..now one is typical dark green, but the other is super orange and has been the whole time since I got them..I know they change colors a lot but I just want to make sure it's a green and not a different one...any help?


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[AquaticAustin]

Should get some more color when it gets bigger

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[Mythic Figment]

It's a green. Their color develops more when they get bigger.


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[vr6fan]

It's weird though, he's 3 times the size of my other greens and they are all deep green


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[sunley213]

My severum seems to change colors, some of the time he is almost totally black with red eyes other times he is like this;

 

[vr6fan]

My severum seems to change colors, some of the time he is almost totally black with red eyes other times he is like this;

View attachment 937973

Wow that's exactly what mine looks like..cool


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[ryansmith83]

sunley213, your severum is a mouthbrooding type, Heros severus or Heros sp. Atabapo. It is not what's commonly referred to as a "green" severum and it will stay a brown/golden color all of its life with orangish-red markings on its sides.

vr6fan, your fish is a "green" type, H. efasciatus. That's the problem with common names. Not all "green" severums are truly green. Some are brown, some are blue, etc. It should develop some striations as it grows and won't look so solid. It's not uncommon to find H. efasciatus with a brown base color, though. Just put "Heros efasciatus" into Google Images and watch all the color morphs and varieties that pop up. Some are mislabeled but others show good examples of gold/bronze/brown colored "green" severums.