Heros severus

[coltiger1975]

Hi it appears I am rescuing all sorts of severums these days. I have this one which I believe to be heros severus but would like other opinions. This was rescued from a guy that added two Uaru to its tank and this guy proceeded to beat them.

 

[neutrino]

Looks to me like severus, among other things, 8 bars, the half 7th bar, and mottled vs solid looking bars.

 

[ryansmith83]

Yes it is severus. And yes they are more aggressive than most Heros species, so as it settles in it will likely want to dominate the tank. I kept my adults with 9 - 10” Uaru fernandezyepezi and when the Heros started spawning the male promptly killed my two largest male Uaru. Expensive and upsetting lesson.

 

[coltiger1975]

Thanks for the confirmation. I will separating it from the others as now he is being a bit annoying to the liberifer and stressing him

 

[neutrino]

Whoops, I'd intended to say 9 bars (vs 8 for inirida).

 

[coltiger1975]

Yes it is severus. And yes they are more aggressive than most Heros species, so as it settles in it will likely want to dominate the tank. I kept my adults with 9 - 10” Uaru fernandezyepezi and when the Heros started spawning the male promptly killed my two largest male Uaru. Expensive and upsetting lesson.

As I mentioned in my other reply, the severus has singled out the liberifer. Is the severus better suited with perhaps non cichlid as only other tank I can put him in is with my clown knifefish.

 

[ryansmith83]

They do best in large tanks, preferably with other large, sturdy cichlids. How many Heros are in your tank besides the liberifer and the severus? And what size is the tank?

 

[coltiger1975]

They do best in large tanks, preferably with other large, sturdy cichlids. How many Heros are in your tank besides the liberifer and the severus? And what size is the tank?

120 tall is their tank, total of 3 heros, 2 bristlenose and a female convict. I removed the liberifer to another aquarium as it was getting picked on. I have a 400 gallon pond that has the knifefish which there are two.

The issue with the 240 is that it has Central's with the water being on the hard side. I'd rather not risk hith if I put the severus in there.

The 120 I use peat in the filters and I do use water softener for this tank as originally was going to be for discus but ended up with the heros. If I have to I can use another 120 that has a couple parrots and add the other heros to. I am not opposed to a solo severus

 

[ryansmith83]

The issue is the tank size and the small number of Heros. Without a large enough group to work out a pecking order, you’ll see dominant fish harass the other few individuals. I personally wouldn’t keep severus in anything less than a 6’ tank given their size and behavior.

 

[coltiger1975]

The issue is the tank size and the small number of Heros. Without a large enough group to work out a pecking order, you’ll see dominant fish harass the other few individuals. I personally wouldn’t keep severus in anything less than a 6’ tank given their size and behavior.

Thanks again I appreciate your input and knowledge. I will get the other 120 which is six feet setup for the severus in regards to water conditions. I currently have the blood parrots in there, I will remove them. He should be fine with some silver dollars. Hopefully I can find more and maybe redo the 240 instead of Central's