How many Red Severums??

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I

inssane

Gambusia
MFK Member
May 27, 2010
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16
Chicago
I have done a nice bit of research and I can't quite nail down an appropriate and educated answer.
55 gallon tank. Granted, I am looking at Eartheaters as well, but I saw Red Severums at my LFS, and I was already considering them.

Here are my thoughts.
1 Red Severum + 3-5 HY511, or similar high tetras.
OR
2 Red Severums, that's it besides dwarf pleco and a small loach

I have read many "google" posts from different forums and quite a few people are keeping them in 55 gallon tanks, maybe just one or two, but I am not seeing a general consensus. I would add them both at the same time if doing two, and I would add all the fish in the first option at once as well.

Please advise - I truly searched for a while on the right answer, just not comfortable with the advice I saw.

Thx
Nick
 
i have 2 severum in with a flowerhorn dovii and buttercoffi 120 gal tank and they dont get bothered at all actually my spotted severum is a beast
 
Based on that, two should work. It would cost me about the same as setup #1 ($40 each serevum)

I kinda split the gallons in half and the size of your 4 fish as adults.
Thanks

Anyone else (I know it's late here in the US)
 
i also have a foot long shovel nose a 10 inch marbled goby and 8 inch senegal bichir in the same tank and my tank still remains rather peaceful
 
2 severums, let alone 1, are gonna get cramped in a 55g. i had mine in a 55g for about a year and they looked cramped once they hit 5-6"
 
I have done more reading and I am reading people that have two sevs in 55s, and then some that say they are too big.
The general consensus I am seeing on the web is that 2 sevs may get territorial (and from what I read, the red sevs are mostly males) - and I don't want to deal with the bickering.

There is a smaller percentage saying that one sev would not work. Majority seem to think that one and some dither are fine for a 55g.

Gonna read a bit more on this.
 
In a 55g i would go with 1 with a big shoal of small dithers (but large enough not to get eaten)

Ie:

Imagine this tank...

1 x Centre Piece Red Severum
14 x normal Tiger Barbs (not greens or albinos)

Blue Background, white sand and Pebbles, would look amazing.

If you do go fora pair (which i dont think you should) go with Argonite/crushed coral as your Substrate, it seems to dumb Severums down and stop them from breeding (i have 10 diff Sevs spaced over 2 tanks where i use this method....2x Gold,1 x Red Spotted,1 x Green, 1 x Appendiculatus, 1 x Severus, 1 x Orinoco Notatus, 3 x Rotkeil....they are my fave fish)
 
HybridGS;4790244; said:
In a 55g i would go with 1 with a big shoal of small dithers (but large enough not to get eaten)

Ie:

Imagine this tank...

1 x Centre Piece Red Severum
14 x normal Tiger Barbs (not greens or albinos)

QUOTE]


This is hilarious. I have a 75 gallon with 1 gold/red Severum and 5 normal tiger barbs! (plus 2 buenes aires tetras, 2 ABM and a white fin tetra). The Sev seems to like his space. ie, half the tank.
Click to expand...
 
I had 6 Severums in a 55G. I bought them at about 2" each. It was in 1992 and I was new to the hobby and had bad info from the retailer about size. They grew quickly. But, the tank accomidated them for a few years. They were awesome. They started to get sick and I lost one. I recommend a UV and weekly water changes. We upgraded to a 150. They were huge with 3-4 inch trailing fins and awesome color. The remaining 5 lived 7 years. From my experience you can keep up to 2. It will be a bit tight but with regular water changes it will work. The maint will be a bit higher but it's doable. Keep the tank clean and get the UV. It'll save you in meds.
 
U can keep one in a 55gal but not for life.
 
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