Red Severum issues

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doviiman

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Apr 12, 2007
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Anyone out there with Super Red Severums, have any issues with them gasping for air sometimes. I have one that seems to be gasping for air all the time. Water parameter are:
0 amonnia, 0 nitirtes, 80 Nitrates, Ph 7.6. He has been in the tank for three week now, eating fine. None of the other fish are having this issues, even the other red severum appears to be fine. Are they sensitve to water changes or quality.
 
Do you have an oxygen pump in the tank? Although if its just the one sev that is gasping, sounds like it could be an internal problem or disease :/
 
I've never seen my super red gasping for air. It might be due to the high nitrates, it's usually best to keep it below 40. But even 80 shouldn't have lethal effects.

Some courses of action would be to look for signs of disease on the fish, and lower the water level a little if possible to increase the surface agitation from the filter, thus pumping more oxygen into the tank.
 
Yes, I have a huge oxygen in the tank pusing three large 12'' airstones. Yes not sure how it could have caught something internal though. They only eat pellets, and tanks does have a 80watt UV.
 
Mine does not gasp and appears to be pretty hardy. BUT, he has a deformed gill plate on one side. It doesn't seem to both him but I mention this because I bet these reds are very inbreed and it could be some sort of deformity or weakness.
 
Mine does not gasp and appears to be pretty hardy. BUT, he has a deformed gill plate on one side. It doesn't seem to both him but I mention this because I bet these reds are very inbreed and it could be some sort of deformity or weakness.
I was starting to wonder about that. Becsaue after trying to find these at a larger size than 3-4'', all the venodrs that had them at 6-7'' when I tried to buy them said that they had died for no particular reason. This is from two vendors that I had purchase many fish from before. It seem the ones that were purchased at a much smaller size seems to be okay.
Which brings to my next question, how big do these Super Reds severums actally get, and does anyone have any pictures of really large ones for viewing?
 
Interesting thread as I've noticed my Super Red breathes faster and deeper than any other fish in the tank. I've looked at vids on YT of these fish and it seems to be common, but not 100%. He never breathed like this when he was small, then when he hit about 4" he never stopped. Tank params are 0,0,20 and WC every week.

Here's a video of mine for reference:

Similar to your Sev doviiman?

[YT]XBSnwIBlhDA[/YT]
 
It's those HIGH nitrates mate.
That is WAY to high IMO.
This is the reason why he is gasping for air,high nitrates limit the bloods ability to carry oxygen throo the body,thus why has is gasping.
Also high nitrates cause him to be larthargic too.
You need to do some water changes and get them nitrates down..


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Interesting thread as I've noticed my Super Red breathes faster and deeper than any other fish in the tank. I've looked at vids on YT of these fish and it seems to be common, but not 100%. He never breathed like this when he was small, then when he hit about 4" he never stopped. Tank params are 0,0,20 and WC every week.

Here's a video of mine for reference:
Similar to your Sev doviiman?

[YT]XBSnwIBlhDA[/YT]

Yes, that excatly how mine does, but the funny thing is the other severum does not do this, neither does any other fish in the tank.
 
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