I have a 90 gallon tank with one 7 inch Red Spotted Severum and 4 three inch Silver Dollars.Yesterday I obtained a 5 inch female Red Severum(proven to be a female by her being seen laying eggs before).I put her in the tank and almost immediately the larger Severum started chasing the female.Now I'm not sure of the sex of the larger Severum but I didn't expect this to happen.I thought if they were 2 females it would be ok.If they were a male and a female they would likely breed.Right now the new female is hiding behind a leaning piece of slate I had put in the tank.I leaned it so that the bigger Severum could not get to her.When she does try to come out she gets chased back into her hiding spot.Maybe it takes time for everyone to get along?Any thoughts?
Severum Agression
- Thread starter mr limpet
- Start date
In my experience severum are aggressive to those that look the same. In the beginning a pecking order needs to be established. Watch the bigger one for any head shaking, as if it were shaking it's head to say no. This would usually indicate the bigger is a male and is looking to breed. If you are able to feed the female then I wouldn't be too concerned, if you can't it might be worth reintroducing the male to the tank with the decor moved or changed to have him readjust to his surroundings and ideally leave the female alone until she can get some strength up to survive a couple days of chasing.
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I tried feeding last night.Didnt see her eating.Maybe getting used to a new enviroment or being stressed.Ill try feeding later.If she doesn't eat later,tomorrow I will try taking bigger one out and redo the tank decor.If the bigger one doesn't shake or flirt with the female does that mean it's also a female?
Just means it isn't making obvious breeding attempts. It would be somewhat unexpected for a male to immediately begin courtship, so it does not indicate gender in any reliable way. Spot feeding bloodworms or something similarly attractive could help the female settle in, but if she can't eat or her fins become damaged then you need to intervene. I have a pair of reds that have laid once, and they chase eachother and occasionally lip lock, but they never damage one another. I'd assume this is a situation where the bigger red is establishing dominance, and once that period is over the chasing should become much less frequent. After that look for head shaking and court dancing, although I've heard of female severum pairing off and laying eggs, which never get fertilized because its a pair of two females.
Sounds like they just need time.
I had a solo red severum do this to a large jack dempsey, but eventually stopped bothering the jack.
I had a solo red severum do this to a large jack dempsey, but eventually stopped bothering the jack.
What is the difference between super red and red severums ?
Are they feeded with spezial food or are they just higher quallity ones ?
Will the colors improve when they get bigger ?
What is the max size they can reach ?
Is there a save way to tell the sex by looking at them ?
Are they feeded with spezial food or are they just higher quallity ones ?
Will the colors improve when they get bigger ?
What is the max size they can reach ?
Is there a save way to tell the sex by looking at them ?
Could simply be a matter of time for the original fish to accept a newer fish, but could also be what looks like aggression is a prelude to mating, which isn't unusual for severum pairs, especially during the process of pairing up you can see what looks more like fighting than courtship. Then it's a question of whether they accept or reject each other as a pair.
A 90 gal is big enough for two severums that accept each other, but it can also be too small if they don't like each other.
A 90 gal is big enough for two severums that accept each other, but it can also be too small if they don't like each other.
Female still hiding but at least she's eating.Hope in a few more days she be accepted by the bigger Severum.Only had Red Severums for a few months but I think Super Reds and Reds are probably the same.Dont think there is any special food for them. I feed high quality pellets and flakes.Also mine gets frozen blood worms once a week.Think it's true that they do get more color as they age.I've read that maximum size is 9 to 10 inches.Don't think there is any definitive way to sex Red Severums.I actually thought my Female was a male.It had the long pointed fins and lines all over her face.Then I saw her lay eggs.
