Severum Males aggression

[Itspsharpe]

Hey guys! I’ve got a 45 gal community tank with 2 turquoise Severums, I think both male and 3”. One of the sevs tends to pick on the other. They were added at the same time. My water is great, and temp is great. Plenty of decor and room for them to establish separate areas of dominance. The sev that gets picked on seems to do okay, it still comes out to eat, and it has no physical fin damage. It has a single scale that looks like it was picked off but it isn’t deep, and looks very mild. It typically hides under some driftwood. The other fish, some acaras and angels are picked on as well by the aggressive sev but not to a point where they just hide all day.

I know that 45 gals is not much for that many large cichlids, and my friend is going to give me her 75 gallon tank in a month or so and I should have it set up then to move everything over. But for now, does anybody have any recommendations or suggestions for me to help minimize this aggression.

And just so everyone knows, the sev that is being picked on is hiding under driftwood in bottom left, but I don’t think you can see it in photo.

 

[Deadeye]

Welcome to the forum!
As you probably already know, 45 gallons isn’t enough for a single sev, so 2 is going to make it more complicated, especially if both males (you can post closeup pics for us to confirm). They are generally quite passive, but you will get mean ones. As they grow, aggression will only get worse. There are a lot of cichlids in the tank, they will also start to butt heads as they get older.
Try rearranging the decor or adding more hiding spots to give the submissive one a better chance.

 

[tlindsey]

Hey guys! I’ve got a 45 gal community tank with 2 turquoise Severums, I think both male and 3”. One of the sevs tends to pick on the other. They were added at the same time. My water is great, and temp is great. Plenty of decor and room for them to establish separate areas of dominance. The sev that gets picked on seems to do okay, it still comes out to eat, and it has no physical fin damage. It has a single scale that looks like it was picked off but it isn’t deep, and looks very mild. It typically hides under some driftwood. The other fish, some acaras and angels are picked on as well by the aggressive sev but not to a point where they just hide all day.

I know that 45 gals is not much for that many large cichlids, and my friend is going to give me her 75 gallon tank in a month or so and I should have it set up then to move everything over. But for now, does anybody have any recommendations or suggestions for me to help minimize this aggression.

And just so everyone knows, the sev that is being picked on is hiding under driftwood in bottom left, but I don’t think you can see it in photo.

View attachment 1498516

Welcome aboard

Most if not all Cichlids are conspecific aggressive so one Severum views the other as a threat for food and territorial stake. Also views similar looking fish the same . Tbh the 45 is too small as you stated.

 

[FJB]

But about the question you asked. The 75g will be better, but still not sufficiently large for all the fish you listed. If it were me I would be choosing. Perhaps the acaras need to be rehomed? Or the angels?
Perhaps other with more cichlid experience may be able to offer specific suggestions. Good luck!

 

[ryansmith83]

You never add only two small Heros. In almost every instance, a dominant fish will establish its hierarchy over the other and torment it. Grow out a minimum of 4 but preferably 6 or more, then as they mature and calm down you can adjust the numbers.

The tank is too small for Heros but even in something like a 75 gallon, the dominant fish will still seek out and pick at the submissive one. This happens regardless of sex.