It sounds like the smaller ones are stunted. Breeding generally doesn't happen until the severums are 5". So if they are breeding, it likely means that they should be 5"+ by now, but aren't.
Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Severum stocking?
- Thread starter P.A.NativesBPM
- Start date
It sounds like the smaller ones are stunted. Breeding generally doesn't happen until the severums are 5". So if they are breeding, it likely means that they should be 5"+ by now, but aren't.
Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Somebody on this thread said two adults could work. Could I pick up another sev as the other small ones have been stunted?
Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
It's possibly, but if the small ones are breeding, you may want to rehome one or both of them. Stunted fish can often produce poor offspring and even though they are small, they will still be very defensive. Ryan is IMO the Monster severum guru (he will likely comment on here eventually). He has helped me a lot in my own questions about severum months and months ago. He shared a video with me of his breeding notatus severums that had taken completely over 75% of a 90 gallon tank. And I mean completely. Not a single fish (a tank with several geos and a couple other smaller sevs) ventured into their 3/4 of the tank without a direct retaliation from Mom or Dad. Granted these fish were around 7-9" if I had to guess, but they still take up a large plot of footprint.
If it were me and I wanted to make two larger sevs work in a 75, I would first QT the new sev and make sure I got one that was at least 5" to give the two fish somewhat of a level playing field. I would get rid of the two stunted ones (or at least one) before adding the new sev to the tank. On the day I introduce the new sev to the existing one(s), I would make sure to completely change the decor of the tank around and make sure there are plenty of pieces of driftwood and fake/live plants to break up their line of sight to reduce aggression as much as possible. Keep an eye out for aggression. Now they will "fight" for dominance to establish a pecking order, but as long as no one is tearing anyone else apart, leave them to it. They will bluff charge and display to each other to get the other to back down and recognize them as the alpha. If you see torn fins or missing scales, remove the one doing the damage to another tank for a week or two and let the other sev (likely the smaller and/or more submissive one) establish is own territory and heal before reintroducing the other severum. This may take a couple of times, but if you keep getting the same results, the tank is simply too small for both/all the fish.
Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
I'm not worried about the small ones causing parenting issues. They aren't very good parents when the fish that dwarfs them comes along!
Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
I've kept severums many years and I don't agree with either extreme. 6-8 full grown adults in a 75 is too much and 50 gals per severum is overboard also, though I will say that can depend on size and individual temperament. What you can do with 8 or 9 inch sevs and what you could do with some of the huge monster sevs I've seen is obviously different.
But I've had up to six adult rotkeils (about 8 inches) in a 135 with other fish and no problems at all and perfect water. How many you can keep in a 75 is going to depend on type and size, gender, and whether you have a breeding pair. Once you get a good bonded pair I wouldn't recommend keeping other sevs with them in a 75. At one point I had two breeding pairs develop in a 75 at opposite ends of the tank, but I didn't leave it that way very long as it was pretty evident this crowded them.
It's sometimes possible to keep a third individual (not ideal) or a few juvies with a pair in a 75, but again that depends on the pair and what they'll tolerate-- not guaranteed, not giving rules, and not calling myself an expert, but these are different scenarios I've had over the years.
But I've had up to six adult rotkeils (about 8 inches) in a 135 with other fish and no problems at all and perfect water. How many you can keep in a 75 is going to depend on type and size, gender, and whether you have a breeding pair. Once you get a good bonded pair I wouldn't recommend keeping other sevs with them in a 75. At one point I had two breeding pairs develop in a 75 at opposite ends of the tank, but I didn't leave it that way very long as it was pretty evident this crowded them.
It's sometimes possible to keep a third individual (not ideal) or a few juvies with a pair in a 75, but again that depends on the pair and what they'll tolerate-- not guaranteed, not giving rules, and not calling myself an expert, but these are different scenarios I've had over the years.
I had a breeding pair of greens in my 220 with my big gold sev, my red sev, 2 Rotkeils, a Gar, and my Datnoid. They had every fish in the tank to a 1ft section of my 6x2x30" tank! Lol they are VERY defensive of the eggs and fry
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
50 gallons per severum is for the average adult sev that will reach 10-12" with medium conspecific aggression and it is the safe rule. This is the rule that should allow you to keep any severum short of nightmarishly aggressive sevs (which are rare) without issue. If you get lucky and find a couple of very mind mannered sevs (pretty uncommon as they generally tend to have medium to high conspecifics aggression), then I would conservatively say 30-40 gallons each is fine if you are also adding other fish.
Six sevs in a 135 is different from smaller tanks because even if your sevs have the usual level of conspecific aggression, there are enough of them in the tank that the aggression gets spread around rather than being focused on an individual.
On the whole though, you're spot in. With severums, it all depends on the individual fish and what they are willing to tolerate.
Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
I am going to re-home the stunted pair.
Also, I believe my large female is actually a male. Fins and face pointe to female in the tank they came from and in mine for the first few days, but now his face is all squiggled up and his fins have nice long trailers.
I believe he is a turquoise or green severum. I'll start another ID thread.
I'd like to get more sevs in this tank if I could!
Would adding a female rotkeil and female gold possibly work with some rummynose tetras as dithers? Or somebody said adding more spreads aggression? I'm at a loss of what to do. I don't want stunted fish in my tank but my big male seems very attached to them. They were supposedly together for around 4-5 years.
Thanks!
Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Also, I believe my large female is actually a male. Fins and face pointe to female in the tank they came from and in mine for the first few days, but now his face is all squiggled up and his fins have nice long trailers.
I believe he is a turquoise or green severum. I'll start another ID thread.
I'd like to get more sevs in this tank if I could!
Would adding a female rotkeil and female gold possibly work with some rummynose tetras as dithers? Or somebody said adding more spreads aggression? I'm at a loss of what to do. I don't want stunted fish in my tank but my big male seems very attached to them. They were supposedly together for around 4-5 years.
Thanks!
Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
