Severum tank mates

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I added three 2" heckellii to my 125 and my 8" bellycrawler paid no attention to them. He spends most of the day hanging out in a fake hollowed out log and when he comes out he behaves but if another fish challenges him he is very quick to stand his ground. Very cool looking fish when all flared out.
 
bbortko said:
I added three 2" heckellii to my 125 and my 8" bellycrawler paid no attention to them. He spends most of the day hanging out in a fake hollowed out log and when he comes out he behaves but if another fish challenges him he is very quick to stand his ground. Very cool looking fish when all flared out.
Click to expand...

I have seen the flared up pics and they do look pretty cool. :)


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Mythic Figment said:
Between talking with you and darth pike, I am going to have to hunt down some good looking acara species. Blues are definitely my favorites color wise, but I like the Jenaro Herrera colors too. :)

I had posted about keeping a flagtail with some small 6-8" geos and got advise that the flagtail would be too big to live with them and now I'm basically stuck in the same situation......flagtail or a couple of acaras? LOL I think I will go with the acaras though. One day I will have my flagtail though. :)


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Click to expand...

I feel ya' on the Acara thing, I looked for one for over a year and finally gave up and ordered a group. I originally wanted a GT for the tank but didn't want to have to deal with the attitude; so I went with the calmer cousin, lol (feel like I made the right choice :D). All of mine seem very calm and tend to shy away from fights, when my mating female drops eggs on the other hand, she is a force to be reckoned with.

As far as the flagtail not being with smaller fish; I keep mine with a group of 5 geophagus steindachneri, which are no where close to even their small framed full size (they're only about 3"-4" now). They've been living peacefully together for months with my 8"-9" flagtail. It may be the space or the fish or who knows what but they seem just fine together. I will tell you though he's no push over; he (my flagtail) chases the silver dollars around all the time, more so even than my cichlids.

Good luck on the hunt and make sure to post pics of what you end up with!
 
PDRed302 said:
I feel ya' on the Acara thing, I looked for one for over a year and finally gave up and ordered a group. I originally wanted a GT for the tank but didn't want to have to deal with the attitude; so I went with the calmer cousin, lol (feel like I made the right choice :D). All of mine seem very calm and tend to shy away from fights, when my mating female drops eggs on the other hand, she is a force to be reckoned with.

As far as the flagtail not being with smaller fish; I keep mine with a group of 5 geophagus steindachneri, which are no where close to even their small framed full size (they're only about 3"-4" now). They've been living peacefully together for months with my 8"-9" flagtail. It may be the space or the fish or who knows what but they seem just fine together. I will tell you though he's no push over; he (my flagtail) chases the silver dollars around all the time, more so even than my cichlids.

Good luck on the hunt and make sure to post pics of what you end up with!
Click to expand...

I definitely will. :)


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Mythic Figment said:
That comment about acaras being terrors surprises me a bit. Hard to think of the potentially smallest fish being the one I have to worry about aggression wise. LOL

So being darth pike, clearly you have some experience with pikes. :) I have read some horror stories about belly crawlers eating fish that are 2/3 their size and also being aggressive with other fish. Any thoughts on this?

I am looking for something in the "algae control" category of fish. Not looking for a fish that will take care of every piece of algae, but may help limit its growth in between cleanings. Thoughts? I would love a flagtail, but their size in relation to the acaras and obviously their habit of not eating algae when they get bigger makes me very hesitant. I thought of bristle nose or rubber lip plecos, but all plecos are poop machines. I have had three Siamese algae eaters and they all turned aggressive one they hit 4-5" each, so they are out. I bought some snails a while back, but my cichlids just eat them. LOL
Click to expand...

I've read that a few times as well, but I've never seen it happen myself. A lot of people mistake them for dwarf pikes and keep them with smaller fish than they should, in those cases I can see them clearing out the dithers or dwarf cichlids.

Bristlenose are the best bet, despite being pop machines and usually my choice for midsize cichlids, though I've started to leave out algae eaters except in dwarf cichlid tanks. There, since they tend to be more skittish, a few oto's means I'm in the tank less often.


Mythic Figment said:
I love the look of the A. metae. Beautiful orange color. You said they were blue, but all I see is orange (not that I am complaining since they are very pretty). Is the orange a juvenile color that goes away
Click to expand...

I meant the color of the iridescence ... A. metae, A. diadema, and A. sp. Jenaro Herrera all have a very similar pattern ... but the color of their iridescence is difference ... blue, gold and green. Of course, aquarium lighting can make them all appear blue so it can be hard to tell them apart sometimes. The length of the cheek stripe is usually the best indicator.
 
darth pike said:
I've read that a few times as well, but I've never seen it happen myself. A lot of people mistake them for dwarf pikes and keep them with smaller fish than they should, in those cases I can see them clearing out the dithers or dwarf cichlids.

Bristlenose are the best bet, despite being pop machines and usually my choice for midsize cichlids, though I've started to leave out algae eaters except in dwarf cichlid tanks. There, since they tend to be more skittish, a few oto's means I'm in the tank less often.




I meant the color of the iridescence ... A. metae, A. diadema, and A. sp. Jenaro Herrera all have a very similar pattern ... but the color of their iridescence is difference ... blue, gold and green. Of course, aquarium lighting can make them all appear blue so it can be hard to tell them apart sometimes. The length of the cheek stripe is usually the best indicator.
Click to expand...

Sweet. Thanks for the info.

The acaras will be the smallest members of that tank, so I think I should be okay with the bellycrawler.

I have had two plecos die on me in the past as well. Not sure why, but they had plenty of algae and were getting wafers as well, but they all died with indented stomachs. :/

I will definitely keep an eye out for some Jenaro Herrera acaras.


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
So a while back (few weeks), I was trying to figure out what I wanted to breed besides the geo red heads. I couldn't figure t what because I wasn't in love with the idea of any of the fish I was looking up or that others on the forum were recommending to me. Now I know. I would love to breed acaras (blue or Jenaro Herrera).

So I have the 55 with just some neons in it ready and waiting for a breeding pair so something and the 125 with the 6 geo red heads, 4 festivum, 1 super red severum and soon to add two small EBJDs (one of which I will rehome when they get to be 6-8").

So the question is how can I breed the geos and acaras successfully with the smallest number of tanks? Obviously I will have to grow my tank collection (such a shame LOL). However, I have a finite amount of space, so would prefer to add no more than 3 new tanks (thinking two to house/raise fry in and another to house a pair in). I could handle one 4' tank and two smaller (either 20 longs or 40 breeders).

What I am thinking is to use the 125 for a display for everything not breeding (1 sev, 1 EBJD, 4 festivum, 4 geos). Use the 55 for a pair and add another 55 for the other pair (as I understand it, 55s are the easiest to use dividers in if necessary). Sell my 20 high and either get two 20 longs or two 40 breeders to house fry in. Thoughts?


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom