Severum Tank?

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frp13187

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 2, 2008
125
3
48
Chicago
So I guess I have a couple questions...Right now I have a 55 gallon with a Jack Dempsey, firemouth, and blood parrot. The Jack Dempsey and blood parrot are extremely skittish and hide all day. You don't even realize that they are in the tank when you look at it because they are hiding behind or in something. They have been in the tank for four months. I tried adding a school of tiger barbs but that didn't seem to do much. Obviously I would like a livelier and more outgoing tank and was considering trading in these fish for severums. I've always liked severums and thought maybe they'd be better to watch? How many severums can live in a 55 gallon when fully grown? What is your experience with severums...are they skittish or social?

Also, is there anything else I should be trying with my current fish to get them to come out more? As soon as someone approaches the tank, they dart behind something and it's kinda annoying to be honest. Thanks for any help.
 
Severum max for 55 would be 2, maybe could mix in some sort of gymneophagus or ram

mine are very social
 
some dithers would help, but if you just want to do a trade, trade away the blood p for a severum
 
I would ditch all the fish and get 4 Severum, when they get a little bigger keep the 2 best / or pair if your, lucky and and trade the rest. Severum is my all time favorite fish, but be warned a full grown Severum is a BIG fish for a 55.
 
My sevs are 3" and 5". They hide somtimes but they will come to the top and swim in circles when I come to the tank. I think most are very socal if u get them at a small age/size. At my lfs they have them around 1/2" even they are very outgoing.
 
Sevs are still pretty skitish, all comes down to aquarium positioning, lighting and decor.

Personally, ive kept a pair of sevs in a 55 for many years, but i thought it was cramped.

Either way, they'll be happy in their for a good while.

Best of luck
Craig
 
im got a small pair in my 55g with other tankmates. they're about 5-6". they are doing good but its crazy when they breed in the tank. soon they will have the tank to themselves
 
In a 55, in the long run you would probably only be able to house 2 adults. And at that they may be cramped. I had to move my pair out of there original 55 cuz they just got to big for it imo. But severums are definitely a good choice...i would ditch the BP and JD.
 
I have had four Dempsey's in my pocession in the pat and every one was very reclusive (only showing themselves at feeding time). My father kept one when i was a kid and that thing was the total oppisite, a real beast. It was housed in a four foot tank with a breeding pair of Convict's (5" male, 3" female.) and it never hid. It's aggression was almost to the point of a glass banger, he used to flare gill's and display whenever you went near the tank. When the Con's were spawning he would set up a makeshift glass divider which the Dempsey broke once by spitting substrate at it to get at the fry. That fish was what made me keep Dempsey's at different points.

Sound's to me that a pair of Sevy's are what you are after, nice choice.
 
I have two in a 55 right now and all is fine. I would not want to add any more. I also have three in a 150 and it is plenty of room. The 55 does have 4 other inhabitants, none of whom are aggressive, and I have to stay on top of the water changes. Sevs are great. Not one of mine are shy and all eat out of my hand. But all fish are individuals, so you may not have the same luck.

If the JD is skiddish now and small, he will get bigger and more aggressive. I had a sev with a JD and the sev held his own but was more skiddish. Good Luck.
 
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