Severum to stay in 40 Breeder?

[orbit]

I've never seen a true 12 inch severum. Most max out at 9-10 inches and there's a lot that don't get that big. I've seen extremely happy healthy pairs in 55g tanks many times. Bigger is always better, but a 90g for a lone severum is definately overkill.

Absolutely fully agree. My LPS has a full grown male Green Sev and hes maybe, maybe 9" in size.

Although he is in a 220g....

 

[darth pike]

I have seen two 12" SL green sev's before ... this would be back in the early 90's though. I know for a fact they were 12" SL becuase I measured them personally when we got them in trade where I worked. But yes 10" SL is much more common.

 

[jgentry]

I have seen two 12" SL green sev's before ... this would be back in the early 90's though. I know for a fact they were 12" SL becuase I measured them personally when we got them in trade where I worked. But yes 10" SL is much more common.

I bet those 2 looked like giants. They are so tall bodied I couldn't imagine how one that big would look. Not surprising that they were greens/turq ones. They grow the fastest and seem to get the largest. I had a 10.5 inch turq severum for about 8 years. That was the biggest I have ever had or seen in person. Too bad you don't have pics of those.

 

[darth pike]

Yeah, long before web threads and cameras came into the hobby, except for the pics in books or magazines. They did look huge compared to the 12" oscars in the same tank becuase of that height.

The 10.5" turq surprises me though, having never seen one larger than 9" before. That was the primary reason they used to be considered differant species, the 9" adult length for turq's versus the 12" for greens. That's a big turq!!!

 

[Jason_S]

Hope this doesn't irk you then ...

For now either tank is fine. As an adult however, I personally wouldn't consider either tank appropiate for a green sev. The 40 breeder would be too short. I have one, as well a 50 breeder (same footprint, 2" taller), and simply couldn't picture a full sized adult sev in either. The 55 is too narrow for an adult as well. For sev's I actually like at least a 90 gallon becuase of the height over a 75 gallon.

I know it's considered conservative (perhaps even ultra-conservative) but I don't think it's appropiate to keep a 10-12" SL fish in a tank that's only 12" wide. Personally I don't keep anything larger than 5-6" in a 12" width tank.

But I know many others will tell you it's fine.

I couldn't agree more. I currently have a pair of Amphilophus amarillo in my 55 but they are still growing..but pushing the size of the tank. This will not be their permanent home. IMO the tank should be at least 1.5 times the width of the expected adult length of the fish.

I've never seen a true 12 inch severum. Most max out at 9-10 inches and there's a lot that don't get that big. I've seen extremely happy healthy pairs in 55g tanks many times. Bigger is always better, but a 90g for a lone severum is definately overkill.

A lot probably don't get that big because they're not given adequate space to grow. I've seen a couple of sev's that were returned to LFS and at the LFS they were being held in a 55 gallon and they were very cramped. 18" tank width is necessary, imo, for a severum long term.

Absolutely fully agree. My LPS has a full grown male Green Sev and hes maybe, maybe 9" in size.

Although he is in a 220g....

But here's the question...unless you know for a fact that severum lived its entire life in that 220, how do you know it wasn't grown up in a much smaller tank and is simply stunted? Most large fish in LFS/LPS were returned or traded in by people who bought fish that outgrew their tanks so they could no longer care for them. LFS/LPS do not typically setup display tanks and grow fish up from juveniles in such large tanks.

Personally, I think a severum needs that 18" width so if the 40 breeder and 55 gallon are the only 2 options then I'd go with the 40 breeder though as it gets big it will look and feel cramped.

 

[Stump]

Fair enough. Thank you for your honest, thoughtful input... Seriously.

 

[fishkeeper25]

it will be fine in the 40 gallon breeder although a have to admit this is probably the min tank size for these fish

 

[HiImSean]

i think the 36" of the 40g breeder sucks. i've had my pair of severums in my 55g for over a year. they started breeding around 4-5". they are currently 7-8" so their growth slowed considerably since they started breeding. i'll prolly upgrade to a 75g this summer or fall for them but i think a 55g works good for a pair until they get huge. my big male still has alot of room to move around in the tank

 

[jgentry]

I couldn't agree more. I currently have a pair of Amphilophus amarillo in my 55 but they are still growing..but pushing the size of the tank. This will not be their permanent home. IMO the tank should be at least 1.5 times the width of the expected adult length of the fish.



A lot probably don't get that big because they're not given adequate space to grow. I've seen a couple of sev's that were returned to LFS and at the LFS they were being held in a 55 gallon and they were very cramped. 18" tank width is necessary, imo, for a severum long term.




But here's the question...unless you know for a fact that severum lived its entire life in that 220, how do you know it wasn't grown up in a much smaller tank and is simply stunted? Most large fish in LFS/LPS were returned or traded in by people who bought fish that outgrew their tanks so they could no longer care for them. LFS/LPS do not typically setup display tanks and grow fish up from juveniles in such large tanks.

Personally, I think a severum needs that 18" width so if the 40 breeder and 55 gallon are the only 2 options then I'd go with the 40 breeder though as it gets big it will look and feel cramped.

I have personally never had a severum once over 4 inches in anything smaller then a 90g and have had several in a 220g for there whole life. Simple fact is that most severums are never going to hit 10 inches. Some of the strains get larger then others, but most of the greens still don't get that big. It has nothing to do with being raised in a small tank. A 55g tank can only stunt a severum if the owner does not keep up with tank maintinance. It has nothing to do with the tank size and everything to do with water quality. Most severums kept in pristine conditions are still not going to get 10+ inches.

You can tell a severum that is stunted or has not been properly cared for from a mile alway. They look like were there tail meets there body is pinched in and they just looked odd shaped. Almost blood parrot like.

 

[orbit]

But here's the question...unless you know for a fact that severum lived its entire life in that 220, how do you know it wasn't grown up in a much smaller tank and is simply stunted? Most large fish in LFS/LPS were returned or traded in by people who bought fish that outgrew their tanks so they could no longer care for them. LFS/LPS do not typically setup display tanks and grow fish up from juveniles in such large tanks.

Personally, I think a severum needs that 18" width so if the 40 breeder and 55 gallon are the only 2 options then I'd go with the 40 breeder though as it gets big it will look and feel cramped.

I DO know because I go there every friggin day. Plus I work there too. I saw the Sev when it was itsy bitsy to his current state. He was one in the current for sale stock.