Severums are supposed to be peaceful..

[zekni]

I have two red severums about 5" and 6.5" (total length) in a 100 gallon 5' barebottom tank decorated with two smaller and one larger clay pot. They've been in there together about six months. Left alone, the slightly larger severum chases the smaller severum constantly. I added evelen 1.5-3" frontosa juvies as dithers, but no dice. Always it's the one chasing the other. When I noticed fin damage, I divided the tank and stuck the bigger sev in its own corner of the aquarium. Within hours the smaller severum was dancing and flirting at the eggcrate. I figured, no way, they don't even get along. But here it is, two days later and the smaller severum is busily laying eggs on the clay pot next to the divider with the larger severum seemingly interested on the other side.
I think to myself, hey cool, I should put these guys back together cuz maybe they'll be a pair.
Uhhuh. Not.
Enter larger severum and they start liplocking around the tank (meanwhile, the fronts eat all the eggs -- i knew that was going to happen) then it goes right back to the larger severum chasing the smaller visciously around the tank, stopping only long enough to join in on the egg eating, and continue the chase until the smaller severum is hudled back under a pot looking like her miserable self.
I figure, that didn't work. I seperate the two after about two hours or so again of absolute no progress and what do you know, the smaller sev comes right out from hiding and goes back to laying eggs next to the divider.

Providing that this is a male and a female, how in the world would I go about getting them to get along long enough to procreate?
I have an empty six footer 120 gallon I'm thinking about putting them in, maybe with some more scenery to see what happens without the fronts.
Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

Confirmed female:

Suspected Male (opinions welcome):

 

[manlyfish]

isn't that how they mate tho?

 

[ryansmith83]

This is just my experience... your mileage may vary.

Severums are still cichlids. They are generally peaceful fish but can be hard on others of their own kind. I've found it best never to mix two of any cichlid unless they're actually a pair. My experience is that the dominant one will always harass the submissive one until it's sick from stress or dead. The only real exception to this rule for me is if I raise them together from a young age. It may help to have a large tank and tons of hiding spots, but they will probably still fight when they see each other.

Even if you have a male and female, there's no guarantee that you'll end up with a mated pair. Sometimes cichlids are rough on each other, even after spawning. I've repeatedly watched male fish beat the crap out of their female partners during or after spawning. I usually don't put those pairs back together. Sometimes they go on to find compatible mates that they're not so rough with.

My suggestion is to re-home one of them. Maybe you can get a different kind of cichlid that will stand up to the aggressive severum. I don't think successful spawning is going to be likely if they're repeatedly fighting to the point that the female is ripped up and stressed.

 

[Gervahlt]

^ Agreed.

 

[zekni]

Somehow I figured you guys would say that. I started out with a group of five originally hoping for a pair, and lost three to parasite/bacterial infection (they were lfs fish). These were the two that were left, and I figured I had two males left since one was constantly getting harrassed, which is why I seperated them. Shame that one's a beast.

On another note, anyone have a red red severum male they'd like to sell me?

 

[ryansmith83]

It's also possible that they're both female... My female notatus laid eggs together but were extremely violent with each other once the eggs were gone.

 

[peathenster]

Ryan said it well. They can have very different personalities. I used to have a very aggressive that I had to give away. But usually bonded/mated pairs get along much better.

On another note, anyone have a red red severum male they'd like to sell me?

let me know if you want to sell me the female

I have a male that regularly breeds with a gold female...

 

[zekni]

Ryan said it well. They can have very different personalities. I used to have a very aggressive that I had to give away. But usually bonded/mated pairs get along much better.




let me know if you want to sell me the female

I have a male that regularly breeds with a gold female...

Trade you the male for a couple EBJD fry...

oooo hopefully in the near future I should have blue/gold JD fry...

 

[Jason_S]

It's also possible that they're both female... My female notatus laid eggs together but were extremely violent with each other once the eggs were gone.

Very good point. I would suggest keeping the divider, let her lay the eggs (she's laying then near the divider so close to the other severum correct?) and see what the other severum does. If it is a male he will most likely try to fertilize the eggs through the divider and if they are close enough he should be able to get most of them.

It's possible that either they are male/female and the male was ready to spawn before the female. This is often when the male will become aggressive with the female. Or it could be that they are both female and fighting for territory.

I'd keep them separated with the divider for a week or so and see what happens.

And on a sidenote, this is the first time I've ever heard of anyone using frontosa as a dither LOL

 

[zekni]

And on a sidenote, this is the first time I've ever heard of anyone using frontosa as a dither LOL

It was either them or discus. Juvie fronts are FAST.