at what age/size will severums start breeding? i have a male and female sev both about 2.5-3" each. i've heard sevs would rather choose their mates rather than just being thrown in a tank together. my female keeps chasing the male around the tank. they're in a standard 55g tank. should i maybe throw another female and even another small male in there with them?
severums breeding
- Thread starter HiImSean
- Start date
I've read people have very different experiences. Some say 4", but I have a mated pair [gold fem./green male] now that were well over 5" before they settled on each other. The male is slightly smaller, and has sneakily eaten their last 4 spawns.
I've never been able to sex severums less than 3" successfully, but if you're sure you have 1 of each, then the chasing is usually the first sign [...though it could also be domination/aggression], then they might lip-lock & wrestle for hours. You'll also see them shimmying/displaying at each other... And change colours...
My sev's always spawn at night after a large water change, so I've never seen them do the deed [I need my beauty sleep] but in the morning on their favorite driftwood I find a large clutch of eggs. They never last past breakfast the next day though.
You can add more severums to the mix but there's no guarantee IMO, and with a 55 you're prob. going to run into bioload issues soon. Maybe some dither-fish might take away some aggression, and help them settle down with each other...
I've never been able to sex severums less than 3" successfully, but if you're sure you have 1 of each, then the chasing is usually the first sign [...though it could also be domination/aggression], then they might lip-lock & wrestle for hours. You'll also see them shimmying/displaying at each other... And change colours...
My sev's always spawn at night after a large water change, so I've never seen them do the deed [I need my beauty sleep] but in the morning on their favorite driftwood I find a large clutch of eggs. They never last past breakfast the next day though.
You can add more severums to the mix but there's no guarantee IMO, and with a 55 you're prob. going to run into bioload issues soon. Maybe some dither-fish might take away some aggression, and help them settle down with each other...
my sevs started to breed when they got around the 5" mark. so urs might need to do alittle more growing. a good sign of them possibly breeding is if the male starts displaying towards the female.
I'm curious too, and am documenting the growth, etc., of my baby sevs I got from Jeff Rapps this summer. Got 5 F1 Orinocos (mouthbrooders) and 5 F1 Rotkeils. They were tiny-1" to 1/2"--when I got them in August. Now they range from over an inch to a scant 2 inches!!! The O's are already showing red lower flares; the R's go real dark. They all shift color alot, kinda sandy even tho' they're in a bare bottom. Can't even consider sexing them yet!!! I actually didn't get them to breed, I just love them, but I'll deff have a go at it, just to see what happens. I was give two young, one Turquoise, one Green, 3 and 4 inches when I got them this summer. I put them in the 20L alone and they immediately spawned twice, but the eggs turned white. I think the larger, turquoise is the female but not sure. Sure do love those boogers!!!!
wannaarro;1253721; said:I'm curious too, and am documenting the growth, etc., of my baby sevs I got from Jeff Rapps this summer. Got 5 F1 Orinocos (mouthbrooders) and 5 F1 Rotkeils. They were tiny-1" to 1/2"--when I got them in August. Now they range from over an inch to a scant 2 inches!!! The O's are already showing red lower flares; the R's go real dark. They all shift color alot, kinda sandy even tho' they're in a bare bottom. Can't even consider sexing them yet!!! I actually didn't get them to breed, I just love them, but I'll deff have a go at it, just to see what happens. I was give two young, one Turquoise, one Green, 3 and 4 inches when I got them this summer. I put them in the 20L alone and they immediately spawned twice, but the eggs turned white. I think the larger, turquoise is the female but not sure. Sure do love those boogers!!!!
Same here i got 7 F1 rotkeils and 3 heros notatus at a local fish auction. got em back in august too when they were a half inch. The little dudes are grownin quick! now they are at about 2". Plan on trying to breed them. Cant wait!