Sexing Severums

[Mythic Figment]

OK... Here is the other. This one killed the 3rd last night. I'm thinking female...?

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This one is more difficult. My gut instinct tells me male, but it is less colorful in the face than the other. Depending on the species/coloration, this might be a fish that has been line bred a bit. Line breeding can develop females that have equally robust facial markings as males. If that is the case here, this fish could be either sex. It could also mean the other fish might be female (though I am more doubtful of that).


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[tomka123]

I got them from Jeff Rapps who I have heard good things about, and he said they are wild caught rio Maica (tributary of rio Tapajos). So with his integrity being solid, I feel safe in that they are wild caught, which would take out the possibility of line breeding.

 

[SePPii]

My gold is pushing 10" and my red is just over 7". They are doing that wiggling thing but I've seen no lip locking, and they are chasing away anything from the bottom left of the tank.


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[ryansmith83]

Both severums tomka posted are males.

Severums are not by nature aggressive toward other fish but they do sometimes have high conspecific aggression. If they are tormenting each other to the point of severe stress or bodily damage, separate them. This is why I usually grow them out in groups of six or more. They calm down once they get bigger most of the time. They will really give each other hell at the 2 - 4" mark when trying to establish dominance. Moving them to new tanks will cause this to happen.

 

[tomka123]

thank you ryan... I will move the dominant one to my 55 grow out... This will keep things stable! The 3rd one which was killed, would you assume that was a male also?