Unstable Severums

[cdc]

I have two WC Severums in my 300g and they dont show there stripes, sometimes they change color and show all there stripes but mostly they stay dark. The other Severums that I bought at the local lfs display there stripes all the time.

Any ideas why I have had them 6 months and they have always been like this.

 

[Sarah88]

what kind are they? this can play a big role as certain types display their stripes more than others, this can also be a stress thing with your new ones, since they are new to the environment they are showing all their barring, but as long as your wild ones are eating properly and dont have white/stringy poo all the time then i wouldnt worry to much most severums will only show their last bar all the time and some dont even show that fully, if they are really dark then they could be in breeding colors are they a pair? pictures would help though

 

[Dark_Angel]

Mix with other fish bigger, so they always aware and show their stripe bars...

 

[cdc]

I am not sure which type they are, I would guess they are green severums. They are a pair and have spawned about a month ago and all eggs were eaten but the other fish. Most of the fish in the tank are bigger than they are they eat fine and are healthy.

I was thinking about moving them into a 20g I have spare so they can breed once for me but I am not sure its big enough for them, the are about 4 inches.

 

[Snowflake311]

Mine showed his bar when he was under 4" at 5" the bars are gone for the most part. It is not uncommon for Severums to have bars when young. BUT if they stay dark that means they are stressed. Mine was about 2" and turned Black from being picked on and had ich. Now that same fish is almost 8" and a deep green no stripes.

I find that when mine gets excited or is in a fight with him take mates he turns dark green with a Bright yellow chest and his eyes are the brightest yellow ever.

Sound like if they are small they are getting picked on. and if you added a new fish to the tank that means all the fish have to figuare out the pecking order all over again. So it is stressfull