Where did you buy your RED Severum from?

[RedDwarf]

In my experience, newly imported smaller (less than 3") super red severums are very prone to ick and a number of other ailments.

Even with perfect water (0 NH3, 0 NO2 and ~1ppm NO3) temps around 84 degrees and 6.8pH the stress of shipping will lead to a break down.

Of the 16 I picked up, I have lost 3 the first day and the rest are all swimming around eating pellets now. 6 were on their sides when I bought them. I have them in a tank with native Peruvian leaves and driftwood.

The real problem is there is no way to know what the parameters are where they are bred, I just know that they usually come in with big leaves in the water to drop the pH and calm them during transport.

Unless your getting a good deal on them, I would just put some on hold at your LFS and pick them up in a week or so. That way they will have time to adjust and you should have less problems with them.

Gold severums run a close second in stressing in regards to new shipments.

 

[svtim]

all mine came from a guy on aquabid they were great but i paid way too much .

 

[bbortko]

The ark in Merrillville, IN has them quite
and is only an hour from downtown Chicago.

 

[knobhill]

$40/fish? Sounds really high. I think I paid about $10/fish from All-Happy, they were 2-3" at the time. Sounds like Rapps is the guy to get them from. But no matter who you get them from, QUARANTINE these fish! Almost everyone here is saying that they get stressed from transport. Plus you can control their environment and won't be necessarily medicated other fish. Keep us posted~

 

[inssane]

Thanks for all the suggestions and anecdotes.
The last time I was there they had ick and when I called last week he said they were getting better but a little ways off. I am not going to call, I am just going to show up and if they are better, it was meant to be.
Rapps has them, but with shipping it would cost more than LFS and I have to risk shipping in this cold, or just shipping in general.
I figure that if they are over their ick at the LFS, their major adjustment is over and assuming they act normal (they were clamped and hiding before) then I will pick one up.
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