breeding?

Severums are cichlids, so I will move this over. I'm pretty sure severums spawn pretty well in tanks--so you may benefit from searching the Cichlid forum on the topic.

Severums are slow to mature so I don't think they are getting ready to spawn. Severums also aren't easy to spawn in the home aquarium, there are many that have a pair for a long time without the fish ever spawning, so if yours do it is quite an accomplishment. I have never actually spawned them so I can't comment on their behavior, but they do like to rearrange the gravel and plants in the aquarium.

Can you post a picture?

My severums have spawned twice within 2 months.

There are many things you have to look for.

1. 4" severums can start breeding.
2. ph has to be around 6.5.
3. temperature has to be around 82.
4. both parents will have their breeding coats on...almost all black...unless you have gold severums.
5. they will chase each other, fan their tails at each other, circling each other...what we called "mating dance".
6. After the mating dance, they will start locking lips to test each other strength. You will find them beaten and injured. My female got the most abused. I have to put in stress coat all the time to help with her injuries.
7. They will develop an obsession on cleaning a piece of flat rock, flowerpot, or just a corner that has flat surface.
8. They will guard the territory. You will notice that none of the fish will not even think of crossing to that area

Mating dance, rock cleaning, and etc, will take from 2 days to 4 weeks. Mine took 3 days. After they laid their eggs, they use their fins to fan the eggs...to keep dirt off and give oxygen.

Don't be surprised if your severums eat the eggs or fry...or tank mates help themselves on those eggs/fry. Some people had to try many times before their fish learned to become good parents. Mine were good parents on their first try. However, I didn't keep any of the fry.

I've them stopped breeding because they took over half of the tank every time they breed.

This was a day after their first batch. The eggs are visible. They were guarding the eggs.


Took 2 days to hatch. 3 days to become free swimmers.


And this was second batch. After they removed some of the hatch eggs.

Originally posted by Deb2
Severums are slow to mature so I don't think they are getting ready to spawn. Severums also aren't easy to spawn in the home aquarium

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Both are false information.

Severum aren't the slow to mature fish. You haven't met that cichlids yet

This cichlid, Hoplarchus psittacus took 5 years to start showing breeding behavior.
http://www.cichlidae.com/gallery/Hoplarchus/default.html

And severums aren't hard to breed if you know what you are doing.

Originally posted by lethalp
Not sure if you read but I had bought these 2 fish as blood parrots, and noew that they are bigger I see that they aren
't. I am assuming they are severums. I hope they aren
't red devils, is there anyway to tell? One has more of a domed head and the other has a does not. I need to get a pic on here, can anyone tell me how to do it? Thanks, Dawn

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I hope these pictures will help you identify your fish.

This is pure breed red devil.


This is pure breed midas.


This is blood parrot.


And this is severum...has many species under this group.