Mean Green Severums

bifumus

bifumus

Registered Member
Oct 3, 2005
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Hi, I'm a newbie and I have two freshwater tanks. My 55g currently has two green severums (Middle Fred and Little Fred), one finless kissing gourami (thanks to Big Fred, my oldest severum), and one zebra tetra. The two severum are separated from the other fish by a mesh divider because Middle Fred is very aggressive and the finless gourami probably would not last long with him. Big Fred is in a separate 10g tank that he was placed in while being treated with medication.

I don't want to leave Big Fred in that small tank by himself, and I'm not sure how to best house this group of fish so they don't kill each other. Little Fred seems to be able to hold his own against Middle Fred, but I think Middle Fred would beat Big Fred to death in the same tank.

Any suggestions? Thanks for reading. :thud:
 
Welcome to keeping cichlids. Cichlids often attract hobbyist because they have discernable personalities. As you see with your two, one is more aggresive despite being the same species.

As for your problem. You state you have two tanks; what's in the other one? If it's the 10g what about moving the tetra (not zebra danio?) and gourami (what species?) there instead? With decor arranged to allow different territories two combating severums may coexist in a 55. Otherwise see if the LFS will take back one or both severums. If you do keep one try other moderate cichlids ie convicys or firemouths with it. A group of giant danios or similar fish often help serve as a distraction (dither fish) which sometimes helps keep peace in a cichlid tank. Either way the danios add another level of interest.

Good luck.
 
Thanks!

Thanks for the suggestions. In answer to your questions, Big Fred is still in the 10g tank by himself, and the gourami is a kissing gourami minus the fins. I'll run this scenario by my husband and see what he thinks. I appreciate the ideas!
 
the 10 gallon tank is too small for either the gourami or the severum. you need to work out something else if the fish are not going to get along in the 55.

Are the severums all males, all females, or are they mixed sexes? how old are they? how big are they? How do you have the tank decorated? Got any driftwood or plants? Maybe rock structures that break things up? Sometimes all it takes is the ability of one fish to get out of the line of sight of the other. Other times the agression might be the process of "pairing" and breeding. Are the severums getting into serious lip lock? Are they perorming "feats of strength"?
 
Wow... let's see....

I'm not even sure how to determine their gender, so I don't know what we have. There's never been and breeding that I'm aware of, so I had been assuming that the severums we have are all the same gender. The oldest severum is about 6-7 years, and the others are probably 4 and 2. The gourami is also 6-7 years old (basing these ages on when I got married). Big Fred is about 6" long, Middle Fred is about 4", and Little Fred is about 3". The tank has pea gravel and plastic plants (some tall, some short), two rocks and two logs, and the divider to keep M&L Freds away from the gourami and tetra. No feats of strength to report yet - Middle Fred just likes to chase Little Fred around, but Little Fred can bob and weave quite well.

I hope that helps give you an idea of our setup. We're hardly experts, and we really don't know if we're completely bungling this or not.

Thanks for reading - any and all suggestions are welcome. :help:
 
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