rotkeil help...

[crazycanuck]

they have baby rotkeils at lmy LFS and im thinking of getting a male for my 90 gallon.. me and my dad are building it right now,so its not up yet...

ive seen severums with neons,but is this advisable?? and are apistos and rummy noses ok with them? also would i be able to plant the tank with a rotkeil in it?? thanks

 

[Lupin]

I don't think you can determine their genders at the moment while they are young. As for tankmates, neons are inadvisable. They will eventually eat the neons if they fit in their mouths. Not many slim-bodied tetras can last long. Go with diamond tetras or bleeding hearts. If not, Congo tetras and Ulrey's tetras are another options. Severums can demolish most planted tanks so no can do. I feed mine veggies and can destroy plants. Apistos are nono as well. They will eventually be outcompeted and intimidated by the severums. Choose small species of plecos for tankmates.

 

[crazycanuck]

thanks... i thought about it and dont want to sacrifice plants and other fish i like for one severum... if i emptied my 30,would a lone severum be to much for a 30???

 

[tankboy_taylor]

I got a 6+ Sev in a community tank with rams,rummies and loaches the Sev is a glutton and dominates the food but is very peacful and has never harmed another fish.

I think it all boils down to the Sev I put this one in as a baby when I knew less.

 

[Lupin]

thanks... i thought about it and dont want to sacrifice plants and other fish i like for one severum... if i emptied my 30,would a lone severum be to much for a 30???

It'll be too much. A 75g for a pair is the minimum if you ask me or one for a 55g. They grow rather quickly until 5-6 inches and growth rate eventually slows down.

 

[crazycanuck]

ok thanks.. ill wait till i move out and have my 250:grinyes:

 

[mostlycichlids]

I have 2 rotkeil's in a 75g community. I would get one as they can be hard to come by. If you are getting a bigger tank in less than 6mo than a single severum will be fine in the 30g as a grow out only. A 55g is minimum my experience with severums are they act less shy and seem more comfortable in a larger tank. In my opinion 75g is a good size for a pair.

 

[wataugachicken]

I don't think you can determine their genders at the moment while they are young. As for tankmates, neons are inadvisable. They will eventually eat the neons if they fit in their mouths. Not many slim-bodied tetras can last long. Go with diamond tetras or bleeding hearts. If not, Congo tetras and Ulrey's tetras are another options. Severums can demolish most planted tanks so no can do. I feed mine veggies and can destroy plants. Apistos are nono as well. They will eventually be outcompeted and intimidated by the severums. Choose small species of plecos for tankmates.

adding to this - i have 6 juvi sevs in my 150, from 2-5 inches. i had 6 flame tetras in there, but recently they've been. . . ummm. . . showing up with their tails bitten off. so now i just have two and they moved in with the guppies. i'm pretty sure the largest or larger sevs did the damage. oh, and it's not like they're hungry, i feed them 4 times a day. i think they just got big enough and decided that they hate tetras. evil little beggars.