After A Bit Of Sev Advice...

[princessJJ23]

Hi all. Just after some advice regarding a golden sev I have. It was originally purchased as a pair (not mating or sexed as they were so young), but the other one died soon after we got them home from the LFS. Have had the remaining one for about 3 months now, it hasn't grown as much as I would have expected, and hasn't changed colour from the almost white it was at the LFS. It also still has the black bands that I understand are usually down to stress. Water stats are perfect so thats not the issue. Went back to the LFS today and queried it, only to be told by a staff member that its lonely and we should buy another one.....I wondered if this actually was the case or he was just trying to make a sale! He also mentioned the red sevs they had just got in, priced at £11.99 each, is this price about right as it did seem rather high.

Should I be worried that its still white, and not changed to anything resembling golden, and should I be worried about the black bands?

Thanks in advance for any response.

 

[leecasey]

Hi all. Just after some advice regarding a golden sev I have. It was originally purchased as a pair (not mating or sexed as they were so young), but the other one died soon after we got them home from the LFS. Have had the remaining one for about 3 months now, it hasn't grown as much as I would have expected, and hasn't changed colour from the almost white it was at the LFS. It also still has the black bands that I understand are usually down to stress. Water stats are perfect so thats not the issue. Went back to the LFS today and queried it, only to be told by a staff member that its lonely and we should buy another one.....I wondered if this actually was the case or he was just trying to make a sale! He also mentioned the red sevs they had just got in, priced at £11.99 each, is this price about right as it did seem rather high.

Should I be worried that its still white, and not changed to anything resembling golden, and should I be worried about the black bands?

Thanks in advance for any response.

I once read the black stripe on gold sevs are visible when young. It didnt mention stress although I wouldnt rule out stress could cause it. The price for the reds seem reasonable. I havent seen any cheaper than that anyway. Sorry cant help with any of your other questions but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon

 

[mattlee]

the black bands on fish are normally down to mood/stress. sevs are commonly bred and there are varying qualities as with any fish, some will be very gold and some will look pale thats just the way it is im affraid. if you have seen red spotted sevs at adult size its much more clear with them as some are very dull and some are stunning.

how big is the sev as it will need time to grow and develop its colour? also what is your routine on water changes and feeding etc as this helps fish grow when juvis quite a bit?

are you actually sure its a gold sev as i cant recall ever seeing one with stress/mood bars?

the bars are very clear on green sevs and rotkeil/red shoulder sevs though

 

[leecasey]

" juveniles will start with several black vertical stripes on a gray/green body with small red/black freckles. As they mature, the Severum will loss most of the stripes, except for the one nearest the tail. "

Source: http/www.petsolutions.com/storefront/fish/live-fish/freshwater-fish-plants/cichlids-americas/gold-severum/prodGoldSeverum.html

that's what I read anyway.

 

[mattlee]

" juveniles will start with several black vertical stripes on a gray/green body with small red/black freckles. As they mature, the Severum will loss most of the stripes, except for the one nearest the tail. "

Source: http/www.petsolutions.com/storefront/fish/live-fish/freshwater-fish-plants/cichlids-americas/gold-severum/prodGoldSeverum.html

that's what I read anyway.

yeah i think they are stating that about the green severum and rotkeil. ive never seen a gold sev with mood bars. the stripe that stays nearest the tail is very clear on greens and rotkeils. here are a few pics of the sevs ive kept over the years clearly showing the rear bar on the rotkeil but nothing on the red spot or gold. they are adult specimins but again ive never seen mood bars on reds or golds just rotkeils and greens.

 

[leecasey]

Check out my baby gold sev on this video at 0:38 http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkUHcvcivj4 - hes always had that stripe.

 

[mattlee]

if its a true gold then it will not keep the rear stripe as shown on my pics.

the other sev in your tank looks like a juvi green and will keep the stripe.

juvi golds will start off as a silver/white/pale fish and colour up with the gold as they mature. they dont start off green with red speckles as the link states. that sounds like a reference to green sevs.

 

[leecasey]

maybe mine is a cross breed or something, no idea lol.

 

[mattlee]

maybe mine is a cross breed or something, no idea lol.

they will show stripes when very tiny as most cichlids do but most at lfs are beyond this size and are at the white/faint yellow stage. your gold seems very golden for its size. but the other sev i would say isnt a gold. cross breed very possible as they will breed with other sevs.
once the gold sev reaches 2.5-3 inches it shouldnt have mood bars from what ive seen and kept and at this size has normally started to colour up

 

[princessJJ23]

Thanks for everyones responses.

He/She(we are leaning towards she at the moment!) is slowly getting bigger, and seems to be loosing the black bars a bit. With regards to being sure if its actually a gold, its just what it was sold as! It was only a couple of inches big when we first got it, and its doubled in size since then.
I've tried to take some pics so see what you think



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[GShorty1981]

Possible Sev x Convict? its body looks to long to be a normal gold Severum.