Can I Get A Sev?

Nick16

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hi guys, i have a 240L planted tank (rio 240) and was wondering if i can get a severum? i like the look of the orange ones (i think markandhisfish has one in his avatar?). anyway, current occupants are harlequins, gold barbs, 2 platies and a couple neons. (1 BN)
a few questions really...

1. will the sevs eat any current occupants or my plants?
2. Are the sevs fussy eaters, or willl they take the stuff i allready put in (flake, pro veg flake, bloodworm powder, frozen daphnia, tetra prima)
3. Can i even get one in my tank (or should i get two etc)


any info on basic care would be great (and any special needs of the fish) :good:
 
Unfortunately Nick, the tank isnt big enough for a full grown sev and trust me you wouldnt see your plants again.

They would eat neons too, maybe the harlquins.

A reasonable size cichlid for that tank would be a blue acara, sajica, rainbow, firemouth, ellioti, nicraguan, aureus, something similar to those, which arent particularly plant eaters like Severums, but could dig them up.

ps, Marks and mine is a red spotted gold severum :good:
 
ahh damm, all my options are shrinking :crazy:

i dont know what else to try. i might just get a couple denisonii's and a few M.praecox (6)

i want some bigger fish in there but im running out of options... any suggestions?? - i see you have now suggested!!!


see this is why i check first, rather than going out and buying one!
 
Edited post to list some suggestions for other cichlids that may work.

You will probably get other people say a single sev in a 55g tank is fine, I dont think so, but its just my opinion, however, they are not known as aquatic lawnmowers for nothing, even if they dont eat the plant they will take great pleasure in ripping them to pieces, I gave up with my plants months back now as no matter what I did to keep them alive, my sevs wrecked havoc.

You could of course go for some dwarf species, like rams, apistogrammas etc if your not looking for larger cichlids.
 
some of the apistos look awesome.

what are the most common ones to find?
are there any that are recommended for me to keep (more hardy, better temperament etc)

thanks minx :good:

i like the look of the cockatoo and the agassiz. but i havent a clue about keeping them? do the like slow moving water? how many do i keep? (pairs? trios?)
 
have a look at Rainbow Cichlids,Blue Acaras,Green Acaras,Angel Fish,Festivums,Keyholes,T-Bar,Jade Eye,Smaller Geophagus species (minxys selling a few!)

Discus?

Most fish above will eat Neons^

For more aggressive types look at Firemouths,Convicts etc but dont expect many small fish to live a happy life with them.
 
Agassizzi, Cacatuoids (sp?) Panduro, borelli... all pretty hardy species, you could have a nice trio, 1m 2f.

Just noticed your edit :lol: Yep a trio is best, spreads the males attentions around, if a pair forms, they are unlikely to bother the single female. Varying range of ph, temp around 26 and providing your not blasting them around, the flow wont bother them, if the neons can put up with it, wont bother apistos.
 
how wierd is that, i was looking at those two.

i like the Agassizzi and the cockatoo. so if i got 1m 2f of each and perhaps some keyholes (one of my fav fish)

however, i prefer the keyholes with shorter fins, is this a male, female thing or a breeding thing?

cheers guys, appreciate this
 
I'm not a fan of Keyholes really but they would work mixed with your set up IMO,all fish from similar locations and all peaceful.
 
You could go for a trio of both no problems, heavily planted they wont bother eat other. Couple of keyholes would be fine as well, the males tend to have the longer fins, females shorter, but its hard to tell at a young age. Stick with two that way even if you get a pair, they wont be too harrassing to the other occupants as they are peaceful cichlids.
 
how wierd is that, i was looking at those two.

i like the Agassizzi and the cockatoo. so if i got 1m 2f of each and perhaps some keyholes (one of my fav fish)

however, i prefer the keyholes with shorter fins, is this a male, female thing or a breeding thing?

cheers guys, appreciate this


If I am not mistaken, It is the females with the shorter fins, with most cichlids, at least with rams and apistogramma. I can't wait to get my keyhole also. I have read where they have so much personality.
 
Oh and add the praecox as well 6-8, you know I love rainbows and you have the space, will look stunning!
 
so to clarify

1m 2f of cockatoo
1m 2f of agassizzi
keyholes. 2 females? or a trio?
6 m.praecox 2m 4f?
 
All should be fine. Are you looking for a choice out of those options, or all of them. I would go for one of the harems. Or the 2 keyholes.
 
Keyholes, = 2female or 1m, 1f.
praecox - 3m, 6f, the larger the group the better, or you could go for some boesemani? Max out around 5", 6 would be nice :)

Plus yes to the trio of both apisto's
 

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