Fish Id N Care

[ripil]

hello
I'm saving 4 fish. problem is i dunno how to care for them n dunno what 2 of them are. one is a severum, one is a tinfoil. the other looks just like a royal gramma which it obviously aint n the other looks like a stunted albino oscar that has stayed at around 3 inches for years. i'll add pics when i get them but the main thing i'm worried about at the moment is the severum as i know nothing about them n really need advice on their water conditions n diet. been told their brackish fish is that true? thanks for your help.

 

[coldcazzie]

Severums are not brackish, no. They get rather large, as do tinfoils, who are also shoaling fish and so prefer to be in groups. Pictures would be great for the other two fish you've not IDed, although I aprpeciate if you haven't got them yet it'll be hard. What size tank will you be putting them in?

 

[ripil]

its 42x15x18. its just finished being set up too as i was going to get some convict cichlids to go in it. this severum has been on its own for at least 2 years. the tank its been in is only 36x12x15. im hoping the mother in law helps me out with the tinfoil as her tank is big enough at 60x18x30. do you know what sort of ph is recommended for severums? i haven't added any gravel yet to the tank. i've got four different sorts too. rather use coral sand but im guessing severums like a low ph for some reason. thanks for the reply n i should get some pics up on saturday.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Severums like a pH between 6 and 7.5. Regular sand or gravel would be best.

 

[ripil]

would i not get away with coral sand n high water changes? i tend to do 30% 1 week n 50% the next. all the other gravel i got ain't as smart as the coral sand.

 

[OldMan47]

Your severum could easily reach over 8 inches plus the tail. That is the size of my daughter's breeder female severum. A tinfoil barb can also get quite large. Do you have any pictures of the other fish so that we my be able to help a bit? I am afraid that word descriptions will simply not help much.
The severums are being kept in a pH of about 7.5, even if that is not ideal for them, and they produce a few hundred fry each time they breed. I have never kept tinfoils so I have no idea how they would feel about my high pH water.

 

[ripil]

na sorry still no pics yet as i haven't got the fish. i haven't had time to pick them up just yet.

 

[bae1994]

I wouldn't use the coral sand as it will buffer even with water changes adit buffers your water to 8.5-9 ( fare ish assumption IMO) if yoad changed 50% water at 7.5 it would only take it down to 8-8.25 so it would still be high so I'd go with inert gravel or sand if I was you