Severum And Firemouth ?

[Faythee]

There is a large, almost full grown beautiful severum at the LFS that I have been really wanting. He has been there for 2 months. I did not get him before in fear he would eat my danios. I am now setting up a 30 gal. and transferring my danios and gourami.

This leaves 3 tinfoil barbs, a pictus cat, and a mean firemouth in my 75 gal. tank. The Firemouth is about 3.5-4 inches. I am wondering how the Severum and Firemouth would act to each other. Or if I should just return the Firemouth first ?

Thanks !

 

[Mr._Fishy]

Before I got my Black Ghost Knife, I had a severum and a firemouth in a 75g. They got along okay, there was a little bit of flaring from the FM, but no nipping or major aggression. The firemouth was about half the size of the severum, so that probably had some factor in terms of aggression.

However, since a severum will grow to around 10", a 30g is a bit too small for an adult severum. Maybe for a little while but I would go with nothing less than a standard 55g. The tinfoil barbs will also outgrow your 75g. I would recommend getting rid of the tinfoils, get a few more pictus cats (depending on the species), throw the firemouth and the severum in, and get a few other fish and you will be good to go.

Ryan

 

[Faythee]

Thank you Ryan....I would be putting the severum in my 75 gal. tank, not the 30 gal.

The 75 gal. would house 1 Firemouth, the Severum, and 3 Tinfoil Barbs. IF can be. That is what I am trying to figure out.

Will the Firemouth mess with a fish 6 times the size of him at least ? And/Or would Severum not appreciate his company ?

 

[Mr._Fishy]

Ooops, I thought the severum was going in the 30g, my bad.

The severum won't mind the company, and the firemouth will often flare at a fish, but not really nip at it or chase it for long periods of time. The fm will likely flare at the severum, but I doubt any nipping will occur as he will likely back down (that is what mine did). However, each fish has its own personality, so your experience may be slightly different than mine. It is worth pointing out though that the fm will grow to around 6", so there won't be that much of a size difference.

However, as I said before the tinfoil barbs will outgrow the tank, and I suggest rehoming them.

Ryan

 

[Faythee]

Well after watching the Firemouth chase my catfish around all morning, I returned him to the store. I will be going to get the Severum tommorrow afternoon. My tinfoils are red tail and I am getting conflicting info as to how big they will get. Some say 7" and others 14". If they get any bigger than 7" I will donate them to the LFS with a huge wall size tank.

 

[Mr._Fishy]

If the tinfoils are red tails, they should only get to 8". Regular tinfoils will get closer to 14".