Severum Help

[bobross]

Hey Everyone!!

I recently bought a green severum the other day. The only tank I could put him in was a 10g. (Now before I get rocks thrown at me from all of you, I bought the fish without any research - later to find out, the tank is WAY to small for him.) I do plan on getting a much bigger tank once i start to see some growth - right now he's only about 2 inches long. Anyways, since I got this fish, I've taken out quite a few of the plants leaving him only a couple of hiding places...i don't have any caves or rocks in the tank yet....will get some rocks tomorrow. Anyways, question is. Is this fish take a while to acclimate to it's new home? I've had him for three days by himself in the 10g and haven't seen much activity. He just goes from side of the tank to the other and hides. He hasn't even ate any of the baby shrimp or bloodworms I've tried feeding. I realize there is a lot of info on this fish on the net -and on here - but can anyone help me out with some info on this fish? The 10g is only temporary until a bigger tank arrives. This fish looks pretty skiddish(spelling?) since three days ago and hope that it doesn't stay that way. Anyone one have any suggestion on how to get this back to normal?


Thanks in advance,


BobRoss.



I'll answer questions anyone has about the tank he's in...

 

[jimw13uk]

Bob - yes your right that tank is way to small but not at the moment - give it a few months and it will be.
Severums are nt the most acrtive of fish - well mine never has been - he's quite happy to just sort of hang out in a corner and chill - he doesnt swim around a great deal only at feeding time.

I would try him on some of the Prima cichlid food - its in a Yellow tub with a blue lid - Think its Tetra Prima - but not 100% sure.
Its a slow sinker and mine goes completely mental for it - other than that just give him a few days to sort himself out and he should be ok.
One thing Severums are regarded as the "lawnmower" of the amazon and mine destroys plants for fun so I would go with artificial and lots of bogwood
They are skittish fish so not too much rock work - leave him a large swimming area free of everything as well

thats about it I think

 

[bobross]

This is actually the first cichlid I've ever had so I guess I need to get some different food.
I was reading info on these fish for about 2-3 hours before actually posting on here and I think what I read prior to posting conflicts with the info just given..

Just want to clarify something about the tank I've got him in. right now, I have about five fake plants and one that resembles a giant lettuce leaf that he hides behind. But the info I was reading, basically stating that since it's a cichlid, that it would appreciate rock formations/ rock caves in case he feels like hiding. Any truth in that? (I was planning on getting a whole bunch of flatter rocks from the lake this weekend, so I'd figure I'd ask)

Do you think 4 or 5 fake plants is enough/too many? They aren't very full plants - so for a 10g, he still has quite a bit of room to move around.

Also, I was reading that severums 'hang out' under shaded areas w/ slow current in there natural habitat. I was thinking of taking the 'lettuce leaf' plant and letting the 'leaves' from it float on the surface, would that help ease him at all?

Sorry about the nervous rambling but I get edgy when I see a fish all nervous/stressed out....

He has colored up quite a bit since I first got him but he still hangs out at the bottom - sitting there - still hasn't even went to the top of the tank once - that I've seen anyway .


is there any way to 'lure' him to the top so he can eat? He hasn't ate in (going on) four days!

Again, just a little nervous about eh well being of my new fish.

Thanks for the response jimw13uk, it does put me a little bit more at ease....


I'll check back tomorrow morning on the other ?s,

Thanks again,




BobRoss


Thanks

 

[celaeno]

i once had a fish (male krib) that didn't eat for 2 weeks after i introduced him into the tank, but finally gave in. you could try frozen foods to see if the severum eats any.

 

[england]

you will have to change tank at some point soon
it will grow quite quick mine went from 0.5 inches to 6 inches in just under 8 months
they will hide especially in the first as quite timid and new fishes can take a time to eat couple of weeks is possible....
try feeding him with catfish pellets thats the first foods mine took the very small pellets...also try him with a good cichlid food small pellets or frozen...
rocks are used in cichlid tanks for hiding/retreats from bully fish...plants are good as they like to hide among plants hence the form of they body similar to angel fish hiding among plants until prey close enough to ponce.....

 

[jimw13uk]

I'd be careful with putting rocks in with Severums - reason is that they are skittish and mine will go mental for a few minutes and bash into plants etc.. - i'd rather him hit plants and a bit of bog wood than some rocks.

You can try him on blood worm(mosquito larvae) as well , mine likes that.

I would try and give an area he can feel relaxed in - large plants (artificial or real) that give him a hiding place.
Mine doesnt hide out but he tucks himself up a corner sort of in a shaded area and sits there nearly all day - Severums are beautiful but boy are they lazy