Should I Get A Severum?

[idlefingers]

I have a 135g tank with 9 silver dollars and 1 oscar. I've tried introducing other fish (a green terror and a convict) with the oscar, but they all ended up picking on him which I don't like.

I'd been playing with the idea of a severum for a little while and saw a really nice one at the lfs today which I'd love to try to introduce. I've read that severums are less aggressive than most cichlids, so does this mean less aggressive than oscars? If there is any aggression, I'd prefer it to be oscar on severum rather than the other way around.

My oscar's around 4" (ish) and the severum at the lfs was larger, maybe about 5-6". Would oscar still be boss?

 

[severum boy]

Yes he would, but it doesent mean you cannot add one. I would go for a severum, there are many reports of them living together.
Buy one as soon as you can befor they both become sexually active and take a disliking to eash other. Buying them now will allow them to get used to each other and establish teratories.

 

[idlefingers]

cheers, severum boy. do you think its okay that the severum would be larger than the oscar? they had some smaller severums at the lfs, but they were about half the size of my oscar so I worry they'd get bullied.

 

[severum boy]

Yes, will be fine. I kept a red severum and an oscar together for a bit (dont even get me started on that one) whilst they were the same size and they got along very well, but they were only 2-3" long.

I think they will be fine together, just get a male severum, if you can get the biggest, brightest one in the tank. Although it may seem far bigger than the oscar, the oscar will max out at about 12" compared to the sevs 10" and should continue to get along well for life.

 

[DiscusAngel]

yeh, will be fine, the oscar is bound to grow like twice as fast anyhow.. so it should work nicely.. make sure u post pics when u get him

 

[caboose_122]

it would work out fine, like said, get the most colourful one. and again, the O will reach 10-12 inches and the sev will reach 10ish inches so it would be fine if you add it now, the oscar will grow much faster then the sev so get larger sev

 

[PoPoV]

The best way to get a shure fire deal is to build a seperator and let them aclimate personally through a seperator. I use this method when introducing aggresive fish. Though I dont have any oscars

 

[idlefingers]

cheers for the advice, guys. I went and got it today and all seems well so far.. a little squabble here and there, but they seem to be getting along quite well.

I'll try to get a pic tonight.

 

[mark7616]

My red shoulder severum is quiet large I got him this size as the oscar was only a couple of inches so the oscar could grow up with him and all has been fine, I also keep other things in the same tank and so far no aggresion issues you just have to watch things no 2 cichlid tanks will be the same they always have things which will work in one tank but not another just monitir it and be prepared that it may not work I have things in the tank which should not work but all fine so far.

Here is a pic of my red shoulder sev.

Oh and by the way why so many sd in that tank 9 is quiet lot.

 

[idlefingers]

Oh and by the way why so many sd in that tank 9 is quiet lot.

I don't think 9 is too many. I think they're a great fish.

 

[mark7616]

Yes but because you have added 9 5" fish it kind of limits you to putting much else in there.

 

[idlefingers]

I don't plan on putting anything else in there so that's no worry.

 

[idlefingers]

I can't believe it!.. I came home to find my severum (which I now know is a female) guarding her eggs! Probably a good thing for my oscar that she doesn't have a male to fertilize them but I do feel sorry looking at her guarding a huge load of eggs which are destined to never hatch.

I'm so surprised. She'd been a little aggressive over the past couple of days, but I thought her and my oscar were just sorting out the pecking order, but now I know she was preparing her spot!