So, Is This A Sev Then

[nudge]

Hi,
Went out today looking to possibly buy a gold severum but the few i found round here were either really grotty looking or massively overpriced. However in the last shop i popped into on the slim chance they had anything the owner said no he hasn't got any golds but he had this fish that may be some sort of severum if i wanted a look. Apparently it came in a while ago mixed in with some other stock and it only has one eye but other than that he thinks its ok. So i took a look and when he said i could have it for a quid i decided to take it off his hands rather than leave it alone in a dark tank in the corner so now i am hoping somebody can tell me what i have bought (i am hoping it is actually some sort of sev). Picture below.

 

[minxfishy]

Yes its a severum, unusual colouration, might be wrong with species ID, but looks like a juvi Heros Appendiculatus to me.

 

[star4]

Thats absolutely gorgous!!! Love the colouration, very similar to my rotkeil colouring by the look with the gold eye and the gold fins, how big is he/she?

 

[Wills]

Very nice!! Im a bit torn as to what it is though.... When they are stressed how many bars do they have? It should be either 7 or 8 and I cant tell 100% from that pic. Also do they have any spots going down the sides - though this may become more present as they age and get bigger. I kind of agree with Minxy on the Appendiculatus but the slight gill markings look a bit like sp Tapajo and then again the eyes are quite far forward which makes me think Spurius? Do you think you would be able to ask the owner what stock group it was brought in from? As that might clear it up quite easy, if it was a commercial import from the far east or Czech republic most likley to be Appendiculatus but if it was from somewhere in South America it will be one of the other two and if you can find out where in South America it will be easier again

Gorgeous fish though should grow up to be a stunner! If I had a one eyed sev I would be tempted to get him an eye patch! Or at least draw one on in photoshop and give him a South American pirate name :haha:

 

[Balloons&killies]

Very nice!! Im a bit torn as to what it is though.... When they are stressed how many bars do they have? It should be either 7 or 8 and I cant tell 100% from that pic. Also do they have any spots going down the sides - though this may become more present as they age and get bigger. I kind of agree with Minxy on the Appendiculatus but the slight gill markings look a bit like sp Tapajo and then again the eyes are quite far forward which makes me think Spurius? Do you think you would be able to ask the owner what stock group it was brought in from? As that might clear it up quite easy, if it was a commercial import from the far east or Czech republic most likley to be Appendiculatus but if it was from somewhere in South America it will be one of the other two and if you can find out where in South America it will be easier again

Gorgeous fish though should grow up to be a stunner! If I had a one eyed sev I would be tempted to get him an eye patch! Or at least draw one on in photoshop and give him a South American pirate name :haha:

Nice Sev!
To answer your Q's wills. i think it has seven stress bars.

 

[nudge]

Thanks for the replies folks.
So glad to hear that he (or she) is indeed a severum. Thought it probably was from shape etc but had no idea what species, especially as it was almost entiely black in the shop tank and with next to no visible markings. Coloured up quite nicely within an hour of being in it's new home and came charging out of hiding as soon as i dropped some food in this evening so seems to be settling in ok. To be honest i am kind of glad i didn't find a decent gold sev in one of the other shops else i wouldn't have found this one and i am quite fond of it already. Kids think its great and have named him (or her) Fsh - which they are pronouncing fsshhhh - cos its a fish with an eye (i) missing.

Star4 - it as about 2 inches at the moment i would say.
Wills - will try and find out for definate from the shopkeeper where it came in from but i think he said it was mixed in with some dwarf gouramis that he had ordered in - not that it matters really cos hes staying in his new home now lol.

 

[Wills]

lol that is an amazing name!! I know it wont matter which he is as to if you keep him etc but just curious as it looks very interesting

 

[snowflake311]

She is showing great color for being so small. Yeah it's a severum IMO much better looking then a gold.

I happy saved her. Her colors should just get better and better. Good luck.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Lovely fish! Will be interesting to see how it turns out

 

[Wills]

Hi just had a bit of info on this, its part of the Efacsticious/Notatus complex because of the serated start t the anal fin. So this rules out Spirius so I would put my money on it being either the Appendiculatus or Efascsticious but as they grow their colours will come out more for a positive ID

Wills

 

[Glenbo1981]

Agreed with Wills and Minxy, looks like what is sold as a Heros Appendiculatus, or as they are now calling it 'Heros Efaciatus Sp. Appendiculatus', Similar to a Rotkeil, except they have orange shoulder markings instead of red.

 

[nudge]

Thanks for the extra info folks. Looking forward to Fsh growing up a bit so i can find out for definate what he/she is.
On another note, i got him/her some company today. Picked up another sev (labelled as Heros sp notatus in shop) slightly smaller then Fsh at about 1.5 inches but it does have 2 eyes !
I will try and get a piccy up tomorrow but newbie is being camera shy at the moment.

 

[Wills]

Ooooo Notatus tasty very nice thats quite the severum collection your getting now

What kind of tank are they in? Do you have other fish with them?

 

[nudge]

Here is the new (notatus ?) sev.

It has settled in nicely with Fsh and is eating ok. They are currently in a Rio 300 tank (it is the newer upgraded one which is actually a 350) at the moment but i am guessing i will have to consider a bigger tank when they grow up a bit (?). Tank mates at the moment are a pair of breeding (all to often) bristlenoses, a pair of cockatoo cichlids (laid eggs once, she ate them all and never laid since) and a couple of very inquisitive gold rams. Don't know how long i will be able to keep them all together but will move the smaller fish out to another tank if i need to.

 

[Glenbo1981]

Thats not a Notatus mate, its one of the following..

Heros Efaciatus (Green/wild variety)
Heros Efaciatus x Heros Sp. Notatus hybrid
Heros Sp. Rotkeil juvi

I'm leaning towards a good quality Rotkeil, will soon see when its bigger