Severums Options

[Sandi]

I don't know much about them. From what I found on google they can be kept in a 30 alone (obviously not?!) or 55 gallon as a pair. But I have seen huge ones before and I can't see how that would work? I guess I am rusty too - my only fish right now is a lone zebra danio in a 10 gallon.. lol.

What is the real minimum tank size for.. let's say a gold severum? And can it be kept with other kinds of smaller fish? I kinda fell in love with them but can only keep fish I can stick in the 55 for now. Thanks.

[shep]

i kept 2 in a 55, im gonna say you prolly could keep 2 in a 40 for a year or so. ive had sevrums for 10 years now the first pair i kept i had in my 55. i now have 2 pair in my 125. they are great fish

[thatcichlidguy]

I wouldn't consider anything smaller than a 75 cause like you've seen , some do get pretty big. I was keeping a gold and two Turquoise sevs in my 125. Fourtunately Turqs dont get that big (mine were pretty well maxed out at 6") and the gold was still growing strong at 7".

[accidental]

Sevs are pretty mellow, so I think they would be fine with some smaller tetras if you wanted. I would probably go with at least a 75 gal or bigger though. It takes sevs a while to get big, but they do get there. If you wanted you could get away with keeping them in a smaller tank for a while.
I have had a few big sevs and they are gorgeous. I have kept both the green and the gold, they were a lot of fun. I know Dar keeps or has kept them before, maybe she and sin will pipe up about it.

[Tony]

Absolutely wonderful species (more accurately, wonderful Genus). From a temperament standpoint, I've found the Heros spp. individuals that I've kept to be pretty agreeable to tankmates, especially if there is only one, and thus, not spawning. Spawning changes all of this, of course. I would choose larger schooling species, if it were me.

I would say 75-gallon minimum for a pair. I want to say that a 55-gallon would be fine for a single specimen... that's my inclination. The males get to about 12'', so you're probably pushing it due to the depth of the tank, and I could see where someone would say "no" to a 55. I've had a couple what I figured to be large adults (my spawning pair), and I doubt they were over 9'' maximum, though. I've never seen one as large as 12'', but that just means I haven't seen one... not that they can't get that large, and they are heavy bodied.

[Sandi]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

So some don't grow as large (Turquoise sevs)? All I have at the moment is the 55 and some smaller tanks, but I could get a 75 a couple years down the road... No space right now. I was really hoping to fit one because they are so pretty and mellow and I'm dying to get back into big cichlids.

Since females stay smaller, I may look for one and try that out until/unless she needs more room... Would that really be ok? More opinions needed!

Oh yeah... and are they hardy?

[Tony]

Incredibly hardy. In my opinion, for anyone looking to start keeping larger growing cichlids, Heros spp. are my suggestion... they are readily available, easy to keep, and generally are mild mannered.

[shep]

i like em said the grow kinda slow. i lost my gold due to a swim bladder issue and had my green in my 55 for awhile think he was 7-8 in when i sold him (still kicking my ass for that) from what i understand green "blue" "turquoise" are all the same for the most part. if you do get greens look for the "roki" i think its spelled also call them red shoulders thats what the greens i have are they are beautiful have lots of red in their heads and gill plate area

[Tony]

Heros sp. "Rotkeil." Those are the red-headed severums that shep was talking about. I think Darla has some of these.

[shep]

Heros sp. "Rotkeil." Those are the red-headed severums that shep was talking about. I think Darla has some of these.

thats it, they are beautiful!!!!

[Pei]

The only Heros species I've seen that reached 12" was in Baltimore Aquarium. However, these guys were at least 6 yrs old living in at least 4000g of water.

I have had many different species. The largest I have had was 8" at about 3 yrs old. The first year grew very fast for the male. He got about 5" within half year old. His growth slowed when him and the female bred like crazy. If keeping solo, you will be looking for a pretty fast growing. I also have had Rotkiel, male and female. Male I got when already at 6-7". The female was 4" when I got her. Took her almost a year to reach 6" to match the size of the male.

I think short term, you can easily keep a pair in 40g, but I prefer 55g with dither fish.

[shep]

The only Heros species I've seen that reached 12" was in Baltimore Aquarium. However, these guys were at least 6 yrs old living in at least 4000g of water.

I have had many different species. The largest I have had was 8" at about 3 yrs old. The first year grew very fast for the male. He got about 5" within half year old. His growth slowed when him and the female bred like crazy. If keeping solo, you will be looking for a pretty fast growing. I also have had Rotkiel, male and female. Male I got when already at 6-7". The female was 4" when I got her. Took her almost a year to reach 6" to match the size of the male.

I think short term, you can easily keep a pair in 40g, but I prefer 55g with dither fish.

agreed they go from quarter half dollar size (i donno what that is canadian LOL) to 4-5 in in no time, the ones i have in my 125 have been 7-9 in now for a year or so now

[BootyBandit]

I had my gold in a 55g for almost 2 years before I moved him to the 100g he's about 8" now.

[mikeinco]

i have a Notatus, Rotkeil and a super red in a 90 gallon tank and all seem to be doing well. I'm thinking i may need to move them at some point but right now they are still small at about 4 inches.

[PearlGirl]

i have my blue sev and the red wild severus in a 65; dey cool in der
and yes i have a rokteil but its in the tank at work because the other two were picking on him.