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I've had a Severum in a 55 gallon tank for quite some time. Tankmates included Black Skirt Tetras, Rams, Albino Corys. Everything has been fine, and my Severum is now about 6-7".

My Tetra population is now down to about 3, (most are over 6 years old) so I thought about adding something a little different. I decided to go with Buenos Aires Tetras. I added 3 to start, and planned on getting 3 more this week.

However, since adding the BA Tetras, it's been sheer chaos. The Severum chases them (only when they enter the Severum territory) and now the BA Tetras are hiding among the leaves of a plant at the top of the tank. In addition, the Black Skirt Tetras are sticking to one side of the tank as well, though not nearly as terrified. The Severum has never bothered the Black Skirts, and still leaves them alone when one inadvertantly swims into the Severum's territory, so I find this odd.

I've tried re-arranging decor, but the Severum sticks to the right side and the Tetras still stick to the left. The Rams are indifferent and the Severum is indifferent to them.

What should I do? Should I increase my shoal of Black Skirt Tetras and return/move the Buenos Aires from the tank? Should I increase the numbers of Buenos Aires Tetras?

I was pretty sure these would be acceptable dither fish, as they are big enough that my Severum won't eat them. The Black Skirts and Severum have cohabitated the tank peacefully for 2 years. I want to stick with South American Tetras, and Silver Dollars won't work due to size and my tank having live plants.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Additional Info:

1 6-7" Severum
2 2" Bolivian Rams
3 Black Skirt Tetras
3 Buenos Aires Tetras
4 Albino Cories

(Ideally, I'd like to have one shoal of one Tetra species of 6-8 fish).

Move the severum, or all the other small fish, severums are not discus or angels, they are more predatory and more territorial, you got away with it when it was young, but now its starting to show its real habitual range. It will probably kill all the smaller fish if you keep things as they are. More fish just adds to the menu.

Severums are for larger communities with larger fish, you cant trust them with much smaller fish. They are often described as peaceful, but that is a relative comparison against most other cichlids of a similar size who would make a meal of your other fish in no time. Severums dont really have a place in with small community fish. You have been unusually lucky with yours so far, mine was up for eating tetras when he was two thirds the size of yours.

If its territorial range goes full tilt and it wishes to exclude the tetras , it wont let them use more than half the tank, it will make their lives hell, and its not really fair to keep fish under such conditions. Time for a change.

After re-arranging again and making the middle of the tank more open, things have been better.

The Black Skirts now swim freely, and the Severum disregards them. They still scatter when he swims to the surface for feeding time, but he's never chased and/or tried to eat them or anything else.

The Buenos Aires Tetras are becoming a little less terrified, but still mostly remain in the top left side. The Severum has left them alone.

Would the "strength in numbers" theory apply to make the BA tetras more social or should I just abandon hope and remove all Tetras now to prevent future problems?

I have read several pieces of advice about Severum with differing information. Some say they are peaceful enough for community tanks with mid-size fish, while others say they are really territorial. My experience so far has been really good.

If I decide to remove the Tetras, what else could I use for dithers in a 55 gallon for a Severum?