FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I have a 5" male Golden Severum in a 10 gal tank and have tried to introduce other compatible species into his tank but he harasses them until he kills them or i have to move them. I was instructed to get another fish of his same or larger size to stop his brutal behavior. i have been unable to find a female of this size, which is what i would like to have. is that the solution to stopping him from killing other fish and where can i find a female? any suggestions will be appreciated.

Last edited by grand_t at 02-Apr-2005 09:59

Last edited by grand_t at 02-Apr-2005 10:02

Last edited by grand_t at 02-Apr-2005 10:03

well first off, a 10 gallon tank is way too small for any 5 inch fish but especially a cichlid. cichlids need space to themselves and the 10 gallon is his, you will not be able to get another fish in there with him. you will either need to get a lot bigger of a tank or get rid of the severum. you need a 55 gallon for a full grown severum to be happy. your severum will not grow anymore in that 10 gallon, and honestly will prob die very early if kept in it, so my suggestion is get a bigger tank right away or get rid of the severum and stick to really small fish in a 10 gallon.

jaloco, thanks for the reply. i have only had this guy for about 3 mon. and he was 2.5" when i got him. he is growing by leaps and bounds and currently very healthy. but i do intend to put him in a larger tank a.s.a.p. but my original questions remain unanwered. thanks again for the reply.

The solution to getting him to stop killing is to give him a bigger tank. The entire tank is his territory now, and putting another fish in there is, well, putting another fish in his territory. In the confines of a 10 gallon tank, any encroacher upon another fish's territory is dead, especially an encroacher upon a 5" fish's territory. It would be best if you could upgrade to at least a 55 gallon tank quite soon.

Last edited by Shinigami at 02-Apr-2005 11:03

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

thanks for the territorial explanation, my first experience w/aggressive behavior. will upgrade to larger tank before finding him a soul mate. i have been asking at the lps for a female for him and they don't have them over 3". when the time comes to purchase, will i need to get a female his size or larger to keep him from killing her? any idea on where to get her?

Hmmm... Not sure. You may be able to find some people selling their Severums at such sizes on classifieds or www.aquabid.com or other places online. You're basically not going to find anything very big from the LFS unless someone brings in a fish.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

yea im glad your going to get a bigger tank because severums really are great fish. you will be happy with them. but you wouldnt even be able to put a female his size in the 10 gallon with him, cuz he would prob kill her too but once you get a 55 or larger you will be fine. my severum is very passive, i dont think they are that aggressive fish with proper conditions. once you get the bigger tank you wont have to worry too much about size of the female you put in, as long as shes not too small i dont think he will bother her. but try to get that tank a.s.a.p. and enjoy the severum.