Severums are always hiding in corner?
Tim R. Baker
Hello All,
I have read several post relating to shy Oscars, but none have
specifically answered my question. I have a 55 gallon tank that
houses 2 blue severums and a small cory catfish. The severums have
been in the tank for over a year. They were purchased as babies and
have grown to about 4 inches. They appear very healthy, are very
colorful and vibrant, their fins are always fully fanned, and they eat
quite well. They are not scared or shy and always come out and greet
an opened hood lid looking for food. The water quality is very good.
The food is a steady diet of Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets with
occaisional flakes and tubifex worms.
My question is this: Why do the pair always sit motionless in one
back corner of the tank? They have done this from day one. I have
tried rearranging the tank, but to no avail. How can I get these two
beauties to come out and show themselves off a bit more? I have had
severums before and they were always actively swimming. Any ideas on
what's wrong with these two?
Thanks in advance.
Tim Baker
ba...@sgi.net
Nugent
For what it's worth, I just added a nice 4" green severum to my 55gal as
a buddy for my 5" Tiger Oscar. He hid for awhile, but now foolows the
oscar everywhere! it is really cute to watch, and I've named them Felix
and Oscar, as they are the quintessential odd couple...
Derek Benson
It's possible they're a bit insecure because they're in the tank alone
(the cory doesn't help them any so doesn't count), there should be some
other fish swimming around in there to lead them out of hiding so to
speak. I'm not thinking other cichlids, but a fairly active, peaceful
fish like rosy barbs or gold barbs or one of the larger tetras or
Australian rainbow fish. These are just examples, many fish could be
used to do the job.
-Derek
The Moore's
They need some dither fish, get some 2-3 inch quick tetras or danio type
fish. I've sucsessfully used silver dollars, Buinos Aries tets, and giant
danios with my severums. These fish are more out going and will give your
severums confidence that it's safe to come out and play. Even feeder
goldfish will do a double roll as dithers and food, usually dither by day
food when the light is turned off!
Good fishing, Matt
P.S. Severums love leaf lettuce, I put it in a plastic clip hanging on the
edge of the tank. I had to get two clips, otherwise "Big Gal" hogs it all,
and the other severums don't get any.
M&L Garner
>You can try adding some floating plants(potted plants will just get torn
>up by your severum) and add some dither fish such as some tetras or
>barbs. A nice school of 8-10 fish will make your severum feel more
>secure and bring them out into the open. I use glow-light tetras with my
>severum but tiger barbs, emperor tetras, or any other schooling fish
>should work. You might also want to add a couple of more cory's - they
>fare better in small groups.
>
>hth,
>
>Stuart
>mailto:sb...@mindspring.com
Dither fish are the way to go, for sure. I wouldn't choose glow light tetras
though - GULP! Severums do get rather big. :) A deeper bodied barb or similar
fish would be a better choice. Tiger barbs would be really sharp looking. I
used rosy barbs. They were a nice combo, both in coloring and temperment.
:isa G (remove z)
Nugent
M&L Garner wrote:
>
>
> Dither fish are the way to go, for sure. I wouldn't choose glow light tetras
> though - GULP! Severums do get rather big. :) A deeper bodied barb or similar
> fish would be a better choice. Tiger barbs would be really sharp looking. I
> used rosy barbs. They were a nice combo, both in coloring and temperment.
>
I have mine in with an oscar and three silver dollars (well, actually
two dollars and a pacu). Sometime he follows them, sometimes the oscar,
but they all seem to keep him entertained :)
Stuart Pauker
M&L Garner wrote:
>
> >You can try adding some floating plants(potted plants will just get torn
> >up by your severum) and add some dither fish such as some tetras or
> >barbs. A nice school of 8-10 fish will make your severum feel more
> >secure and bring them out into the open. I use glow-light tetras with my
> >severum but tiger barbs, emperor tetras, or any other schooling fish
> >should work. You might also want to add a couple of more cory's - they
> >fare better in small groups.
> >
> >hth,
> >
> >Stuart
> >mailto:sb...@mindspring.com
>
> though - GULP! Severums do get rather big. :) A deeper bodied barb or similar
> fish would be a better choice. Tiger barbs would be really sharp looking. I
> used rosy barbs. They were a nice combo, both in coloring and temperment.
>
You're right Lisa, I should have mentioned that, on occasion, I lose a
glow-light. I think I've lost two in the past year with my adult
severum. But, in the main, they don't bother the little fish and their
appearance(glow-lights) is just what I wanted in their tank. But, to be
safe, perhaps some larger fish are more appropriate. You could even go
to something like giant danios which will only occupy the upper portion
of your tank and really stay busy!!
Stuart
Tim R. Baker
Hello All,
I would like to thank all who responded. Once again USENET proves to
be the answer to all questions :)
The overriding message I got was the need for dither fish. And,
dither fish I will buy. Tonight. Now, my only decision is what
dither fish to by. I really like tiger barbs, but am concerned for
the severum's lovely fins. Giant danios will certainly liven up the
tank, but I tend to get dizzy watching these speed freaks. ;-)
Oh well, I have the afternoon to decide. I'll probably go with the
giants. I will ask the people at the store for a suggestion as well.
I'll post the results when they are in.
Tim.
Ron G.
Tim R. Baker wrote in message <35031e66....@news.sgi.net>...
>Hello All,
>
>I have read several post relating to shy Oscars, but none have
>specifically answered my question. I have a 55 gallon tank that
>houses 2 blue severums and a small cory catfish. The severums have
>been in the tank for over a year. They were purchased as babies and
>have grown to about 4 inches. They appear very healthy, are very
>colorful and vibrant, their fins are always fully fanned, and they eat
>quite well. They are not scared or shy and always come out and greet
>an opened hood lid looking for food. The water quality is very good.
>The food is a steady diet of Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets with
>occaisional flakes and tubifex worms.
>
>My question is this: Why do the pair always sit motionless in one
>back corner of the tank? They have done this from day one. I have
>tried rearranging the tank, but to no avail. How can I get these two
>beauties to come out and show themselves off a bit more? I have had
>severums before and they were always actively swimming. Any ideas on
>what's wrong with these two?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Tim Baker
>ba...@sgi.net
Tim: Sounds like poor water quality. The hiding, and the clamped fins are
signals of high nitrates. Although nitrates are relatively harmless at
lower levels, they can cause the hiding and clamped fins when the levels are
elevated.. Just a thought. check your tank parameters; ammonia, nitrite,
and nitrate. The nitrate should be below 25ppm.
Another possible solution if water quality is not bad is that they need more
tankmates. After testing your water quality, and everything appears ok, try
buying some rainbows as dither fish. The added fish will help make your
severums feel more secure and they will come out more often and swim around
even during non feeding times. Ron G.
M&L Garner
>
>You're right Lisa, I should have mentioned that, on occasion, I lose a
>glow-light. I think I've lost two in the past year with my adult
>severum. But, in the main, they don't bother the little fish and their
>appearance(glow-lights) is just what I wanted in their tank. But, to be
>safe, perhaps some larger fish are more appropriate. You could even go
>to something like giant danios which will only occupy the upper portion
>of your tank and really stay busy!!
>
>Stuart
I tried giant daniois. They were too hyper for the severums! Made them
nervous and jumpy (they aren't normally like that). I put the giant danios in
with the African cichlids and put some Lake Malawi peacock cichlids in with the
severums. An odd combo, to be sure, but their temperments are a nice match.
Glowlights would be beautiful, but my severums are big enough to eat goldfish
(not that I let them) and glowlights are $2.00 each! A few accidents would get
expensive. Once i decide what to do with the peacocks I'll be shopping for a
new tankmate of some sort...
Lisa G (remove z)
The Moore's
I liked the silver dollars best for dither fish, my tank was getting too
crowded though, and I won't sell the severums! I've not tried the
glowlites, but like feeder goldfish, they'd eat the small bits of food that
the severums blow everywhere when they eat. Most people flame feeder
goldfish, but if you quarentine them first they're ok IMHO, and they're
great little scavingers, even cleaning the fake cobomba (real cobomba
starts a severum salad party)that the pleco ignores. I have never fed them
small food, they thrive on leftovers, when the severums start blowing bits
of food, they dash arround snarfing it up.
Good fishing, Matt
Scott Ward
On Thu, 12 Feb 1998, Derek Benson wrote:
> Tim R. Baker wrote:
> >
> > Hello All,
> >
> > I have read several post relating to shy Oscars, but none have
> > specifically answered my question. I have a 55 gallon tank that
> > houses 2 blue severums and a small cory catfish. The severums have
> > been in the tank for over a year. They were purchased as babies and
> > have grown to about 4 inches. They appear very healthy, are very
> > colorful and vibrant, their fins are always fully fanned, and they eat
> > quite well. They are not scared or shy and always come out and greet
> > an opened hood lid looking for food. The water quality is very good.
> > The food is a steady diet of Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets with
> > occaisional flakes and tubifex worms.
> >
> > My question is this: Why do the pair always sit motionless in one
> > back corner of the tank? They have done this from day one. I have
> > tried rearranging the tank, but to no avail. How can I get these two
> > beauties to come out and show themselves off a bit more? I have had
> > severums before and they were always actively swimming. Any ideas on
> > what's wrong with these two?
>
> It's possible they're a bit insecure because they're in the tank alone
> (the cory doesn't help them any so doesn't count), there should be some
> other fish swimming around in there to lead them out of hiding so to
> speak. I'm not thinking other cichlids, but a fairly active, peaceful
> fish like rosy barbs or gold barbs or one of the larger tetras or
> Australian rainbow fish. These are just examples, many fish could be
> used to do the job.
> -Derek
>
>
Maybe the water's too cold? Try heating it up a bit and increasing
aeration with a powerfilter to create a slight current. I have a breeding
pair of severums at home, and they tend to just lazily sit in the corners
of the tank. When the waters nice and warm they seem to swim about a bit
more, but don't expect too much because severums are very peacfull,
retiring fish to my experience.
Scott.
P.S. Check out my fish homepage,
http://www2.one.net.au/~scottward/fish.html
Tim R. Baker
Hi all,
As promised, I am reporting some positive results. On the advice of
several respondants, I went out Friday evening and bought some dither
fish. Since tiger barbs were on sale at 3/$2.50, I decided 6 of these
would do fine. I also picked up two small leopard Cory cats to keep
my other one company.
Well, I'm happy to report the Severums have begun to show some
activity. They have been much more "present" in the tank and the
tiger barbs have been keeping in a nice, tightly grouped, darting
"school". The Severums seem curious and come out often to check on
the barbs.
On other reccomendations, I also increased the temp from 78 to 80 and
turned up the aeration on the power head a little bit.
So far, all is well. Thanks again for all of the helpful responses.
Tim.
liv2padl
Glad to hear things "appear" to be better. I'm afraid that barbs may have
been an unfortunate choice for dither fish however. These "fin-nippers"
may end up making life miserable for the much more shy and retiring
Severums. If that happens a school of Danios, Rasborras or Tetras might
prove a better mix of fish.
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