My Rotkeil Severum is about 4" now and he barely has any red on his shoulders. When does this Red start to develop? I got him from Rapps so I know it's really a Rotkeil
Rotkeil Severum
- Thread starter MattyV55
- Start date
They're very beautiful. I have always heard they show up at 3-4," but I don't have any experience. These are on my list. I was looking at purchasing from Imperial Tropics or Rapps. I'll follow your experience.
I purchased 4 from Imperial Tropicals in May. They are very healthy and are growing fast. They are all between 3 and 4 inches. None of them is showing much color and no red at all. They also have 9 stress bars of which the 7th bar is partial. From my research true Rotkeils all have 8 stress bars which may explain why they are showing no signs of color. I am very happy with other fish i have bought at Imperial. From all i have heard and seen, i would buy your Rotkeil from Jeff Rapps if i were you. I have seen photos of his and they are awesome. If mine do not color up by the time they hit 6 inches i will be buying some from him too.
The largest of my 4 supposed Rotkeil is 4 inches. I bought them at Imperial Tropicals. I can see the red starting on yours. I am sure they are going to be awesome. Here are what my mutts look like at 4 inches. I will trade you.
I have Red Tiger Severum and the largest is over 6" and a year old. He or she has the red showing on the chest and a little up the sides, but not all the way to the top like I see in pictures. They develop the red area very similar to a Rotkeil so I hope that gives you a borameter on how long it takes to fully develop color.
Ime they start developing their red @ 3-4 inches, but it's not a sudden, dramatic transformation. Starts in the fins and develops over time. They don't attain their full glory ime until they're mature. In other words they should look pretty decent at one year, but even better at two. Good things come to him who waits applies here. Takes time, but it's rewarding to see them getting better all the time.
Individuals vary in color, also how soon they color up. Food also makes a difference. I used to breed a lot of fish and after extensive food testing I settled on using just a couple of different fish foods some years ago and since then I continue to pay attention, to the point I can tell you which species looks better on which of my foods, which looks better on another. And rotkeils I've had (I've had a lot of them) looked good on NLS. As adults, some of them practically glowed on it.
Really clear water helps and status in the group or in the tank can be a factor. They tend to show more color when they're feeling good and feeling good about themselves.
Individuals vary in color, also how soon they color up. Food also makes a difference. I used to breed a lot of fish and after extensive food testing I settled on using just a couple of different fish foods some years ago and since then I continue to pay attention, to the point I can tell you which species looks better on which of my foods, which looks better on another. And rotkeils I've had (I've had a lot of them) looked good on NLS. As adults, some of them practically glowed on it.
Really clear water helps and status in the group or in the tank can be a factor. They tend to show more color when they're feeling good and feeling good about themselves.
It's possible they are a mix. I'd agree the stress bars don't look correct for 'rotkeil'. Had a group of 4 males, they began to show red in the shoulders at 3-4" like others have stated.
