Tips to stop a severum from eating plants

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
On a couple of different occasions I have kept "Rotkiel" severums in planted tanks with swords, Val, crypts, Anubis, Java fern, water lettuce (I think)... They never touched it. My first Rotkiel was a wild caught adult specimen and I was worried it would decimate my plants - which was why introduced the water lettuce (or whatever it was)... Big mistake. That plant took over my tank and I was netting it out on a daily basis. Ha!

So if you want to try your hand at keeping a severum in a "Planted Tank" I would suggest trying a Rotkiel.

As a bonus they are arguably the most beautiful of the severums.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Irecruitfish
duanes said:
Severum and many other cichlids (that look similar) such as pearsei, bocourti, and Etroplus suratensus are primarily or at least 50% vegetarian.
You can't fight mother nature.


Even ocean fish will come to shore and feast of leaves that are normally toxic to other animals. I watched a shoal of these eat any over hanging tree leaves
Click to expand...
Spadefish :D
 
Irecruitfish said:
Yeah I'm going to sell the severum or donate him. He's still going destruction mode even after heavy feedings throughout the day. I haven't tried feeding it lettuce or zucchini because I'm too lazy.
Click to expand...
too lazy ? Seriously? How hard is it to cut a zucchini lengthwise and rubberband it to a small rock and put it in the tank? R U SERIOUS?
 
Frank Castle said:
too lazy ? Seriously? How hard is it to cut a zucchini lengthwise and rubberband it to a small rock and put it in the tank? R U SERIOUS?
Click to expand...
Yeah and that's it? Aren't you forgetting if the fish does not eat it completely the food will rot? Therefore adding more time to maintain the tank. How about cooking it...dethawing? Not everyone in the world has the same amount of time as you do. So yup I'm way too lazy to fo thru those steps. I have a very calculated amount of time to maintain my multiple tanks.
 
After adding hornwort they laid off my anubias. It was kind of an experiment. I paid 10 dollars for a mass of it 6 months ago with the intentions of replacing it every 2 weeks or so. I still have it and it's doubled it's size. My anubias is finally growing back (slowly). I actually do a lot less work now. They only eat the tips which encourages new growth on the hornwort. I have my hornwort at the top where it can thrive. With enough light it becomes established quickly. I grow water sprites in my other tanks and throw a few in occasionally but it doesn't last long. I also feed a lot of emerald entrée frozen food now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BenPen and Irecruitfish
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom