Zanson's Severum Tank

[Zanson]

I've been wanting to keep a log of my severums since i got them a few months ago, so i figured this would be a good place for it. I have been keeping a few Severum species in my tank and i want to document their growth and color changes over time. I also wanted to try and keep as much severum information as i can since information on these fish seem to be all over the place.

The scientific names i have found are guesses, and i would love feedback on properly identifying them.

So here is what i have currently. a 125 gallon, 72x18 footprint tank.

Sunny
Sold as: Red Spot Gold
Scientific Name: Heros Efasciatus sp. Red Spotted
Acquired: march 2017

March 4, 2017

May 18, 2017

Goldie
Sold as: Gold severum
Scientific Name: Heros Efasciatus - Gold
Acquired: march 2017

March 4, 2017 - the small one

April 2017

May 2017

Feesh
Sold as: Red spot teal
Scientific name: ???
Acquired: march 2017

June 2017

Still needs a name
Sold as: Severum from Rio
Scientific name: Heros sp. Inridae rio
Acquired: May 2017

June 2017

 

[ryansmith83]

The first two severums are Heros efasciatus. Golds and super reds are tank-bred morphs and they do not get their own scientific name. You wouldn't write it sp. Gold or sp. Super Red. If anything, they'd be Heros efasciatus 'Gold' and Heros efasciatus 'Super Red.'

The third fish could be a turquoise, which used to be Heros appendiculatus, but that species has been collapsed into efasciatus. It could also be something like notatus or Heros sp. Inirida, but you'd need a better picture of its bars and wait to see what its adult coloration was. My guess is that if this is a domestic/tank-bred fish, it's Heros efasciatus.

The last fish is a mouthbrooding severum, Heros liberifer. It is not what we call Heros sp. Inirida, though it could be found in the Rio Inirida in Colombia. It has a pretty wide distribution throughout Venezuela and Brazil. H. liberifer is unique in many ways, particularly its shape (the mouth is more angular and pointed), the black freckles on the gills as opposed to larger spots on other severums, and the rows of horizontal orange-red dots along the body instead of the striated or spotted patterns on the other Heros species. This fish is the only severum that mouth-broods. It's currently not showing the coloration, but it should look like this as it matures:

 

[Zanson]

Thank you so much. This is amazing information and help. I really appreciate it.

Where do you find information like that? how can i keep up to date on the species naming and such?

I had a feeling the teal one i have was appendiculatus, but it looks so much like the efasciatus i can see why it was collapsed into it.

The Inridae was definitely a guess on my part, so thanks for that. I knew there was a mouth brooding type and thought he may be it.

I can't wait to see how these fish color and grow. it's just fascinating to see.

 

[magpie]

Following! I love seeing how severums grow and change as they mature.

 

[Zanson]

got a few more good shots of Feesh and Goldie photo bombed a few.



Also added some more vegetation to the tank and decided to mix some white sand with the black to give a bit of a more dynamic look. i'll eventually mix the rest of the black together, but for now the far end has the white and black mix.

 

[Zanson]

August Update Imgur Album

Got some photos before i break down the 125 and build out the new system.

Sunny is getting big




Goldie has gained red spots on the face and showing more stripes. Also showing a lore more reds in the fins


Feesh is growing slower then the rest, im hoping the new tank will improve their quality of life and he grows a bit faster to catch up. but the blues are really coming out now.


I still need a name for this guy, but he is going well.


Bonus shot, my electric blue acara with her wigglers.


I did get some photos from July, i just didn't have time to post them. i will post them a bit later. I wish i could edit past posts to help keep this in order

 

[Zanson]

Took a video of the new 120 gallon tank.

 

[tlindsey]

Took a video of the new 120 gallon tank.

Awesome setup!..Really enjoyed the vid
Thanks for sharing

 

[tlindsey]

Awesome setup!..Really enjoyed the vid
Thanks for sharing

Btw great choice of stock the aquarium is always busy lol.

 

[Zanson]

Btw great choice of stock the aquarium is always busy lol.

Thank you! The congo tetra are awesome filler, and the rummies are always fun to watch school. I added the purple passion danios to the tank about a month ago and have noticed all of the fish are a bit more active because of their constant movement at the top.