green severums

[fisshy]

are severums a good tank mate for green terrors /i have a small breeding pair that are not happy /they breed once they hatched an swam a couple days got eaten/ they hide an wont come out /whats good for a treat to feed them is beef heart ok or zuccini

[Andrew]

G'day Fisshy,

All that depends on a few things... Sevs and terrors can get on ok if the tank is big enough, but if not, it can backfire on you.

Adding another species of cichlid to a terror tank will bring them out of hiding, but possibly only to beat the sevs up. They are highly territorial and can easily kill anything they view as a rival. The use of "dither fish" in that situation would probably be better. Species like silver sharks, barbs (clown, arulius, spanner, striped, etc.), giant danios, or silver dollars are great because they are not cichlids and the terrors will not regard them as much a threat as another cichlid.

You will also need to consider other reasons why they are not happy. Water maintenance is key, and water changes, combined with live/frozen food will encourage activity and breeding. Eating the first few broods is very common, so give them a few more chances. It's what we call false starts.

As for diet, look to the premium pelleted food of your choice. Sinking pellets are better. You can use a good flake as well, such as Sera San. Supplement with small amounts of blanched (softened by steam) zucchini, broccoli, and a selection of live and frozen foods. One thing that always gets fish moving is mosquito larvae - leave a bucket full of water outside and within a week, you can use a fine net to scoop huge amounts of mozzie larvae out. The terrors will love you for it!

Let us know how you go.

Andrew.

[fisshy]

G'day Fisshy,

All that depends on a few things... Sevs and terrors can get on ok if the tank is big enough, but if not, it can backfire on you.

Adding another species of cichlid to a terror tank will bring them out of hiding, but possibly only to beat the sevs up. They are highly territorial and can easily kill anything they view as a rival. The use of "dither fish" in that situation would probably be better. Species like silver sharks, barbs (clown, arulius, spanner, striped, etc.), giant danios, or silver dollars are great because they are not cichlids and the terrors will not regard them as much a threat as another cichlid.

You will also need to consider other reasons why they are not happy. Water maintenance is key, and water changes, combined with live/frozen food will encourage activity and breeding. Eating the first few broods is very common, so give them a few more chances. It's what we call false starts.

As for diet, look to the premium pelleted food of your choice. Sinking pellets are better. You can use a good flake as well, such as Sera San. Supplement with small amounts of blanched (softened by steam) zucchini, broccoli, and a selection of live and frozen foods. One thing that always gets fish moving is mosquito larvae - leave a bucket full of water outside and within a week, you can use a fine net to scoop huge amounts of mozzie larvae out. The terrors will love you for it!

Let us know how you go.

Andrew.

the mozzie larvae sounds good cause it cost nothin/they have a reasonable diet of bloodworms/brineshrimp /flakes an pellets /// my terrors are not that agressive had other fish with them an there still young so to introduce another spiecies is still on my side as there goin in a 4 ft x450x400 tank with enough hidin holes thanks andrew for your info