Green Severems

Question
I have a 30 gallon tank and I have two green severums and a silver catfish.  When the time is right, what kind and how many fish could I add, if any?  Should I get a bigger tank?

Thank you

Renae Lynn

Answer
Dear Renae,
Unfortunately with my experience with Severums and other large size fish, a 30gallon is just enough for about one mature Severum. There are lots of catfish called 'silver catfish' and many petstores and aquarists use this as a general name for many different species, so I cannot say for sure if your Silver catfish would be compatible long-term in your aquarium.

~Ideally, yes, it would be wonderful for your trio to have a 55-75gal just to them. I worry also that your silver catfish may outgrow your 30gal also. Severums can be territorial fish as they mature. And I am speaking only from experience that as they age, your once peaceful pair may decide to turn on each-other as they now want to established territories for themselves. Mature severums, even if raised with other fish including their own species, tend to be happier when kept in an aquarium just for them. A 30gallon is perfect for one single Severum. I'm not sure about two. It might be possible. It depends on the age. If your fish are rather young still they will  get along fine in a 30 gallon aquarium. But I worry as they age they could cause lots of trouble for you, by fighting with each-other. Unfortunately I know also that even the largest aquariums (over 100gallons) cannot keep two mature severums. As ridiculous as it sounds! if you have an extra territorial severum. That's all you can have in any size aquarium with some other tankmates that are non-severum of course!

This is rather hard for me to say because every severum has his/her own personality. Especially at what aquariums and what other species they are going to behave with or not. But on average, most mature Severums are territorial. Perhaps if your severums started doing battle and you upgraded to maybe a 55 gallon with lots of visual barriers to each-other by means of tall bushy plants, it might work. But like all cichlids, Severums are unpredictable in that you cannot go off by one general guideline. Everyone is different and I can only speak from experience.

So what I would do now is enjoy your Severums and Silver catfish (hopefully he won't be a giant species) and if they decide they absolutely must do battle, you can try putting them in larger living quarters. If that doesn't work out. You could always keep one Severum in the 30gal to himself, and keep the other in the 55gal with perhaps your Silver catfish,large Crawfish, large eels, and other robust fish. It all depends on your beloved Severums personality.

I really hope this helps! Severums are truly a unique and unusual fish that require special care and commitment to be happy and healthy longterm. I do hope you have no trouble with your current Severums and I do this helps!!

Best wishes and feel free to write with anymore concerns!
Karen~