How many Severums can I cram in?

So, my 4ft tank started leaking this weekend - luckily I was leak testing it after taking it out of storage, so it didn’t cause much damage. Obviously my Mrs wasn’t happy - at all. But somehow by the end of the conversation she decided I needed to sell both my 3ft and 4ft…and replace them with brand new 5ft and 4ft tanks. So, this is quite confusing because she does not share my enthusiasm for the hobby. At all. But I’m buying those tanks before her sense returns.

Anyhow, I really want to create a tank with a group of Severums - probably rotkeils - as the centrepiece. I’ve kept Severums before as single specimens or as a pair, but never as a group. As usual, the net has conflicting views, so am looking for thoughts from anyone who’s done this before. Any ideas how many can comfortably live in a 5x2x2? Ideally I’d like 4, but that feels like I’m pushing it. Would 3 work? Or would that lead to someone getting bullied? Other tank mates would include my electric blue acara, and some schooling tetras.

Thanks

Have a little look at this.

itiwhetu said:

Have a little look at this.

Severums having fun

This is mum dad and the kids. This was a 250 liter tank the Severums spawned multiple times and always managed to raise a few. When I sold the set up there were 30 Severums plus the two Jewel Cichlids you can see in the photo.

www.fishforums.net

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thanks - it’s encouraging that you could keep so many in a 200l. Did that setup last long term? And how many were grown adults?

The tank was set up for around 5 years as a hire aquarium. Over half of the fish were adults another photo

The tank had two 1000 l/hr internal filters on it and I performed 30% water changes weekly.

Ok, thanks. I’m not feeling so foolish about think I could cram 3-5 of them in the new tank now.

malfunction said:

Ok, thanks. I’m not feeling so foolish about think I could cram 3-5 of them in the new tank now.

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Severums are great in groups. go with your instinct and lots of filtration. Give them something to play with, I used plastic plants that they played football ( mouthball ) with.