Severum Aggression Help

[Itspsharpe]

Hey guys! I’ve got a 50 gal community tank with 2 turquoise Severums, I think both male and 3”. One of the sevs tends to pick on the other. They were added at the same time. My water is great, and temp is great. Plenty of decor and room for them to establish separate areas of dominance. The sev that gets picked on seems to do okay, it still comes out to eat, and it has no physical fin damage. It has a single scale that looks like it was picked off but it isn’t deep, and looks very mild. It typically hides under some driftwood. The other fish, some acaras and angels are picked on as well by the aggressive sev but not to a point where they just hide all day.

I know that 50 gals is not much for that many large cichlids, and my friend is going to give me her 75 gallon tank in a month or so and I should have it set up then to move everything over. But for now, does anybody have any recommendations or suggestions for me to help minimize this aggression.

And just so everyone knows, the sev that is being picked on is hiding under driftwood in bottom left, but I don’t think you can see it in photo.

 

[GaryE]

i would keep the two tanks, and separate the severums. It will never get better for the dominated one.

 

[Guyb93]

It will always be picked on .
If picked on is the fair word
All fish establish a hierarchy it’s just far more visual with cichlids
It’s normal behaviour and you have got to learn to see the difference in agression and dominating when keeping multiple cichlids in a tank . I like to use the example of brothers growing up together , the older larger brother will no doubt make his little brothers life less comfortable and will give him a few jabs here and there , it’s not damaging it’s just normal

 

[AmyKieran]

It doesn’t look like there’s lots of space to hide really. Ide put more rocks and wood so it can hide more effectively. Also what is your feeding regime?

Below I’ve attached my tank, I know Severums aren’t rift lake cichlid but it’s an example of lots of places to hide