Stocking A Sev Focused Tank

[Oddities]

I am currently setting up a 75 gallon and I should be able to start the fishless cycling tomorrow. I have been trying to figure out a good stocking plan for it and would love the focus to be on a Severum. The problem is this is actually a tank my parents are putting in and I'm helping them put it in while I am doing college locally. Here is my dilemma, My mom and sister both think Severums are ugly. (gasp ikr!) and want a "pretty" fish. They have both come to the conclusion that they want an angel and while i thought angels could be housed alone, I have found out differently.

1) What would be the minimal amount of angels i could keep with a severum? (I am planning on getting all the fish for this tank as small as i can possibly find them which for severums atm would be about 1 inch or under). I was thinking for stocking maybe something like this:
1 Severum (probably the green or gold variety)
2-3 Angelfish
1 BN pleco
5 Angelicus Loaches

Now for more questions.
2) Would a pair of angels provide a potential aggression problem in this tank or would the tank mates be able to hold their own should aggression break out?
3) would it be ok to get one of the baby severums my local petsuppermarket and place it in my 15 gallon tank with a few small tiger barbs while my 75 cycles? I am planning on using lots of seed media to help the process a long. (All of the fish including the severum would be at the most 1 inch long and i was woried about finding a small severum and as luck would have it this is the first time i have ever noticed that petsuppermarket have any)

Thank you in advance for any help and constructive criticism is welcomed.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Bump it up to 6 angels. Two or three will usually end up as 1. How big are your tiger barbs? Severums aren't super aggressive except when breeding, so I would worry it would get nipped at a bit to much.

 

[Oddities]

They are about an inch long as well.

Would I be able to keep that many angels with the other fish listed in the stocking if the tank is only 48"x18"20" LxWxH

If I was able to say talk the two ruling females in the house out of angel fish and into something like a Bolivian Ram would that work in the tank? And then maybe move my school of tiger barbs out of the 15 gallon and into the 75?

 

[thereverendturtle]

6 angels with the other fish listed will be fine. The tiger barbs will shred the angels fins in no time, you would be better off with rosy barbs or some kind of rainbow fish. Also you may want to go from one to three or four bushy nose plecos. If you ditch the angels for the rams then the tigers will be ok.

 

[Oddities]

Yes if i go tigers it would be after i ditch the angels and get a ram or two instead. What i was thinking with that is:
1 Severum
9 Tiger Barbs
1 Bolivian Ram
3 BN Plecos
5 Angelicus Botia

As for 6 Angels i am not worried about compatibility with the other fish, I'm worried about over crowding issues.

 

[Wills]

Things sound find so far, all I would say is have you considered one of the smaller species of Severum like Rotkiel or the Mouth Brooders? Might be a better option in that size tank than a big chunky Green or Gold. Though if your family are after colour what about the Super Reds?

With the Angels how about starting out with 6 and finding a pair? That should work in a 75g tank but a group of 6 could work just as well - though what are the dimensions of the tank?

Wills

 

[Oddities]

"Would I be able to keep that many angels with the other fish listed in the stocking if the tank is only 48"x18"20" LxWxH"

I do not think I have ever seen a Rotkiel or one of the Mouth Brooders in my area, and multiple members of my family including my mom (who would be paying for the fish) think the rotkiels are just plain ugly.

I am thinking the second plan would be a little bit better as far as stocking a tank that size.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Yeah the second setup sounds good. Maybe do a pair of rams, they'll fit in just fine and will show better colors as they will be on constant display.

 

[karin]

I would not do 3 BNs. I have one in my 125 and he is a messy little guy. I like him, but would not want three just from the standpoint of messiness. Just my opinion. I've had angels and sev together and they did fine for the most part however a couple of the cichlids got agro with my veiltail angel and gave him a pectral fin trim. Separated them. So maybe avoid veiltails.

 

[Oddities]

The reason I am going to try to avoid an angel fish isn't because of compatibility, but rather the fact they want to be in groups and im not sure if there is a lfs around me that would take back 4 angels after 2 have paired off. I was thinking of how messy BN's are too and thinking of cutting it back. Also im not sure my mom was so hot on the idea of taking her tiger barbs out of her 15 gallon for the 75 so im also looking at buenos aires tetra's. I'm thinking if i kick it back to 2 BN plecos then i can kick the schooling fish up to 11 instead of 9 which should keep the fin nipping inside their schools and not pester the rest of the fish.

 

[Oddities]

Ok one more question. Is it possible that instead of getting the bolivian rams I could get a jewel cichlid instead? What I'm thinking for the stocking list is now to go with Congo tetra's for the schooling fish as well.
1x Green Severum
1x Jewel Cichlid
2x BN Pleco
5x Angelicus Loach
11x Congo Tetra/Buenos Aires Tetra/Tiger barbs (which ever ends up being the one decided)

 

[Wills]

No just forget the Jewels, nightmare waiting to happen a good 80% of the time. Its so hit and miss with them and other fish you really have to be 100% that they are the fish you want over all else to get them. Not the same colour but what about a Blue Acara similar body shape and same blue flecks just no red base. Or if you can find them Krobia sp.Rio Xingu Orange Cheek are very nice as well and go quite well with Severums A pair would be nice for the tank as they are not that fiesty when breeding.

I like the sounds of the Congo Tetras

 

[Oddities]

Blue acara sounds like a good plan as one of the bosses has already gone "Ohhh pretttyyy" I personally was in love with the red coloration of the jewel but that gives me an excuse to get another tank in a while.

-edit- also im glad i didnt get my hopes up on getting a red dot severum. I saw one in a lfs today and it was $40

 

[Wills]

... wow that is expensive they are around £12 here so about $20 I guess...

Wills

 

[Oddities]

Ill say, it was about 3-4 inches and absolutely beautiful though. Had an awful lot of red. They said they had ordered it for someone who then said it was to small for their tank so i feel a little bad for them but still 40$.