Cichlasoma severum: types, description, contents, reproduction

Cichlasoma severum – the most prominent representative of the family of cichlids. She has a refined structure and the diverse, beautiful body color. It is for this reason cichlasoma severum so popular among lovers of fish, with her presence she is able to decorate any home aquarium. Bright colors make an exotic fish is the highlight of your home collection.

Cichlasoma severum: varieties

It Should be noted that cichlasoma is popular not only among experienced hobbyists, but beginners. Apparently the fish like a discus (a distant relative), it is sometimes even called about discus. Currently, there are many different variations of colors, however the most popular cichlasoma severum "red pearl". Also demand the "blue emerald".

"red pearl", the body painted yellow with bright red spots. But cichlasoma blue has a dark blue color with emerald tints and very dark spots. There is also cichlasoma diamond, black-striped.

Aquarists are attracted to bright, beautiful appearance, which has the right to boast cichlasoma severum. Species - selective variations of this fish are the following species: blue severum, gold, vosmipolosaya, turquoise, levofolinic. Very interesting cichlasoma severum krasnolesy, or red heads, so named due to the fact that the back of the head is very bright orange or red stripe.

Compatibility severums

Cichlasoma severum, keeping and breeding of which has its own characteristics, are very aggressive with other canines. Therefore, the question about group content of this type is very problematic. The only option that you can try to contain the flock of fish is in a very large aquarium to make a good zoning. Then maybe they will get along.

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But to other fish cichlasoma severum is quite loyal. However, you should consider the fact that the neighbors need to pick up about the same size as the cichlid. She gets on well with astronotus. Good neighbors can be different shumopodobnymi fish.

But with small cichlids and other small fish the North can live only under condition of great volume of the aquarium. Therefore, reflecting on the arrival home of the underwater world inhabitants, you should first examine their compatibility.

Size of aquarium

Cichlasoma severum aquarium is long-lived. With good care it can live more than fifteen years. To keep the fish should be in a large aquarium. It should be assumed that one pair shall be at least 130-150 litres of water. If you plan to keep cichlasomas with other fish, the aquarium must be at least 250 liters.

Description cichlasoma

In the wild, cichlids inhabit the fresh waters of the Amazon basin. The fish reach sizes of twenty inches. Aquarium representatives have a more modest size, about fifteen inches.

The Body of a fish are not very elongated, but rather strongly flattened, because in nature they live in strong kelp forest. If you have large volumes of water cichlasoma can purchase a disk shape. The fish have long anal and dorsal fins, which stretch to the base of the tail.

Color cichlasoma depends on the predominance of one of the genes responsible for coloring. Sexual maturity fish reaches three years.

“Severum” in Latin means “severe”. This definition is well suited to cichlasoma, which shows that angry. But perhaps the title indicates that the Northern regions fish habitat.

In General, cichlasoma severum (its very diverse) can have completely different coloring. And in colors and shades may be strong enough variation. There are very bright and beautiful fish, and some have completely faded look. Males usually brighter than females. There is cichlasoma severum gold, and red of their species. These types are very beautiful.

Cichlasoma severum: keeping and breeding

Cichlasoma is considered to be low maintenance. In addition, it is very resistant to temperature changes and various kinds of diseases. Cichlasoma severum, the content of which is straightforward, however, very demanding on the volume of the aquarium. It is very important condition is the presence of a comfortable home. Even the shape of the aquarium is important to them. If the vessel is high, the fish will grow in width, and narrow - on the contrary, in length.

Cichlasoma omnivorous. They love live foods or even frozen, but dry will also work. However, the diet must contain plant food. You can also use spinach leaves and lettuce, scalded with boiling water. The food must be balanced. This is the basic rule to be observed because it depends on the successful keeping and breeding fish. Dry and plant food should be rotated. In addition, knowing the food preferences of Pets, it is necessary in the diet to include proteins or vegetable. The most convenient option isready to use dry feeds, which are currently widely represented in the pet sector. Among them you can pick up the food for such fish as cichlasoma severum.

Breeding cichlasoma: let's talk more

If the content of such a species becomes easy, then breeding is not so simple… in order to form a pair, you need to get flock. Then during puberty cichlasoma select a partner. After that, the fish need to sit down, because they are aggressive to other canines.

As a solution To a similar question you can immediately buy held a couple. Spawn of the North as well as all cichlasoma. A stimulator of the process is raising the temperature of the water in the aquarium by a few degrees or very frequent replacement.

Females and males differ from each dorsal fin. In males it is pointed and the female – no. In males the color is different brightness and clear spotting on the head and Gill covers there is a clear pattern. But females have a more dull and monotonous coloring.

Spawning can be arranged in a separate tank (150 liters) or in the General aquarium. As a rule, in front of this fish's some sort of mating dance, touching mouths. Then the female lays eggs on the smooth surface. Its amount depends on the frequency of spawning: from three hundred to a thousand eggs. The incubation period is about a week, but depends on the temperature of the aquarium. During this period, the female and the male take care of their future offspring. Then there are the larvae begin to swim in approximately seven days.

There is a perception that cichlasoma severum fry do not eat brine shrimp. However, it is not so. For kids is quite suitable Daphnia, brine shrimp or any other chopped food for cichlids. A couple of weeks they'll be able to absorb unground cereals. The fry grow very slowly, after a month, they only reach one centimeter. At this time there is formation of color.

Parents are very jealously guarding their offspring. Fish–the neighbors huddle in the corners. Males are ready to death to stand up for kids.

If you're going to raise the fry, then after a few weeks it is better to remove it from the aquarium because the female may eat them. For all fish this is a normal phenomenon.

More about the features of contents

Cichlasoma severum (species are listed in the article) in nature inhabits dense thickets of algae. And, therefore, the aquarium should have live plants. It can be absolutely any species of algae. On the one hand, cichlasoma is not a vegetarian establishment, but on the other hand, the leaves of some delicate plants sometimes suffer from it.

This species of fish quietly refers to the chemical composition of the water in which it dwells. Different experts advise to maintain them in very different conditions: from very soft water to hard. In fact, fish is not so important. As long as the water was fresh and well-aerated. Comfortable temperature for cichlasoma – 24-26 degrees.

They get along good with other inhabitants of the aquarium. Small fish never hurt. However, the situations are different, conflicts can ripen in close aquariums because the age of the character spoiled, the fish become more cocky and aggressive.

But with goldfish cichlasoma absolutely don't get along. They absolutely cannot be kept together. For some inexplicable reason, Voile fins become the target of attacks from cichlasoma.

The North totally reckless. They begin to hunt only out of hunger.

The Aquarium for severums should be in the style of the rivers of South America. Large rocks and driftwood, sandy soil-this is the environment that the fish like. In such circumstances, cichlasoma will feel great. To complement the picture of fallen beech or oak leaves, which have on the bottom. Very often the fish begin to dig the bottom. This is a completely normal phenomenon for them. Sometimes this is a sign of the approaching spawning.

Disease cichlasoma

Cichlasoma severum resistant to various diseases. However, it can suffer due to poor aeration of the water. It reflects poorly on the lack of hiding places, you may experience stress. She loves driftwood and hiding places.

Very often the owners enters into a panic any disease of fish. Unfortunately, no one is immune from the disease, cichlasoma severum including. Start panic or people to begin emergency treatment, forgetting about the most important steps to eliminate the disease.

The First thing you should pay attention to, is the water parameters. Do not think that if you frequently change the water, its condition is perfect, far from it. You need to check the content of nitrite, oxygen and ammonia. If you find any abnormalities, they should be sure to align. Changes in aquatic indicators can lead to quick death of many inhabitants of the aquariums. Even bacterial and viral infection did not affect the fish with such speed.

Cichlasoma can hit the parasites different species. Some of them are so insidious that live not only in the intestines of fish,but even in the calf. So the fry are born sometimes already ill. The infected fish appear lethargic and unhappy. They have no appetite, they still eat, but the sense of it little. Sometimes it can be a swollen belly. In any case, confirmation of the diagnosis should be urgently begin treatment, of course, it will be medication. Fish should be given the widely known drug "Metronidazole". You can use the special drugs and feeds based on it. Or simply dissolve in aquarium tablets at the rate of 250 milligrams of the drug on 40 liters of water. Treatment should last for five days. This procedure is performed daily. But full recovery still need to use therapeutic food. After medicinal of course have to replace some of the water and put in the filter carbon rod.

Bacterial diseases, mechanical damage

Cichlasoma severum (photo) are also bacterial infections that are often found at elevated temperature in the aquarium. Such problems are also called disease of dirty water. To help in this case can only antibacterial drugs.

A Careful study of cichlasoma showed that heavily infested it is the African species from lake Malawi. The University of Florida has long engaged in the study of problems of diseases of cichlids. His workers found in a Malawian individuals of 52 species of parasites including the intestinal, blood and external. Such diseased fish into the aquarium, can infect not only cichlasomas, but all the other inhabitants.

Sometimes severum can be spotty, but it's not always a sign of disease. Sometimes this phenomenon occurs when transferring fish from one tank to another. Over time, these spots disappear.

In addition, fish may be subjected to mechanical damage. For example, when buying and transplanting, or just running into a sharp edge of something in the aquarium. If injuries are minor, they are not dangerous. Gradually they will heal. But if the fish are holed up in secluded areas, its activity is reduced, it means that the damage is quite serious. In such cases it is recommended to isolate it in another container because it can be attacked by their own relatives. Furthermore, rapid wound healing fishes give antifungal drugs. Often use this drug as “Antipar”.

The Poisoning of aquarium inhabitants

Even aquarium fish can be poisoned. However, accident can't happen. There are two possible outcomes: either the aquarium got bad food or chemicals. Both cases – this is the direct fault and negligence of the aquarist.

Symptom of poisoning is the reduced activity of fish and darkening of the gills. In the treatment of the inhabitants of the aquarium should be properly and carefully calculating the dosage of medicines, otherwise excessive number of them can become a poison for the inhabitants of the aquarium. Upon detection of poisoning should certainly substitute some of the water to reduce the amount of toxic substances and then eliminate the root cause of the incident.

Instead of an epilogue

Cichlasoma severum – very interesting fish, popular among lovers of aquariums. That it attracts people because it is bright and unique coloration. There are a variety of its colouring. However, novice aquarists who are thinking of buying these fish, you should know that they must provide a large aquarium with plenty of water. In small amounts cichlasoma will not survive. Therefore, in a conventional small apartments it will be difficult to have a large aquarium. In principle, it is believed that the North fairly undemanding fish, but be aware that they can conflict with each other. And therefore contain a flock of cichlasomas problematic. Exotic beauties sometimes aggressive, although considered intelligent fish.

Experts believe that cichlasoma severum easy to maintain, which is why beginners should first learn to deal with it, and then, with experience, can be purchased and other members of the cichlid.