Breeding the severum
Open spawner: lays eggs on a flat stone or root, both parents guard them, and both parents then mouthbrood the fry.
Step by step
Raise a group of 6 young fish. Pairs form over time.
A 75 gallon (280 L) tank with flat rocks or wood, 26-29 C and soft water.
Warm, soft clean water and big water changes.
Up to about 1000 eggs per spawning.
Feed baby brine shrimp, then crushed pellets. Parents often eat the first spawns. Move eggs if needed.
- Hard water
- Poor diet
- Using pairs that are too young
Male or female
Males are bigger, have markings on the gill covers and may grow a forehead hump and longer dorsal and anal fins.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Takes some experience.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for open substrate spawners
- 21 days beforeLet a pair form
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
- Day 0Spawning
The pair cleans the stone and lays rows of eggs. Both guard them.
- Day 3Eggs hatch
Wrigglers hatch in 2–4 days and are moved to pits by the parents.
- Day 7Free swimming
Feed baby brine shrimp several times a day. Parents often herd the fry.
- Day 42Grow-out
Move fry to a grow-out tank before the parents spawn again.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.