over eating sevrum

[Lindsikins00]

Ok, I didn't think that gold sevrums were big vegaterians. I had one gold sevrum for about a month, he constantly ate the java moss that was growing on my driftwood till it was almost all gone. I put lettace in the water to try and sway him. Then his health started declining, his belly was distended and green colored. I figured he got a blockage of some sort. He did not have dropsy. He acted weird for about 4-5 days and then died. He had not spots, dots, growths, or fuzz. Just hung at the bottom like he had a stomach ache. Well I bought another sevrum about 4 months later, and he is eatting all my java moss! I bought some veggie Aquadine food from the fish store cause I thought maybe he was missing something in his diet. He loves it and the other fish do too, I also feed frozen blood worms, some pellets, and flakes. But now he is acting weird, sitting at the bottom just like the other one. No spots, fuzz etc. I also have a green sevrun that is about 2 inches, and some rosey barbs that are almost 3 years old, algae eater. My water parameters are 7.0, trates 30, trites and ammonia are 0. I also add salt, to soften the water. I feed everyday. Anyone have this problem? Is there something i can be over looking?

 

[TankGirl]

I believe severums are carnivores, so what I would do is keep them in a tank without plants. I don't know why they would be eating the java moss, but it seems problematic to me, as it does you, so I would not tempt them.

I've heard of vegetarians eating too much protein and getting bloat, but I have not heard of the reverse. There will probably be someone else to come along and describe this phenomenon.

 

[riftlake_kid]

severums r omnivorous and vegetable/plant matter make up a big part of their natural diet. they love to snack on plants just as they do in nature. i feed mine pea's, romain lettuce, unripened mangos, spirulina. vegetables make up most mines diet. i do also feed occasional blood worms, brine shrimp, and a few pellets with animal content as the main ingredients. severums r notorious for snacking on plants. even tough plants can be stripped by the severums. they love plants. the softer plants dont last very long. sometimes a java fern or other tough plants can hang in for a while. but severums r very notorious for eating plants. unless the tank is pretty big, the plants cant grow fast enough for the severum.

 

[Voodoo Chilli]

Riftlake's right: sevs are omnivores but they LOVE their veggies. Feeding them with real veggies (as Rift suggested) is a great idea and should be part of their regular diet. If you like the look of live plants in your tank, try java fern: I've yet to see a cichlid eat those, although I wouldn't bet the farm against it ever happening.

Not really sure what's happening to your sevs: the nitrates are a tad high, but nothing major to be concerned with. What temperature do you maintain? Is there any chance they could be suffering from internal parasites?

 

[Lindsikins00]

temp 78, could be parasites I can't really tell through. Actually he seems to be doing better. Instead of sitting at the bottom skipping out on dinner, he ate last night with the other fish. I think he is on the mend.

 

[TankGirl]

I believe severums are carnivores

Ooops! Learn something new every day here on AA! I think it is time to toss Baensch in the river.....

 

[Voodoo Chilli]

Lindsikins-

Everything sounds good as far as temperature and water value goes. I'd keep your sevs on a varied diet of high quality fish food and fresh veggies- and things should be fine.