Gold Severum

<p>These fish are green with a yellow belly, juveniles also have dark stripes but these fade away as they grow. They can reach up to 10 inches. There are many different color varieties bred in captivity. The Gold Severum variety lacks the dark stripes of the juveniles and are entirely yellow.</p> <p> To keep these fish in captivity, water pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0 and water temperature should range from 73°F to 84°F. The tank should have open areas for swimming, rocks, driftwood and hiding places. This species is peaceful, however, it can become quite territorial when breeding, as such, it should be kept with large species. Severums can be kept as a single individual in an at least 55 gallon tank or as pair in an at least 100 gallon tank.</p>

<p>This species is omnivorous. It can be fed with flakes or pellets. Live food and vegetable matter like peas or Romaine lettuce should be provided as well for an optimum health.</p>

<p>Males tend to be bigger and wider.</p>

<p>To breed this species in captivity, it is best to get a group of 6 or 8 and allow it pair off naturally. The breeding thank should have water temperature ranging from 78.8 to 80.6°F. The female will lay her eggs on a flat rock or on a piece of wood and the male will then fertilize them, then both will guard the eggs.</p>

<p>This species can be found in South American rivers. The Golden Severum variety is bred in captivity and doesn’t exist in the wild.</p>

<p>The water in which these fish are packaged is different from the water in the tank, since these fish are extremely sensitive to water conditions the acclimation process is very important. This process should never be rushed. Aquarium lights should be off for at least the first 4 hours of the fish in the new tank and it should not be fed in the first 24h. There are two acclimation methods: Floating Method and the Drip Method.</p> <p>Floating method -  the aquarium lights should be off and lights in the room should be dim, the bag in which the fish is should be placed in the surface of the water to float for about 15 minutes, this allows the water in the bag to adjust to the water in the tank. The bag should then be cut under the knot and the top edge of the bag should be rolled down one inch, then ¼ cup of the aquarium water should be added to the bag, this step should be repeated every 4 minutes until the bag is full, then half the water of the bag should be discarded and the bag should be put to float again and ¼ cup of the aquarium water should be added to the bag every 4 minutes until the bag is full. Afterwards, the Discus can be moved into the aquarium.</p> <p>Drip method – the aquarium lights should be off and lights in the room should be dim, the bag in which the fish is should be placed in the surface of the water to float for about 15 minutes, this allows the water in the bag to adjust to the water in the tank. The bag contents should be poured into a 1 gallon bucket that has never been cleaned with any chemicals, the fish should be enterally submerged. A siphon, using airline tubing, should be set up and a drip line should run from the main aquarium to the bucket. Several loose knots should be tied in the airline tubing to regulate flow. Sucking the end of the airline tube that goes to the bucket will begin a siphon, the flow should be regulated to 2 to 4 drips per second. Once the water in the buckets doubles, half should be discarded and the process should be repeated until it doubles again. Afterwards, the fish can be moved to the aquarium.</p>

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