55g Cichlid Tank

[Abbeys_Mom]

Plans for my 55g.
1 Severum
and Firemouth (maybe a small loach or 2, but just until the fish are bigger)

The question is how many firemouths fit in a 55g with a Severum?

[Gemstone]

why only a single severum?

[MCHRKiller]

I would go with 1 Severum, 1 Firemouth, and something like a single Convict with a group of 3 silver dollars or 8 giant danios to act as a dither fish. But I wouldnt go for more than one of each of these fish as to keep a mated pair from being established a 55G doesnt have enough square ft for a mated pair and anything else. Also severums grow to around 8" its really not worth trying to keep more than 1 in the tank.

[Lady Hobbs]

Liz, I have two pair of firemouths in my 55 gallon (plus a few fry I missed) and it's all I can have in there. They have definate bountries and between the wood and rocks (caves) there really is no room for nothing more but maybe some dithers. A pair stay on one side of the tank and a pair on the other. They are very much like angelfish in that regard and need lots of cover.

I, too, am wanting a severum in the worse way and have been waiting FOREVER to get a 75 gallon for him and my silver dollars.

If the plan is 1 severum and 1 firemouth it would probably work for now but they would most likely want another of their own with them and not want to be the only one of their species. I would get no convict. Too aggressive. Stick with the mild cichlids. You could have some keyholes, too.

[Abbeys_Mom]

I have convinced my Husband to let me run the 55g and the 27g. I figured I would buy 4 firemouths (hoping for a pair) and if they don't get along with the severum, moving the pair into the 27g. The Krib can go in with the Severum and my tetras can go in a 10g. I really wanted a blue acara to go with the severum, but I can't find one.

[Lady Hobbs]

They should get along if raised together. The firemouths are known to pretty much only bother their own species and ignore others. They just do a lot of grand standing but don't do physical damage to one another.

I would LOVE to get a red severum but heck, I love the others, too.

[Abbeys_Mom]

Mine was labeled as "turquoise severum" but I think he/she is a green. I would say from the fins it's a female, but I have been fooled by juveniles before. I recently thought the 2 baby Kribs I have were female, but at least 1 is male.