Severum Fish Is Scared

I have a 5in severum who's suddenly really skittish. I fed the tank dinner and he flew from one end to the other making a big splash almost jumping out the top (if it weren't covered)

He ate a little bit but mostly he's just hiding and cowering in the corner. This is very unlike him - he's been a gentle giant begging for food and following my finger since I got him in May when he was just an inch or two.

He also has some scratches on his side as if he accidentally sideswiped a rock when he was flipping out like I said above.

I shut the lights off and gave him some lettuce. He's nibbling on that.

Have any ideas on what could have scared him? He's by far the biggest fish in the tank. The only time I was in the tank in the last week was yesterday to re-tie some driftwood I'm trying to make sink. He wasn't like this yesterday.

I'm concerned about the scratches on his side. Not into the flesh, only scale-deep but worrisome either way. Needless to say I can't get close enough to get a picture.

Old photo-

 

Sometimes fish will suddenly become skittish if the nitrates get a little high. A WC with a thorough gravel vac coupled with subdued lighting for a few days will probably straighten out his behavior. As long as he is still eating, no worries.

 

Poor guy. Most of my fish (Cichlids) in my 75gal do that when I first approach the tank in the morning. I get the fish food can and show it to them with a gentle shake and they start coming out of their hiding spots waiting to be fed. Once I feed them they're all good. Now my 40gal with tiger barbs don't hide. Soons I approach the tank they're all going frantic following me around waiting to be fed.

Yeah might be something with the water parameters. I would check, do a water change and lower/dI'm the lighting to see if it'll help him out. As for the wounds, see if you have any sharp ornaments he likes to hid behind for rough edges or the like. Adding a bit of aquarium salt will fix him up. I had to do that with my Orange Red Zebra cichlid. My guess is he brushed up against the lava rock getting away from the Electric Blue JohannI and scraped himself up.

Hope he feels better soon!

 

None of my levels were abnormal. I left his lights off in the evening and night and when I got up today he was back to his same old self. Did a 35% wc and gravel vac today just to be safe. Thanks!

 

His scratches are seemingly gone as well.... I'm guessing it was a superficial scratch and his slime coat sealed back over or something. Whatever....He's okay!

 

My jack Dempsey is in a spare bedroom and had a morning ritual of wagging and having his meal each day. My mom stayed for 2 weeks in that room and since then he seems shocked and darts when I approach. I'm trying to approach from a different angle to break it. I worry the bumping into things reinforces his idea that something bad is coming. Even though he is doing it to himself. Maybe something changed or happened that started it? I guess it's his room now instead of a spare.

 

My jack Dempsey is in a spare bedroom and had a morning ritual of wagging and having his meal each day. My mom stayed for 2 weeks in that room and since then he seems shocked and darts when I approach. I'm trying to approach from a different angle to break it. I worry the bumping into things reinforces his idea that something bad is coming. Even though he is doing it to himself. Maybe something changed or happened that started it? I guess it's his room now instead of a spare.

Maybe I accidentally hit him when I was adjusting driftwood, or maybe even my baby bush fish or balas scared him. The world will never know lol

 

My female severum used to do that when I had her in a smaller tank and I approached without her seeing me right off, she would also get very pale green almost a tan. She has done much better in a large tank with friends

 

My female severum used to do that when I had her in a smaller tank and I approached without her seeing me right off, she would also get very pale green almost a tan. She has done much better in a large tank with friends

I've considered getting him a buddy but I think he'd be really territorial also not sure if 2 sevs and a bush fish would be too much for my tank. I'd have to take a lot of others out to make room.

 

I've considered getting him a buddy but I think he'd be really territorial also not sure if 2 sevs and a bush fish would be too much for my tank. I'd have to take a lot of others out to make room.

What size tank is it?

 

What size tank is it?

55

 

Yea you are probably right. I think they say 2 in a 55 but that’s it. Do you have any dither fish in there? That might help her some.

 

Yea you are probably right. I think they say 2 in a 55 but that’s it. Do you have any dither fish in there? That might help her some.

Not really, just skirt tetras but he's always been a super friendly guy and never had a problem like this before. He has gone back to his normal self. I would like to get dithers if I had the space just for the fun of it. But I'm currently maxed out on space.

I've thought a lot about this tank, whether I want to leave it as is, upgrade to a 125 and keep everything and add another sev, rehome some stuff and add another sev... If I don't upgrade the tank in the future, I will rehome the 2 small bala sharks I have. My tetras and cories could go in my other tank if necessary to make room. Not sure what direction I'll end up in.

 

I would upgrade to a 125 I say that because I notice a big difference when the larger fish have more room. They just act a little more jumpy but that’s just my experience.

I am happy you severum is back to normal Does sound like it was just spooked.

 

I would upgrade to a 125 I say that because I notice a big difference when the larger fish have more room. They just act a little more jumpy but that’s just my experience.

I am happy you severum is back to normal Does sound like it was just spooked.

I'm not even sure my house can hold the 1,400lbs

 

lol well I have jacks in my basement because I am paranoid. It’s a lot of weight!