Can Black Skirt Tetra and Severum Live Together?

Black Skirt Tetra is a generally mild-mannered species (4/10), while Severum is moderately assertive (5/10). This modest difference means Severum may occasionally assert dominance over Black Skirt Tetra.

Black Skirt Tetra and Severum both frequent the Middle (Open Water) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 24°C and 26°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 25.0°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6 and 7.5. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 4–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Black Skirt Tetra and Severum together, plan for an aquarium of at least 336 litres with a minimum length of 120 cm. This accounts for the larger species' space requirements with an additional 20 % buffer to reduce territorial tension.

Providing a mix of open swimming space and sheltered areas with rocks, driftwood, or plants will keep both species comfortable and allow natural behaviour.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Plants - Densely covered, Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Severum is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with Black Skirt Tetra's requirement for live plants. Compromise where possible or prioritise the more critical need.

Both species do well with moderate (standard) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.