True severum
Heros severus
Also known as Green severum, Banded cichlid, Cichlasoma severum
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–86°F
- 26–30°C
- pH
- 4.5–6.5
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 75 gal
- 285 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Blackwater of the upper Orinoco and upper Rio Negro in Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil, in slow, soft, acidic flooded-forest waters.
Overview
A pair needs a tank of at least 285 liters at 26 to 30 C and pH 4.5 to 6.5, with soft water. Provide wood, tall plants, and open space in the middle of the tank. Feed pellets, frozen foods, and some vegetable matter. It is mostly peaceful and can share space with other calm South American fish.
In the wild
The true severum lives in blackwater of the upper Orinoco and upper Rio Negro in Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil. It occupies slow, soft, acidic flooded-forest waters. This is the genuine severum, distinct from the common trade fish. It prefers warm, soft water and a calm setup.
Good to know
Heros severus was described by Heckel in 1840 and reaches about 20 cm, smaller than the common aquarium severum. It is a substrate spawner, not a mouthbrooder, despite years of confusion on the point. The mouthbrooding Orinoco severum was split off as Heros liberifer in 2015.
Did you know
Most of the colorful gold and green severums in shops are actually Heros efasciatus or hybrids, not this true blackwater species.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
True severum is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Polka dot pleco
Spectracanthicus zuanoni
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Giant river hatchetfish
Triportheus rotundatus
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Beardless barb
Cyclocheilichthys apogon
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Red head Tapajos
Geophagus pyrocephalus
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Asian glass hatchetfish
Parachela oxygastroides
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Banded silver dollar
Metynnis fasciatus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a True severum need?
A True severum needs at least 75 gal (285 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a True severum need?
A True severum is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.5.
How big does a True severum get?
An adult True severum reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
Related species
7.9 in (20 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Eyespot severum
Heros liberifer
7.9 in (20 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)65 gal (245 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)Severum
Heros efasciatus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 65 gal (245 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)58 gal (220 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)Spotted severum
Heros notatus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 58 gal (220 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)32 gal (120 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Blood parrot cichlid
A. citrinellus x V. synspilum
7.9 in (20 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Rio Negro chocolate cichlid
Hypselecara coryphaenoides
7.9 in (20 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)Threadfin acara
Acarichthys heckelii
7.9 in (20 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)