True severum
Heros severus
Also known as Banded cichlid, Cichlasoma severum, Red tiger severum, Curare 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
- Substrate spawner · 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
The true severum is a mostly peaceful blackwater cichlid for a large, calm tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
Most of the colorful gold and green severums sold in shops are not true severums. They are Heros efasciatus or hybrids, while this species comes from blackwater.
Caring for the true severum
Give a pair of true severums at least 75 gal (285 L). Provide wood and tall plants, and leave open space in the middle of the tank. They prefer a calm setup.
Keep the water warm and soft, at 79 to 86°F (26 to 30°C) and a pH of 4.5 to 6.5. Feed pellets and frozen foods, with some vegetable matter.
The true severum is mostly peaceful and can share a tank with other calm South American fish. It is a substrate spawner, not a mouthbrooder, despite years of confusion on the point. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
Heros severus is a member of the family Cichlidae, described by Heckel in 1840. It stays smaller than the common aquarium severum. The mouthbrooding Orinoco severum was split off as Heros liberifer in 2015.
In the wild
The true severum lives in the blackwater of the upper Orinoco and upper Rio Negro, in Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil. It is found in slow, soft, acidic waters of flooded forest.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The 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.
Bolivian ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Yoyo loach
Botia almorhae
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Congo tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Clown loach
Chromobotia macracanthus
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 75 gal (285 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)
Greater scissortail
Rasbora caudimaculata
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Golden vampire pleco
Leporacanthicus heterodon
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)79–86°F (26–30°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.
What does a true severum eat?
A true severum eats pellets and frozen foods, along with some vegetable matter.
How big does a true severum get?
An adult true severum reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
How does a true severum breed?
A true severum is a substrate spawner, not a mouthbrooder, despite years of confusion on the point. Breeding it is hard.
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)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Inirida severum
Heros sp. 'Inirida'
11.8 in (30 cm) · 119 gal (450 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)50 gal (190 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Blood parrot cichlid
A. citrinellus x V. synspilum
7.9 in (20 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)55 gal (208 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Electric blue Jack Dempsey
Rocio octofasciata
7.9 in (20 cm) · 55 gal (208 L)