All fish / Cichlidae

Severum

Heros efasciatus

Also known as banded cichlid, green severum, gold severum, red spotted severum, turquoise severum, rotkeil severum, heros severus, cichlasoma severum, severum cichlid, golden severum, ปลาซีวีรั่ม, セベラム

A tall, laterally compressed South American cichlid with a greenish to golden body, faint dark bars and a black band running through the rear of the dorsal and anal fins. It is kept for its calm character compared with many large cichlids and for colourful line-bred forms such as gold and red spotted severums.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

24 to 29 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Singly, as a pair, or with similarly sized tankmates

Diet

Omnivore: quality cichlid pellets, plant matter such as spirulina and blanched greens, plus frozen or live invertebrates

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon basin in Brazil, Peru and Colombia, including the Rio Negro and Solimões drainages

Breeding

Pairs form naturally and lay eggs on a flat stone or root, with both parents guarding eggs and fry. Breeding is fairly easy once a compatible pair is found, though sexing young fish is difficult so many people raise a group and let pairs form.

Good to know

It can eat soft plants and becomes territorial when spawning, so avoid small tankmates. Several similar Heros species, such as H. severus and H. notatus, are traded under the same name.