Severum
Heros severus / Heros efasciatus
A calm, large South American cichlid often kept with angelfish and catfish; eats soft plants and any fish that fits in its mouth.
Key facts
- Body length
- 7.9 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 76 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Cichlid pellets, spirulina, vegetables, frozen bloodworm
- Origin
- Amazon, upper Orinoco and Rio Negro, South America
- Hardier than81%
- Bigger than84%
- Calmer than28%
Water: their range vs yours
Severum tank mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Chinese algae eaterGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Clown loachGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Convict cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- DiscusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Firemouth cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Jewel cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Golden mbunaSeverum can eat young or small Golden mbuna; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- GoldfishGoldfish needs cool water; severums need tropical heat.Risky
- KribensisSeverum can eat young or small Kribensis; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Kuhli loachSeverum can eat young or small Kuhli loach; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Rosy barbSeverum can eat young or small Rosy barb; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Dwarf orange crayfishSeverum eats dwarf shrimp: Orange dwarf crayfish (CPO) (PROP).Risky
- Neon tetraSeverum can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraSeverum can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppySeverum can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasSeverum can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusSeverum can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpSeverum can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for severums: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 20 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 478.42 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 40.54 BU
- Min. water
- 243 L net
- Min. footprint
- 120 × 45 cm per pair
- Min. height
- 45 cm
- Group
- 1+ (best 2)
- Swims in
- middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- deep bodied, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore plant
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Heros efasciatus · FishBase: Heros severus
Care notes
Severums come from South America and are sold under the names Heros severus and H. efasciatus, with gold, red-spotted, turquoise and albino forms. They reach about 8 inches and are fairly peaceful outside of breeding.
A pair needs around 55 gallons with a 4-foot footprint and soft water. Feed plenty of vegetable food, expect soft plants to be eaten, and raise a pair from a group of juveniles; lone fish sometimes become aggressive.
Questions
What size tank does a severum need?
At least 76 gallons (243 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 7.9 inches without fins.
How many severums should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do severums need?
72–84 °F, pH 5.5–6.5 and 1–8 dGH. Severums come from Amazon, upper Orinoco and Rio Negro, South America.
How long do severums live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with severums?
Good tank mates include Angelfish, Blood parrot cichlid, Blue dolphin cichlid, Bristlenose pleco and Chinese algae eater. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.