Severum Cichlid

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Amazon and Ucayali river basin, South America. Settles in flooded forests and river meanders where the current slows down and large deposits of fallen trunks are created (Black/Clear water).

Taxonomy and Morphology: Severum Cichlid (Heros efasciatus). Often called "The Poor Man's Discus" for the discoidal shape of its very tall and compressed body, but it has dozens of times superior robustness and a protruding snout to "tear".

Social Behavior: The gentle giant! Unlike Central American cichlids, the Efasciatus is an extremely mild, phlegmatic and non-predatory fish, which swims gracefully. The only timid skirmishes occur if two pairs spawn close to each other.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Natural morphology: dark greenish/olive, crossed by weak vertical black bands. On the market, chromatically modified variants explode (Gold Severum, Red Spotted Severum, which is pink/yellow with dots). Males have elaborate dotting (worming) on the face.

Aquarium Setup: Large tank, minimum 150 cm (60 inches) for adults. Huge crossed roots and very little light. NO PLANTS. Not even armored Anubias will resist more than two nights to the very powerful herbivorous bites (they tear the leaves to pieces and digest them).

Diet and Feeding: Herbivore/Omnivore (strongly leaning towards vegetables). Vegetable flakes and spirulina are its life; it will devour peas, zucchini, boiled lettuce and occasionally krill/earthworms but meat must not abound or they swell (Bloat).

Water Quality: Excellent tolerance and great adaptability to dechlorinated tap water. They love tannins, so peat releases or Catappa leaves keep them healthy and shiny. Downward pH swings induce them to mate.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Among the best community Cichlids in the world. They can be kept together with Silver Dollars, Uaru, Geophagus, Discus or schools of large Tetras (e.g. Congo, Bleeding Heart). They will also leave small Corydoras alone.

Aquarium Reproduction: Flat substrate breeder, they often clean woods and lay pinkish eggs (up to 1000). They are very sweet parents who never stop cleaning and assisting the fry for weeks even when they swim scattered.

Risks and Diseases: Hole in the Head disease (HITH). A Heros fed solely on proteins, beef or kept in water loaded with nitrates will see its skull literally crumble and will die of infections.