PDA

View Full Version : Cichlid Profiles - Severum


robertprice
June 9th, 2013, 06:18 PM
Heros severus, the Severum is a round, laterally compressed cichlid native to the Rio Negro and Orinoco River drainages of Venezuela and northern Brazil. It is found in very acid, soft water (pH 5.3-6) and likes temperatures of 77 to 82 degrees. The body color base may be green, brown-green, or lavender with 8 indistinct vertical stripes. There are red spots on the belly scales, and it may have a black spotted face. Their color changes with their mood. The first bar runs to the operculum and the 7th, which is the boldest, connects the rear of the dorsal and **** fins. The fins are long, and the **** fin runs past the taii. The pelvic and **** fin are copper red and the eye is red. Captive breeding has produced albino and gold morphs. The Orange Severum is thought to be a morph of H. appendiculatus. Severum will eat plants as well as small fish, and are shy for their 8 inch size.

In captivity, they need at least a 50 gallon tank decorated with rocks and bogwood or driftwood so they can mark their territories. They get along with other medium to large semi-aggressive cichlids and catfish, but 2 males will fight. They will not eat Java Fern, but they will dig it up if they can. They will each cichlid foods, small fish, plants and blanched vegetables. They are occasional diggers. They are remarkable for being, along with some Geophagus, the only larvophile mouthbrooders in the New World. they lay up to 1000 eggs on flat stones, and after they hatch, they pick up the fry and carry them in their mouths. They are exceptionally good parents.