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Contents
Overview
The severum (Heros severus), also called the banded cichlid, comes from the Orinoco and Rio Negro basins. Its tall, compressed body earned it the nickname "poor man's discus." Wild fish are greenish with dark vertical bands, especially a bold one near the tail, while stores mostly sell gold and red-spotted (rotkeil) strains.
It is one of the most easygoing large cichlids: it usually gets along with fish of similar size and becomes very tame with its keeper. At about 8 inches (20 cm) it is not a small community fish, though. It is a great choice if you want a big cichlid with personality but without the extreme aggression of many Central American species.
Care and tank setup
A pair of severums needs at least a 75-gallon (300 L) tank, about 4-5 feet (120-150 cm) long, with enough height for their deep bodies.
- Water: prefers soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic water, though captive-bred fish adapt to moderate tap water. Strong filtration and generous weekly water changes are a must.
- Décor: large driftwood, smooth rocks and sand. Severums eat soft plants, so stick with anubias, Java fern or artificial plants.
- Tankmates: adult angelfish, geophagus, plecos, large tetras or robust barbs. Small fish like neons will be eaten.
- Territory: pairs get defensive when spawning, so provide room and visual barriers.
Don't keep one in a 30-gallon tank "while it grows": stunting causes lasting health problems. Always use a cycled, filtered and heated tank.
Feeding
Severums are omnivores with a strong taste for greens. Mix a cichlid pellet with spirulina flakes or wafers, and offer blanched vegetables now and then (zucchini, peas, spinach). Round things out with frozen brine shrimp, krill or bloodworms. One or two meals a day is enough.
Breeding
Getting a pair is the hard part; most keepers raise a group of juveniles and let them pair off naturally. The female lays her eggs on a flat stone or piece of wood, and both parents guard them and care for the fry for several weeks. Breeding is doable at home if the pair has a large tank of its own.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Severum. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Clown loach Chromobotia macracanthus 132 gal (500 L) · 77–86 °F (25–30 °C) 
Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii 32 gal (120 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Golden wonder killifish (striped panchax) Aplocheilus lineatus 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Giant danio Devario aequipinnatus 63 gal (240 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare 53 gal (200 L) · 75–84 °F (24–29 °C) 
Pearl gourami Trichopodus leerii 32 gal (120 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Kribensis Pelvicachromis pulcher 21 gal (80 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Paradise fish Macropodus opercularis 21 gal (80 L) · 61–79 °F (16–26 °C) 
Clown pleco (L104) Panaqolus maccus 21 gal (80 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Severum, and why.
- Cherry barb: one may eat the other due to size
- Tiger barb: one may eat the other due to size
- Betta fish: one may eat the other due to size
- Bronze cory: one may eat the other due to size
- Panda cory: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
- Zebra danio: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
- Guppy: one may eat the other due to size
- Dwarf gourami: one may eat the other due to size
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Severum healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Severum need?
At least about 300 liters. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Severum need?
Between 24 and 29 °C, with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
What fish can live with the Severum?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bristlenose pleco, Nerite snail, Horned nerite snail, Clown loach and Swordtail. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Severum be kept with shrimp?
Not recommended: because of its size or instinct, it will eat shrimp.
