Heros appendiculatus Care Guide
Heros appendiculatus is a South American cichlid of the severum group. It is a large, deep-bodied omnivore kept in soft, warm water.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Heros appendiculatus is a cichlid of the severum group within the genus Heros, native to the Amazon basin of South America. The genus belongs to the tribe Heroini and was formerly placed in Cichlasoma before that genus was restricted. Severum-group fish are deep-bodied, laterally compressed cichlids commonly seen in the aquarium trade.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Heros
- Scientific name: Heros appendiculatus
- Note: some authorities have treated this name as a synonym of Heros efasciatus; the genus Heros currently contains several recognised species (FishBase, Wikipedia).
Habitat
Members of the genus Heros occur in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo river basins. Severum-group cichlids inhabit slow-moving and flooded waters with submerged vegetation and structure such as roots and branches.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L
- Temperature: 25-29 °C (77-84 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.0
- GH: 2-8 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
Severum-group cichlids are omnivorous. Related species in the genus feed on plant material and fruit in the wild and have a relatively low trophic level. In the aquarium a varied diet of prepared cichlid foods supplemented with vegetable matter and occasional live or frozen foods is appropriate.
Compatibility
This is a comparatively calm cichlid that swims mainly in the middle of the water column. Like other large severums it can become territorial when breeding. It is best kept with similarly sized, non-aggressive South American fish and is not reliably plant-safe.
Breeding
Heros appendiculatus is a substrate spawner. In the closely related Heros severus eggs are deposited on stones or roots and guarded by both parents, with the larvae later tended by the adults; parental care can last several weeks.
Heros appendiculatus Breeding Guide
Overview
Heros appendiculatus is a severum of the upper Amazon basin, recorded from tributaries of the Ucayali and Amazon rivers in Peru and the Solimoes-Amazon in Brazil. FishBase gives a maximum size of about 17.0 cm SL. The valid name follows the redescription as Heros appendiculatus in Kullander (1986), where it is treated as the oldest available name now applied.
Breeding Setup
FishBase lists water parameters of pH from about 7.0, hardness from about 20 dH and a temperature range of 24-32 degrees C, with a freshwater, benthopelagic lifestyle. For breeding, a roomy tank with warm, clean water and flat stones or submerged roots provides suitable spawning surfaces. The Aquairi record classifies the species as a substrate spawner of intermediate breeding difficulty.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
According to FishBase, up to 1000 eggs are deposited on flat stones or on roots, which makes a cleaned flat surface the focal point of a spawning event. Warm, stable, clean water within the listed temperature range supports spawning condition.
Egg & Fry Care
FishBase records that both parents participate in caring for the eggs and the larvae. The pair guards the brood, and the fry are tended by both adults after hatching.