Red-Spotted Severum Care Guide
Red-Spotted Severum is a colour form of Heros efasciatus, an Amazonian cichlid notable for being a regular fruit-eater.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Red-Spotted Severum is a colour form of Heros efasciatus, a deep-bodied cichlid from the Amazon basin. Heros efasciatus is more common in the aquarium trade than the true Heros severus and is available in both a gold form and the wild-type olive-green form. It is one of the few cichlids that act as regular frugivores.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Heros
- Scientific name: Heros efasciatus
Habitat
Heros efasciatus is native to the Amazon basin, with records from Brazil and Peru. It inhabits tropical freshwater, including riparian zones that flood seasonally, where it exploits fruit during the wet season.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L
- Temperature: 25-29 °C (77-84 °F)
- pH: 5.0-7.0
- GH: 1-8 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
- Adult size: 18-25 cm
Diet
Heros efasciatus is notably frugivorous, consuming fruit regularly, especially during seasonal flooding. As an omnivore it also takes other plant and animal matter. In captivity it accepts quality prepared foods supplemented with vegetable matter.
Compatibility
Severums are relatively peaceful for their size and occupy the middle of the water column. Suitable companions are calm South American species of comparable size; very small fish and boisterous aggressive cichlids should be avoided.
Red-Spotted Severum Breeding Guide
Overview
The red-spotted severum (Heros efasciatus) is a cichlid native to the Amazon basin. Unlike the mouthbrooding Heros severus, H. efasciatus is an open substrate spawner: it deposits eggs on a flat surface that both parents then guard. Maintenance parameters are a temperature of 22-29 °C (72-84 °F) and pH 5.5-7.0.
Conditioning
Acquiring young fish as a group and allowing a pair to form naturally is the recommended route to a settled breeding pair. Condition them on a varied omnivorous diet before spawning.
Breeding Setup
- Soft, slightly acidic water within the maintenance range (pH 5.5-7.0)
- Temperature toward the upper part of 22-29 °C
- A flat stone, slate or similar flat surface as a spawning site
- A quiet location to limit disturbance
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Spawning occurs on a cleaned flat stone or similar area, which is then guarded by both parents until the eggs hatch. The species has comparatively low fecundity in the wild.
Egg & Fry Care
Both parents tend the eggs and the resulting fry. The fry are fairly large and can be fed on brine shrimp and powdered foods once free-swimming.
Common Challenges
Sourcing a compatible pair from a group takes time, and severums can be easily disturbed; a quiet, stable tank reduces the chance that nervous parents abandon or eat a spawn.