Severum care

Heros efasciatus · Amazon basin

Severum (Heros efasciatus) — Shown: a green severum at the Louisville Zoo. Photo: Trisha M Shears, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Severums are round, calm South American cichlids that grow to about 8 inches, among the most peaceful of the larger cichlids.

Tank size: 55 US gal or larger
Temperature: 75 to 84 °F (24 to 29 °C)
Group size: Alone or in a pair
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Adult size: 8 in
pH: 6 to 7.5
Hardness (GH): 4 to 15 dGH
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
Diet: Omnivore
Care level: Easy

Check it in the stocking checker →

In a 55 gallon

48¼ × 12¾ × 21 in outside

Drawn to scale: one severum at adult size (8 in) in the smallest listed tank that suits them. Choose your tank on the home page to see them in it.

How to keep severums

Severums are round, calm South American cichlids that grow to about 8 inches, among the most peaceful of the larger cichlids. One or a pair needs a 55 gallon or larger tank at 75 to 84 °F with fish too big to swallow; they eat soft plants.

Diet: Omnivore: cichlid pellets, vegetables, frozen foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.

Where they swim: Middle of the tank.

Severum tank mates

Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.

Striped Raphael catfish

8 in · 55+ gal · 75–81 °F

Gold nugget pleco

8.8 in · 75+ gal · 77–86 °F

Twig catfish

8.9 in · 30+ gal · 72–79 °F

Elephantnose fish

9 in · 55+ gal · 77–82 °F

Bristlenose pleco

6 in · 29+ gal · 73–81 °F

Siamese algae eater

6 in · 29+ gal · 72–80 °F

Giant danio

6 in · 55+ gal · 72–79 °F

Three-spot (blue) gourami

6 in · 29+ gal · 72–82 °F

Keep apart

Cardinal tetra: Adult severums eat fish under about 1.5 in; cardinal tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Green neon tetra: Adult severums eat fish under about 1.5 in; green neon tetras grow to 1 in.
Ember tetra: Adult severums eat fish under about 1.5 in; ember tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Chili rasbora: Adult severums eat fish under about 1.5 in; chili rasboras grow to 0.8 in.
Celestial pearl danio: Adult severums eat fish under about 1.5 in; celestial pearl danios grow to 1 in.
White cloud mountain minnow: No shared temperature: severums need 75 to 84 °F, white cloud mountain minnows 64 to 72 °F.

What a severum tank needs

A tank of 55 US gallons or more (such as the 55 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.

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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 200

Rated by the maker for up to 55 US gal, which covers a 55 gallon severum tank without being built for a far bigger one.

Details and fit →

Seachem Tidal 55

Rated by the maker for up to 55 US gal, which covers a 55 gallon severum tank without being built for a far bigger one.

Details and fit →Check price on Amazon

Aqueon Pro 150

Severums need 75 to 84 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.

Details and fit →

API Freshwater Master Test Kit

Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding severums.

Details and fit →Check price on Amazon

Seachem Prime 100 mL

Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.

Details and fit →Check price on Amazon

Fluval Edge Thermometer

Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 75 to 84 °F.

Details and fit →Check price on Amazon

More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 55 gallon tank · Heaters for a 55 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →

Common severum problems

They nibble and uproot soft plants.
Small tetras and shrimp become food.

Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.

More to compare

Fish for a 55 gallon tank Angelfish tank mates Centerpiece fish Types of cichlids Plants that survive grazing

Angelfish

6 in · 29+ gal

Discus

8 in · 55+ gal

German blue ram

3 in · 20+ gal

Cockatoo dwarf cichlid

3 in · 20+ gal

Sources

Name and origin checked against Wikipedia: Heros efasciatus. Adult size, temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.

Photo credits

Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.

Severum Trisha M Shears, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Striped Raphael catfish Piotr Kuczynski, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gold nugget pleco Anne Blindheim, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Twig catfish Francesco Loda (CONTERALLY), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Elephantnose fish Jutta234, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bristlenose pleco André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Siamese algae eater aleander2137, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Giant danio Faucon, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Three-spot (blue) gourami Peter Jung, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Chili rasbora JoKrimmel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Celestial pearl danio Cisamarc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
White cloud mountain minnow Petrtyl, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Angelfish Citron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Discus Patrick Farrelly, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
German blue ram Eric Mengel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Cockatoo dwarf cichlid William Kreijkes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons