Above: In this picture a young premium quality Gold Severum is swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Comments: These are awesome fish with great coloring.

Origin: The ancestors of the Severum came from the Amazon Rainforest. But now they live in aquariums all over the world.

Maximum Size: In aquariums, they are able to grow to be about 10" long.

Behaviors: Severums are usually semi-aggressive.

Compatibility: These fish do best in a species only tank, but can do well with similar mild tempered Cichlids like Eartheaters

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: Severums live best from about 75 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is the best food for these Cichlids to eat.

It's best to feed them small pellets, when they're small, then gradually increase the size of the pellets, as they grow bigger.

Click here to learn more about and to shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: These fish can adapt to most types of water, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or alkalinity.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: Severums will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 80-gallons of water, but of course bigger is better.

Decor: Severum do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel.

Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality. They like medium size gravel about the size of rice mixed with a few aquarium-safe rocks.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended. Most 80-gallon aquariums have room along the back for two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of the minimum set up for Severum.

Better is a 120, 150, 200 or 240-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back. Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: Severums can live for several years. Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they'll most likely breed and produce the next generation of fish for your aquarium.

Gender: It's nearly impossible to tell males from females just by looking at them, when they're young. But males develop longer more pointed fins as they mature.

Breeding: Severum females lay their eggs in the rocks, where the male fertilizes them, then both parents then guard protect their eggs and then their babies.

Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: Severums have been a very popular aquarium fish for a long time.

Names: Their scientific name is Heros serverus.

Variations: There are several variations of this species that are known to us, including the green, red spotted, and red shoulder variations. These variations may be different closely related species.

Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Severums, including a picture gallery.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.