Severum

About

The banded cichlid (Heros efasciatus) is a fish that regularly surprises people who assume all large cichlids are trouble. Native to the Amazon basin, including river systems in Peru and Brazil, it tends to inhabit slow or still water along densely vegetated banks, and has even been recorded in flooded areas and tidal zones. In the wild it feeds opportunistically, with fruit making up a notable portion of its diet alongside other food sources. In the aquarium it generally earns its reputation as one of the more easygoing large cichlids, which makes it a reasonable fit for a community of similarly sized South American species. Provided tankmates are large enough not to be mistaken for a snack. That said, individuals kept in isolation sometimes develop an edgier personality as they mature, and this tendency is significantly reduced when they are kept with others of their own kind. Hobbyists looking to breed them are well advised to raise a group of juveniles together and let pairs form on their own. Both parents share spawning duties and will mouthbrood the fry. Most commonly available in green or gold color forms, banded cichlids grow fairly quickly and need generous space from the start. Intermediate experience is a fair benchmark given their size and territorial nature during spawning.