Severum

About

The sedate cichlid (Heros severus), more widely known in the hobby as the severum, is a chunky, laterally compressed cichlid from the blackwater rivers of northern South America. Wild populations are distributed across the upper Orinoco drainage in Colombia and Venezuela, as well as the upper Negro River in Brazil, where they inhabit soft, acidic waters tinted brown with tannins. They have a classic cichlid body shape with several dark vertical bands across the flanks, and captive-bred lines come in color variants including gold and turquoise forms that have been selectively developed over decades in the hobby. For a cichlid approaching eight inches, severums have a reputation for being relatively laid-back tank residents. They will hold a territory and can become more assertive when spawning, but skirmishes between individuals rarely escalate into real damage. That said, individual personality varies quite a bit. Some specimens are genuinely calm community fish that coexist peacefully with similarly sized tankmates, while others can be pushy, particularly if kept without a companion of their own kind. They do best with plenty of space and decor that breaks up sightlines. An intermediate-level species, they reward keepers who take the time to match their soft, warm water preferences.