Cichlids · Heros

Severum

Heros efasciatus · Amazon main channel/Solimões, Ucayali (Peru), Xingu

Photo: Rufus46, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Severum (Heros efasciatus) is a freshwater fish from Amazon main channel/Solimões, Ucayali (Peru), Xingu, where it lives in river habitat. Adults reach about 20 cm (7.9 in). Keep it at 22–29 °C (72–84 °F) and pH 5.5–7, in calm water. It is semi-aggressive and does best in a group of 2 or more. It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

At a glance

Water temperature

22–29 °C 72–84 °F

5.5–7 soft, acidic water

Adult size

20 cm 7.9 in

Swims ≈

Mid-water mostly in open water

Keep together ≈

2 or more a shoal feels safe

Current ≈

Calm still or slow water

Food

Eats most foods

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Where it comes from

Home water

Amazon main channel/Solimões, Ucayali (Peru), Xingu

Amazonas, Ucayali, Xingu

Lives in river habitat.

The dot is placed on its home rivers, not an exact collecting site. Map: Natural Earth.

Severum

≈

Cichlids · HerosLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Severum

Heros efasciatus

Amazon main channel/Solimões, Ucayali (Peru), Xingu · river

Temperature: 22–29°C
pH: 5.5–7
Adult size: 8 in · 20 cm
Flow: Calm
Swims: Mid-water
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Group: 2+
Status in the wild: Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

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savethelittlefish.org/species/severum/

Photo: Rufus46, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Sources

We name everyone whose work is on this page. Where sources disagree, we show the best one: a scientific paper first, then aquarium references.

Temperature, ph, adult size, swim level, habitat, group size, temperament, diet, behaviour, home range Seriously Fish: Heros efasciatus profile Website
Water flow, conservation status, diet, home range FishBase: Heros efasciatus summary Website
Photo Rufus46, CC BY-SA 3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Map of rivers and countries Natural Earth public domain map data Map

Know a good source for this fish? Tell us

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Small enough to be eaten

Amano shrimp Betta (Siamese fighting fish)Black skirt tetra Borelli's dwarf cichlid Cardinal tetra Celestial pearl danio Cherry barb Cherry shrimp

In the hobby

Where to find it

No store or breeder we know of has it right now.

Run a store? List the fish you usually have. Breed fish? List your fry.

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Severum get?

About 20 cm (7.9 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Severum need?

22–29 °C (72–84 °F).

What pH does a Severum need?

pH 5.5–7.

Does a Severum need to be kept in a group?

Yes. Keep at least 2.

Is the Severum aggressive?

It can be. It is semi-aggressive, so choose tank mates carefully.

What does a Severum eat?

It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

Where does the Severum come from?

Amazon main channel/Solimões, Ucayali (Peru), Xingu.

What fish can live with a Severum?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Zebra (L046), Amano shrimp, Boeseman's rainbowfish, Bolivian ram.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	22	Sourced
Temperature max (°C)	29	Sourced
pH min	5.5	Sourced
pH max	7	Sourced
Adult size (cm)	20	Sourced
Flow	Low	Estimate
Swim level (top / middle / bottom)	middle	Estimate
Habitat	river	Estimate
Smallest happy group	2	Estimate
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Sourced
Diet	Omnivore	Sourced
Behaviour tags	eats_small_fish	Sourced

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.