True severum (banded cichlid)

Heros severus is the true, less commonly imported severum, native to blackwater tributaries of the upper Orinoco and Rio Negro in Venezuela and Colombia. Unlike its substrate-spawning relatives it is a mouthbrooder, the female incubating eggs orally, which makes captive breeding a distinctive challenge. This disc-shaped cichlid is peaceful for its size but becomes territorial when spawning, so it suits spacious tanks with driftwood, leaf litter and dim, tannin-stained water. It requires warm, very soft and acidic conditions that mimic its native biotope, along with efficient but gentle filtration. An omnivore, it accepts pellets, vegetables and frozen foods, thriving on a varied diet rich in plant material. Because it is sensitive to hard, alkaline water and nitrate, stable soft water and good maintenance are essential.