Post by MADMIKE on Sept 24, 2006 19:26:03 GMT -5
Severum
Scientific Name: Cichlasoma severum
Home Range: South America
Max Size: 8" - 10"
Minimum Tank Size: 50 Gallons
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Temperature: 77-80°F
pH: Neutral
Diet: Omnivore
Swimming Zone: Middle
The Severum
General Information
The Severum, is a South American cichlid, it comes form the waters of the Northern Amazon Basin. They are a deep-bodied cichlid. Severums come in three main varities, the Green Severum, the Gold Severum, and the Turquoise Severum. The Turquoise Severum, although it looks like a Green or Gold Severum in every way but it’s color, is slightly different, this is much debated in the cichlid world. Although I think it is in the same family as the Green and Gold Severums, it is not classified as Cichlasoma severum, it’s scientific name, is, Heros Severus.
The Severum, unlike most of the other large Cichlids, it is not aggressive unless spawning, these cichlids make very good tank mates for such larger Cichlids as, Oscars, Festivum, Jack Dempsey, and Geophagus Cichlid. The minimum tank required is a 50-gallon, unlike what most people think Severums get a few inches larger than 9 inches. Severums are quite capable of reaching 10-11 inches in the home aquarium. The temperature of the tank should be 77-80 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH of the water should be neutral (6.8-7.4) they swim in all areas of the tank.
The tank should be set-up in a typical South American Cichlid manner. Large rocks along with potted plants or fake plants. Potted plants are required because Severums like to tare up plants and move them around. Fake plants are also good for that same reason; the Severums redecorating activities cannot kill the fake plants. Severum also like driftwood and other decorations. A rocky substrate or sand is good for a Severum tank also, as they like to dig. An open free swimming area is also good for the fish to get excersize.
Severums are true omnivores. They enjoy a verity of foods, such as, lettuce, meaty based foods, and they really enjoy insects, such as wax worms, mealworms and red worms. They will also except Cichlid pellets and other pre made fish food.
Just as a comment from me, I have owned a breeding pair of Severums, I love Severums a lot, they, like Oscars, have a lot of personality. They are shy at times and sometimes will require a dither fish to coax them out into the open. If anybody has room, I would really suggest getting at least one Severum.
Breeding Information
Sexing Severums, is not to incredibly hard, but you have to know what to look for. Unlike a lot of Cichlids, the males don’t have longer Anal and Dorsal fins; males do get a bit larger than the females. Males have a deeper more fatty throat and chest, along with that, Severums will have “squiggle lines” on their face, and these lines are much more prominent in the males. Getting Severums to spawn isn’t as easy as Convict Cichlids, but they are definitely not as hard to breed as Oscar Cichlids. The best way to get a pair is to buy around 6 babies, granted they will need a large tank to hold all the babies, even at this small stage. When you have several Severums in one tank, allow them the pair off as they wish. You should have a set pair when they are about 4-6 inches.
It shouldn’t be hard to recognize a pair; they will swim around with each other more than with the other Severums in the tank. Once you have a pair, remove all other fish in the tank, Severums can be fairly aggressive when spawning. From this stage, it is not too hard to get fry. Simply allow your paired Severums to spawn as they wish, raising the temp a half- degree to one degree higher could trigger the Severums to spawn.
Severums will spawn on cleaned flat rocks or the side of the tank. The eggs should hatch in a few days depending on the temperature of the water. After the fry have hatched the parents will dig a hole in the substrate, to house the newly hatched fry. The fry will become free swimming in another few days. Females will lie up to 1,000 eggs.
Submitted and written by: Mark Mahla aka ConvictKid
Scientific Name: Cichlasoma severum
Home Range: South America
Max Size: 8" - 10"
Minimum Tank Size: 50 Gallons
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Temperature: 77-80°F
pH: Neutral
Diet: Omnivore
Swimming Zone: Middle
The Severum
General Information
The Severum, is a South American cichlid, it comes form the waters of the Northern Amazon Basin. They are a deep-bodied cichlid. Severums come in three main varities, the Green Severum, the Gold Severum, and the Turquoise Severum. The Turquoise Severum, although it looks like a Green or Gold Severum in every way but it’s color, is slightly different, this is much debated in the cichlid world. Although I think it is in the same family as the Green and Gold Severums, it is not classified as Cichlasoma severum, it’s scientific name, is, Heros Severus.
The Severum, unlike most of the other large Cichlids, it is not aggressive unless spawning, these cichlids make very good tank mates for such larger Cichlids as, Oscars, Festivum, Jack Dempsey, and Geophagus Cichlid. The minimum tank required is a 50-gallon, unlike what most people think Severums get a few inches larger than 9 inches. Severums are quite capable of reaching 10-11 inches in the home aquarium. The temperature of the tank should be 77-80 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH of the water should be neutral (6.8-7.4) they swim in all areas of the tank.
The tank should be set-up in a typical South American Cichlid manner. Large rocks along with potted plants or fake plants. Potted plants are required because Severums like to tare up plants and move them around. Fake plants are also good for that same reason; the Severums redecorating activities cannot kill the fake plants. Severum also like driftwood and other decorations. A rocky substrate or sand is good for a Severum tank also, as they like to dig. An open free swimming area is also good for the fish to get excersize.
Severums are true omnivores. They enjoy a verity of foods, such as, lettuce, meaty based foods, and they really enjoy insects, such as wax worms, mealworms and red worms. They will also except Cichlid pellets and other pre made fish food.
Just as a comment from me, I have owned a breeding pair of Severums, I love Severums a lot, they, like Oscars, have a lot of personality. They are shy at times and sometimes will require a dither fish to coax them out into the open. If anybody has room, I would really suggest getting at least one Severum.
Breeding Information
Sexing Severums, is not to incredibly hard, but you have to know what to look for. Unlike a lot of Cichlids, the males don’t have longer Anal and Dorsal fins; males do get a bit larger than the females. Males have a deeper more fatty throat and chest, along with that, Severums will have “squiggle lines” on their face, and these lines are much more prominent in the males. Getting Severums to spawn isn’t as easy as Convict Cichlids, but they are definitely not as hard to breed as Oscar Cichlids. The best way to get a pair is to buy around 6 babies, granted they will need a large tank to hold all the babies, even at this small stage. When you have several Severums in one tank, allow them the pair off as they wish. You should have a set pair when they are about 4-6 inches.
It shouldn’t be hard to recognize a pair; they will swim around with each other more than with the other Severums in the tank. Once you have a pair, remove all other fish in the tank, Severums can be fairly aggressive when spawning. From this stage, it is not too hard to get fry. Simply allow your paired Severums to spawn as they wish, raising the temp a half- degree to one degree higher could trigger the Severums to spawn.
Severums will spawn on cleaned flat rocks or the side of the tank. The eggs should hatch in a few days depending on the temperature of the water. After the fry have hatched the parents will dig a hole in the substrate, to house the newly hatched fry. The fry will become free swimming in another few days. Females will lie up to 1,000 eggs.
Submitted and written by: Mark Mahla aka ConvictKid