Care
A fairly generalised species, the Mouthbrooding severum can be found in clearwater, whitewater and blackwater environments. Like its relatives, this fish favours habitats which feature slow water movement and shelter in the form of waterlogged wood and debris. In these surroundings, their body shape enables them to navigate through a complex matrix of cover where large predators cannot follow. During periods of low water, fish seek refuge amongst such cover until floodwaters return.
Their aquarium should be spacious and include areas where these bulky fish can feel secure, as well as being roomy enough to allow for free swimming and the inevitable begging behaviour that these fish will indulge in when they see their owner. Severums can be kept in groups or pairs, especially in the case of this species where slow maturation makes them hard to sex as youngsters - buying a group of mixed sizes should guarantee that both sexes are present. Should a pair choose to spawn in a community setting, they will become aggressive toward the other fish as they guard a spawning site. Visual barriers and a roomy aquarium will allow other fish to escape the pair's attentions. Outside of spawning, 'Sevs' are placid for their size and can be kept with a range of tankmates that are too large to swallow whole. As well as other peaceful cichlids, this can include large, deep-bodied tetras, barbs and rainbows. In a large enough aquarium, they will thrive as a group and can be thought of as enormous Angelfish, with similar social dynamics.
For a short while, this fish was thought to be the real H. severus - it shares the same distribution as this species and the two are often found sharing suitable blackwater habitat. Further investigation and observation revealed that this species is a delayed mouthbrooder, unlike the other members of the genus, and was then scientifically described as H. liberifer.
Feeding
Cichlid pellets, flake, lettuce, spinach, frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp, Krill etc. Will avidly consume soft-leaved plants and wild fish are known to feed on algae and fruit.
Breeding
For best results, a breeding aquarium should be set up with soft, acidic water and a few suitable spawning sites such as an inverted clay flowerpot or a ceramic tile angled against the glass. When conditioned properly, both parents will start cleaning the selected spawning site and displaying to one another. A mirror attached to one of the side panes furthest from the spawning site will allow the male to threaten a perceived intruder without harm and this will prevent him from turning his territorial instincts on his mate. The female usually deposits between 100 and 200 eggs onto the rocks, and these are then vigorously defended by both parents. Once the eggs hatch, the fry are taken into the mouths of both parents and passed from fish to fish although the female carries out the bulk of brooding and is still able to feed with young in her mouth. Seven days after hatching, the fry are free swimming and shelter in their parents' mouths at night, or when danger threatens. The young can be offered baby brineshrimp (Artemia nauplii) and crushed flake foods and will soon outgrow the refuge provided by their parent's mouths but are cared for for up to six weeks. As they also graze on the adults' mucous, care should be taken to keep them well fed to avoid excessive damage to the parents.
