Spotted Severum

Care

Severum favour 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.

 

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, but 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.

 

Spotted severum are a rare sight but well worth picking up when seen, juveniles might seem rather plain but adults develop into stunning fish.

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 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 200 and 1000 eggs onto the rocks, and these are then vigorously defended by both parents. The eggs should hatch after 48-72 hours, and once free-swimming the parents will be seen herding them to different areas or pits dug in the substrate. The young can be offered finely powdered flake foods and microworms. It is not unusual for parental care to last up to 6 weeks.