Mouthbrooding Severum

The mouthbrooding severum (Heros liberifer) is a South American cichlid from the Orinoco drainage, described only recently and separated from the other severums by its breeding behaviour. Where the familiar severums lay eggs on a surface and guard them, this species picks the eggs up and carries them, and later the free-swimming fry, in the mouth. The body is the usual severum shape, a deep gold-green disc marked with dark barring and fine red-brown speckling on the flanks.

Aquarium care

• A large, deep-bodied cichlid that needs a tall as well as long tank.
• Calm and rather shy for its size; it is easily bullied by pushier cichlids.
• Prefers soft, warm water with wood and shaded areas.
• Will eat soft plants, so use hardy species or artificial ones.
• Broods eggs and fry in the mouth rather than on a surface.
• Omnivorous with a vegetable component: cichlid pellets, frozen foods and greens.

Suits a large South American tank with geophagus, larger tetras, angelfish and peaceful catfish. Keep it away from aggressive Central American cichlids.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the current South American cichlids.