Spotted Severum (Heros notatus)

Spotted Severum Heros notatus
Name	Spotted Severum
Name Lat.	Heros notatus
Synonym	Centrarchus notatus
Family	Cichlids
Family lat.	Cichlidae
Order	Cichlids
Order lat.	Cichliformes
Origin	South America
Habitat	Streams, floodplains
Diet	Omnivore
pH	5.0-7.0
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Pair
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Substrate spawner
Breeding	Moderately difficult
Life Span	5-8 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	20-25 cm
Temperature	24-30 °C
Hardness	1-10 °dH
Aquarium	300 l
US Units
Size	7.9"-9.8"
Temperature	75-86 °F
Hardness	18-178 ppm
Aquarium	80 gal

Distribution and habitat

The striped eye spotted cichlids are widespread in the Rio Negro watershed in Brazil. They live in moderately flowing waters, floodplains and lakes with dense riparian vegetation, dead wood, stones and roots

Maintenance

The aquarium should have robust planting that provides both shelter and swimming space, with plenty of roots and rocks for hiding. Soft, slightly acidic water, a dark substrate covered with some foliage (e.g. sea almond leaves) and shaded light (floating plants) is ideal.

No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.

Diet

The food supply consists of live or frozen Artemia, Tubifex, red mosquito larvae, shrimps etc. supplemented with a high quality dry food for cichlids (granules, pellets, tabs). In addition, they need regular vegetable food, such as spinach, crushed peas, algae leaves or dry food with high vegetable content (spirulina)

Only feed as much as will be eaten within a few minutes. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

These calm and relatively peaceful fish should be kept in pairs. During the spawning season they behave territorially and defend their territory emphatically. Group keeping is only recommended in larger, richly structured tanks. They can be socialized well with other calm and large fish. Fish that are too small are considered prey.

Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water quality and water temperature may be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

The sexes are difficult to distinguish. The larger males have extended dorsal and anal fins. With some experience, the sexes can be distinguished by their genital papilla, which is pointed in the male and round in the female.

Reproduction and breeding

They spawn on shallow stones or roots (open brooders). Both parents perform brood care and defend the territory (parental family). After about 2 days the fry hatch, which are then usually housed in a bottom pit until they swim freely after 5-7 days. Often the fry are still guarded by the parents for some time and led to the feeding places in the aquarium before the brood care ends.

Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (Artemia nauplii). Breeding is hardly possible in community tanks, as the fry are easy prey.

Important

In the wide distribution area there are numerous site variants, which differ in drawing and coloring partly clearly.

The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. The temperature should be checked daily, the pH, hardness and nitrate value at least every 14 days. A regular partial water change is recommended, even if the pollutant load has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: aquamax.de

Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); BAENSCH & RIEHL (1997): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 5, Mergus Verlag ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF