Mouthbrooding Severum

Remarks: The mouthbrooding severum is the only species of severum that mouthbroods meaning the females hold the eggs and developing fry in their mouths rather than in a nest. They may be referred to as the red eye severum or red sided severum, in reference to the bright red eyes and scales on the lower halves of their bodies. The true Heros severus, as described by Wolfgang Staeck, was reportedly a mouthbrooder as well, but recent reevaluations of the study have given a consensus that there were one or more H. liberifer present in the study.

  Mouthbrooding severums typically max out at 9 inches in length, but we have had some fish reach a foot long. While these large cichlids are known to be fairly docile, they command a large territory space they are protective of, especially when spawning. For this reason, it is recommended to keep them in a tank 90 gallons or larger if keeping a single fish or a pair. If you want to keep it in a community set up, a 125 gallon tank or larger is necessary.