Freshwater Fish
Green Severum.
The green severum is a disc-shaped 'poor man's discus' — peaceful for an 8-inch cichlid and surprisingly personable, learning to take food from your hand. Give a single fish or pair a 55-gallon-plus tank with driftwood; they may nibble soft plants. A great centerpiece cichlid.
We keep this species at our Erie store. Come and see it in the tanks, or call (814) 456-9445 and ask what we have in right now.
Sea Cave keeps this species. You will find these in the tanks at 660 East 14th Street in Erie. We never ship live animals.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
We never ship fish, coral, or invertebrates — every animal here is one you meet in person. Each one is acclimated and health-checked in-house before it goes out into the display tanks. This is a species we keep, and what is swimming on any given day changes with the deliveries, so please call (814) 456-9445 before you drive in.
Care at a glance
What to know before you take one home.
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- Semi aggressive
- Community
- Semi community
- Adult size
- 8"
- Min tank size
- 30–55 gal by age
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Scientific name
- Heros severus
Grows into its tank
Juvenile (under 3")30 galSub-adult (3–5")40 galAdult (7–8")55 galGood tank mates
Semi-aggressive and a larger cichlid, so it needs similarly-sized, not-timid tankmates and is not for a peaceful nano community. It's relatively easygoing for a cichlid and can share a roomy tank with other medium, even-tempered fish such as larger peaceful cichlids, silver dollars, or bigger tetras and barbs that can hold their own. Avoid tiny fish it could eat and very aggressive fish that will harass it; it can also get territorial when breeding. Call us to plan a stocking list for your tank size.
Good to know
Nicknamed the 'poor man's discus' for its disc-shaped body, the green severum is a South American cichlid that often learns to take food from its keeper's hand.
What is in the tanks and each animal's temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice.
Good tankmates
Plays well with.
Species we’d keep in the same tank, with why each pairing works. What is in the tanks and each animal’s temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for advice on pairing.
New to stocking a tank? Read our guide on which fish live together.
Red Spot Silver Dollar
Peaceful South American schooling fish of similar size (4–6") that shares the Severum's soft-water preference and won't compete aggressively for territory.
Assorted Angelfish
The most frequently cited Severum companion in the trade — both are medium-sized, semi-peaceful South American cichlids with identical soft-water requirements. A 55-gallon minimum is needed to buffer occasional territorial disputes.
- B
Blood Parrot Cichlid
Similar-sized semi-aggressive hybrid cichlid with overlapping water parameters; multiple experienced keepers report peaceful coexistence alongside Severums in 125-gallon-plus setups.
- H
Hoplo Catfish
Armored South American catfish that occupies the substrate and is tough enough to coexist with medium cichlids without being bullied.
- G
Geophagus Eartheater
South American cichlid with a similar mild temperament, matching water-parameter needs, and substrate-sifting behavior that keeps it out of the Severum's midwater territory — a textbook pairing in South American community tanks.
Visit the store
660 East 14th Street,
Erie, PA.
Mon–Fri 12–6 · Sat 11–4 · Sun closed. Call ahead on livestock — what's on the floor rotates.