Cichlids are known for their anger issues, which is a fact that they have earned a reputation for. Cichlids will not hesitate to beat up their tank mates for reasons they don’t understand. If I told you that there is a cichlid that is beautiful, easy to maintain, and mildly aggressive, would it be a good investment?
Meet the gold severum Cichlids. They are large enough to be your tank’s centerpiece, but they are not aggressive to being in-house tank breakers.
The gold severum cichlids can be kept in a low-maintenance environment, are easy to breed, and last a long time. This is why they have been a staple of the aquarium hobby for many decades.
Let’s now, without further delay, go over all the information you need to raise gold severums.
Gold Severum Cichlid Introduction
Quick Facts On Gold Severum Cichlids
| Name | Gold severum cichlid |
| Scientific Name | Heros efasciatus |
| Species | Severus |
| Origin | Amazon, Northern South America |
| Size | 6-8 Inches |
| Care Level | Simple |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Minimum Tank Size | 55 gallons |
| Temperature | 74-84 F (23.3 to 28,.9deg C). |
| pH range | 6-6.5 |
Gold Severum Lifespan
Average lifespan of gold severum Cichlids is 5years. Some report that they can live up to 10 years if taken care of properly.
What we like about Gold Severum Cichlids
- Beautiful coloration that intensifies as they age
- Very easy to care for, and easily breeds in captivity
- The top contender for your tank’s main
- Will you eat food from your hands
- Compatible for most species in a large tank
The gold severums are the result of selective breeding. They are not natural wild animals.
They can be traced back to wild green severums, which originally lived in South American rivers such as the Negro and Orinoco river basins, as well as Venezuelan and Colombian drainages.
These fish are not found in the wild so they’re not on the IUCN redlist.
The gold severum and regular severum cichlids can be described as ‘leucistic’ variants of regular severums. (More on this later). Their bright golden coloration would have been deadly if they had survived in the wild – it attracts predators of every kind.
Gold Severum Cichlid Appearance
A gold severum is easily identified by its unique coloration, and compact body. These fish are more leucistic than their wild counterparts. They are often mistaken for albinos. Leucism is distinguished from albinism by the fact that albinos have less melanin and leucistics have more color.
Albinos have the same pink eyes as leucistics, but they have regular-colored ones.
Do not be discouraged by the reduced coloration of gold severum – they are a sight in their golden yellow bodies.
Anal, pelvic, and pectoral fins are all yellow. The dorsal and tail fins sport shades of yellow with beautiful yellow specks. Also, the eyes are yellow.
The body of juvenile gold severums is uniformly golden.
Their wild cousins, also known as their forefathers, have a greenish-brown body with a yellowish stomach. They have been selectively bred in tanks for their turquoise, gold and green variants.
The deacon severum is an example of this. It has a rich green color and vertical brown lines that run their length. The most well-known red-spotted golden severum, however, has a warm yellow base with red speckles.
These fish, like all cichlids have well-developed pharyngeal and regular teeth. They also have one nostril per side, unlike the two sets that most fish have.
Spiny rays are also found at the ends of their anal and pelvic fins. These fins’ foreparts, on the other hand, are soft and smooth to allow for better movement underwater. Impressive!
This fish looks very similar to discus, their distant cousins. It is due to its stocky body and oval-shaped frame that is laterally compressed. The primary differences between discus cichlids and discus are in size and color.
Gold Severum Cichlid Size
Gold severum cichlids can grow around 6-8 inches long. The approximate size of a purchase is therefore 1 inch.
Gold Severum Cichlid Male VS Female
Male and female gold severum Cichlids are almost identical in color. It can be difficult to distinguish them at first glance. Males tend to be a bit larger and have more fins. The gill markings are absent in females.
Last but not least, mature males may develop a nuchal bump if they are fed a balanced diet.
Gold Severum Temperament
Although gold severums can be larger than other species, they are known to be much more peaceful. They are cichlid-like in their disposition. During breeding season, however, they can show their darker side.
They will not engage in jaw-locking like other cichlids, but they will resort to pushing and nudges even then. They do require plenty of space to swim.
They are also more open to other species than their own. They will tolerate other severum species if there is enough space in the tank for them to do their tasks without being pushed around.
Gold Severum Cichlid Tankmates
Cichlids of gold severum should only be kept with fish of the same temperament and size.
These are some good tankmates for gold-severum cichlids:
- Flag cichlids
- Pearl cichlids
- Angelfish
- Gouramis
- Silver dollars
- Loaches
- Tiger barbs
- Redtail Black Sharks
- Bristlenose plecos
- Hope catfish
- Porthole cichlid
Gold Severum And Yellow Lab Cichlid?
Both fish are from different parts of the world and have completely different needs. For example, the pH level of golden severums should be at 6-6.5 while yellow labs require alkaline water with a pH range between 7.2-8.8.
These two personalities would be a great match in a community tank, but it is best to not raise them in the same tank.
Gold Severum And Jewel Cichlid?
It is not a good idea to keep gold severums together with jewel cichlids. They come from completely different environments. Their pH should be slightly different, but it is best to raise them individually due to the aggressive nature of the jewel cichlid.
Gold Severum Cichlid Diet
Cichlids that are gold severum are omnivores. They can be raised on regular dry fish food such as pellets or stick food, since they were bred and born in commercial environments. They also enjoy occasional treats such as mysis shrimps and bloodworms.
A good amount of blanched vegetables should be included in their diet. You can also give them spirulina alga wafers, as they are able to thrive on high vegetable content.
You must provide them with carotenoids-rich food to maintain their vibrant colors.
Here is a complete list of foods you can give to your gold severum Cichlid.
- Flakes
- Pellets
- Bloodworms
- Earthworms
- Mealworms
- Krill
- Dried spirulina
- Brine shrimp
- Mysis
- Chopped prawn
- Marine crustacean
- Mosquito larvae
- Peas
- Blanched zucchini
- Romaine lettuce
- Blanched squash
Avoid giving food such as beef, liver, or heart. This is a very difficult to digest and can cause illness.
How Often To Feed Gold Severum Cichlids?
You should feed your pet small quantities, 3-4 times per day, and not one large meal per day. This will reduce aggression and help keep your water clean for longer periods.
Fasting your cichlid can be done once a week to aid in digestion and metabolism.
You can also find helpful information about creating a healthy diet for your cichlids at .
Gold Severum Cichlid Water Parameters
| Temperature | 74-84deg F (23.3-28.9deg C). |
| Breeding temperature | 78.8-80.06deg F (23.3-28.9deg C) |
| pH range | 6-6.5 |
| General hardness | 4-6 dGH |
| Nitrate level | 10ppm |
| Level of phosphate | 0.05 ppm |
| Water movement | Moderate |
| Water region | Middle |
It is much easier to care for gold severum than discus or African Cichlids. You’re fine as long as there are reliable heating and filtering mechanisms, along with regular water changes.
To replicate the Amazonian water conditions where they thrive, make sure that the water is soft and clean.
Depending on how many people are in the tank, aim for 10-15% water changes per week.
Water’s hardiness will naturally rise over time as a result of the decomposing organic material, evaporation and phosphate or nitrate buildup. Don’t forget to change water.
These fish can be kept in freshwater and brackish tanks. The water should move slowly to moderately.
It is important to ensure that the water doesn’t produce toxic chemicals. This is especially true for tanks with large fish and high bioload. API Freshwater Master Kit is my preferred choice. It’s more accurate than test strips and provides more value.
To tackle algae blooming on panes, use a scraper or algae magnet.
Remember to keep the tank well-oxygenated in order to bring out the best colors of gold severum.
Minimum Tank Size For Gold Severum Cichlid
The gold severums require a lot of space because they are large and can swim around in a lot of places. 55 gallon is the minimum size tank for these fish. For a breeding pair, you’ll need at least 100 gallons.
The minimum tank size for fry and juveniles is 20-30 gallons. These fish can grow very large so it is a good idea to get a larger tank.
Substrate For Gold Severum Cichlid
For your severum, you can either add finesand or smooth gravel substrate. Avoid large, hard rocks and gravels as they can be injured by digging.
Tank Decorations For Gold Severum Cichlid
The decors should be aligned so that they encourage ‘natural division’. For them to use as retreats or for protection, you can create caves and alleyways with rocks and driftwood.
Driftwood can be added to your water to maintain its acidity and give your tank a tea-stained appearance that is very similar in appearance to Amazonian rivers.
A planted tank is a great place for gold severums – so add some of them. You can also add floating plants to areas where they enjoy hanging out.
If you have plants that grow on the substrate make sure they are well-anchored. These fish love digging around. Anubias or cryptocoryne can be used as gold severums.
Keep in mind that artificial plants should not be kept in aquariums. Avoid sharp edges or jagged edges.
Last but not least, make sure to include plenty of flat, round rocks for females who lay eggs on them.
Top Equipment For Gold Severum Cichlid
Because gold severums, which are large fish, produce a lot of bioloads naturally. You shouldn’t spend too much on a fish filtration system. They are also not able to withstand sudden temperature fluctuations, which is why they require an efficient heating system.
Take a look at the carefully researched and handpicked selections of equipment we have for you gold severum Cichlid.
Penn-Plax Cascade Canister Filter
Top Features
- 5 Large-Capacity Media Baskets
- 360-degree rotating valves
- Filters 350 GPH
- For tanks up to 200 gallons
Hygger 500 Watt Submersible Aquarium Heater
Top Features
- Rapid Heating
- External LED digital temperature controller
- 5 Seconds Warming
- Intelligent thermostat
- Anti-dry Protection
- Titanium Steel Material
Breeding Gold Severum Cichlids
The breeder of gold severums is the same as all American cichlids. Like their wild cousins, Gold severums can breed in open breeding and both parents will take care of the fry. They must go through a complicated selection process to find the right partner.
You can buy 6-8 juveniles, and then leave them to their own devices. Before choosing a partner, they will engage in wrestling and other bizarre antics to determine their strength. They should be formed within six to eight months after purchase.
One pair will become dominant over time and will often force other fish from their spot of mating. If you notice a pair of fish have formed, it is time to move them to another tank.
For eggs to develop healthy, the ideal environment for breeding is one that has more acidic, warm, and soft water. Temperature should be between 78.8 and 80.06 degrees F (233.3 to 28.9 degrees C).
The best tank is one with no rocks, airstone, or wood chunks. To encourage them to breed, you can add a heater to your tank and make frequent water changes.
Some people believe that feeding cricket encourages them spawn.
The male will start to show intense and darkened color once he is ready. He will chase the female. After she has been wooed, he will kiss the female and kiss her.
The female will then lay eggs on the flat rocks or wood chunks. She can lay up 1000 eggs depending on her age and body size. They will be fertilized quickly by the male.
Both parents will guard the eggs with great care. They are completely intolerant of strangers and curious observers at this stage. They will often fan the eggs and move them in a cichlid-like manner to prevent them from developing fungus.
The eggs will hatch within a week.
How To Care For Gold Severum Fry?
The eggs are still in their pre-swimming stage when they hatch. The parents will then scoop the eggs into their mouths and release them once they are free-swimming. They will teach them how to hunt.
The fry can be given fresh brine shrimps, microworms, daphnia and flake or pellet food.
Parents will take care of their children for approximately 6 weeks.
In their formative years, gold severums develop very quickly. They will reach their maximum size in just 2 years.
Disease In Gold Severums
As with all fish, gold severums can be susceptible to parasitic infections and skin flukes. Most diseases can be prevented if water quality is maintained and you provide nutritious meals. The most common diseases found in gold severums include ich, swim bladder infection, and HLLE.
Ich
Like most freshwater species, gold severums can get ich. Ich is a condition that occurs primarily in the skin and fins. It can cause white spots similar to salt grains. Itchy fish will scratch at rough surfaces, causing injuries and wounds.
You may also notice a loss of appetite in your fish and unusual hiding behaviors. Additionally, ich can be contagious.
Copper-based treatments are effective in eliminating it. For a more effective treatment, you can combine this treatment with high temperatures for a few weeks.
Head And Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE)
HLLE, also known as the hole in the head disease, is a serious fungal infection that can quickly kill fish.
It causes pits in the forehead and head. It is not contagious but you should still treat infected fish in the quarantine tank.
This is most commonly due to poor water conditions, chemical media that contain carbon, and suppressed immunity from an impoverished diet.
You can reverse the situation by removing activated carbon from your tank, performing significant water changes and applying an anti-fungal treatment.
Swim Bladder Disease
This disease is caused by damage to the fish’s swimming bladder, as the name suggests. This can be due to malnutrition or physical trauma.
Fish will struggle to stay afloat, and they will begin to swim in unusual patterns. It can also be temporary or permanent.
You can reverse it if it is caused by poor diet. A fish surgeon can correct buoyancy caused by injury or place a small stone inside the swim bladder.
Final Words: Gold Severum Cichlid Care Guide
The gold severum cichlids can be kept in an aquarium for beginners or seasoned hobbyists. They are hardy and beautiful fish. These fish are often called the poor man’s discus because they can be purchased at very low prices.
Let me assure you that gold severums don’t mean discus is a lower quality tank. They are able to be your tank’s focal point in any department thanks to their unique personality and attractive appearance.