Top 5 Severum Species to Have in Your Aquarium
“Grace, Color, and Personality in One Fish”
If you love colorful, intelligent cichlids with personality, Severums are an excellent choice. Known as the “South American Discus” because of their rounded body and elegant movements, Severums are peaceful, hardy, and full of charm.
They make stunning centerpiece fish for medium to large freshwater aquariums and pair beautifully with Geophagus, Angelfish, and peaceful catfish species.
Here are the top 5 Severums that stand out in beauty, color, and temperament.
🌈 1. Red Spot Gold Severum
Origin: Amazon Basin
Size: 8–10 inches
Temperament: Peaceful and hardy
The Red Spot Gold Severum is a hobbyist favorite. Its bright gold body is decorated with shimmering red spots that intensify with age and good diet. Calm and social, they make excellent show fish for community setups with other South American species.
💡 Pro Tip: Feed color-enhancing pellets and frozen foods like bloodworms to bring out the red hues.
🔥 2. Rotkeil Severum (Red Shoulder Severum)
Origin: Peru and Brazil
Size: 8–10 inches
Temperament: Peaceful but territorial during breeding
The Rotkeil Severum, meaning “red throat,” is one of the most colorful and sought-after Severums. Its metallic blue-green body, orange belly, and red shoulder patch make it a true showpiece fish. Rotkeils are intelligent, responsive, and develop strong bonds with their owners.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep a pair or small group in a 75-gallon or larger tank for best behavior and color.
🌿 3. Green Severum
Origin: Amazon Basin
Size: 8 inches
Temperament: Calm and adaptable
The Green Severum is a classic species that started it all. Its iridescent green body and orange speckles make it a timeless favorite. Known for being hardy and forgiving, it’s ideal for those new to large South American cichlids.
💡 Pro Tip: Works great in peaceful cichlid communities with Geophagus, Silver Dollars, and Corydoras.
🌅 4. Red Severum
Origin: Captive-bred variation
Size: 8–9 inches
Temperament: Gentle, slightly more active than the gold variety
The Red Severum features deep orange to red coloration that intensifies as it matures. These fish glow beautifully under LED lighting and bring incredible color contrast to planted or blackwater aquariums.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep them in clean, warm water (78–82°F) and feed a varied diet to maintain vibrant color.
💎 5. Notatus Severum (Spotted Severum)
Origin: Amazon River Basin
Size: 8–9 inches
Temperament: Peaceful but prefers space
The Notatus Severum — often called the “True Severum” — stands out with its subtle silver-green sheen and dark spots that run along the sides of its body. It’s a rarer species prized by collectors for its natural look and calm disposition.
💡 Pro Tip: Notatus prefer slightly soft, acidic water and a natural setup with driftwood and sand.
🏆 Bonus Tip: Keeping Severums Healthy and Happy
Severums thrive in well-filtered tanks with gentle flow and stable, warm water (78–82°F). Use fine sand substrate, driftwood, and broad-leaf plants to mimic their natural Amazon habitat.
Feed a balanced mix of pellets, frozen foods, and vegetables (like blanched spinach or peas) to keep them in top condition.
💬 Visit Rockland Aquarium
At Rockland Aquarium, we carry a wide selection of Severums — from rare Notatus to vibrant Rotkeil and Red Spot Gold varieties — all carefully quarantined and conditioned for health and color.
📦 We ship nationwide!
📍 Serving Rockland County, NY and nearby areas for tank setup and maintenance services
🐠 Visit rocklandaquarium.com for live fish availability, supplies, and professional aquarium services.
