Moderate
Jack Dempsey Cichlid (Cichlasoma octofasciatum bioce)
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 250L
£5.99
Golden strain of Heros severum reaching ~15cm — easy-going colour for 250L+ South American tanks. Omnivore, moderate care, semi-aggressive.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Heros severum gold
Convict Fish gold bond and breed in male/female pairs — buying a pair gives them the social structure they need.
Golden strain of Heros severum reaching ~15cm — easy-going colour for 250L+ South American tanks. Omnivore, moderate care, semi-aggressive.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Gold severums turn the familiar Heros outline into something that glows under aquarium lighting, and this gold form of Heros severum is exactly that: the strain's golden colouration on a fish that tops out around 15 cm. It cruises the middle levels of the tank, which is where that colour does most of its work in a display aquarium.
For a cichlid with this much visual impact, the requirements are modest. Moderate care, 24–29 °C, a wide pH window of 5.5–7.5, hardness anywhere up to 20 dGH and an omnivorous appetite — all straight from our recorded specs — make it one of the easier large South Americans to accommodate. The minimum tank is 250 litres, and a healthy fish can be with you for around ten years. Temperament is semi-aggressive with the potential to hold territory, so give it room to claim a patch without squeezing everyone else out.
It helps that the recorded pH window opens as low as 5.5 — unusually acid-tolerant territory — while still running up to a neutral-plus 7.5. In practice the gold severum can follow you through most soft or neutral setups without complaint, leaving temperature, at 24–29 °C, as the main number you actively manage. Hardness from 0 to 20 dGH barely constrains the plan at all, which is rare freedom in a cichlid of this stature.
House it with peaceful robust catfish such as plecos, or large, fast schooling fish that do not nip — both options work best in a generous aquarium. Other medium-to-large South American cichlids can share the tank only where space genuinely allows. Avoid very small fish that may be eaten, fin-nipping species, highly aggressive cichlids, tiny shrimp and other small invertebrates, and overly timid fish that could be pushed around.
If you want classic severum temperament with brighter colour, the gold form is the obvious route in. Each UK order ships via licensed live-animal courier under our live arrival guarantee.
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