Red Shoulder Severum

Red Shoulder Severums hail from the slow moving waters of the Amazon River basin in Peru. Growing up to 25cm in length, Red Shoulder Severums are often considered a ‘gentle giant’ of the aquarium with their vivid red-blue colouration.

Red Shoulder Severums are oval in shape, and have a similar disposition to discus, however they are more adaptable to small changes in water parameters making them a relatively hardy freshwater cichlid.

Red Shoulder Severums can be kept as a single severum, alongside other fish, in a male-female pair or in groups of five or more to manage aggression. A single severum requires an aquarium 280 litres+, for larger numbers they’ll need significantly larger aquariums.

Although Severums are larges considered peaceful, they can become aggressive and highly territorial towards other fish when mating and spawning.

Red Shoulder Severums are renowned for destroying live plants and vegetation. To mimic their natural environment and promote natural behaviours, consider hardscape materials with smooth surfaces such as rocks and bogwood. Use sand or smooth gravel as a substrate, simulating the natural bed of the Amazon basin.

At Wirral Aquatics we feed our Severums EBO Mussel sticks, EBO Pro Soft artemia and Spirulina. We also feed live foods including brine shrimp, blood worm and daphnia.