Banded Cichlid

ANIMAL:
Banded Cichlid Heros severus

Type of Animal:
Cichlid

Habitat:
River basins, river drainages

Location(s):
Upper Orinoco & upper Rio Negro basins of South America

Appearance:
Fish w/ iridescent sheen & uniquely compressed body/round shape, often confused w/ other members of Heros genus, males larger than females

Food/Diet:
Worms, aquatic crustaceans, vegetable matter, plant matter, insects, insect larvae, plankton

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in aquariums, aquaculture, & zoos

Lifestyle:
Schools of 2-10 fish w/ equal numbers of males & females. Breeding pairs stake out territories during spawning.

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Fry
Group: School
 
Weight:
Male: 12.8 oz
Female: 6.4 oz
 
Gestation:
3-5 days 

Life Span:
6-10 years

Body Length:
Male: 10-12 in
Female: 7-8 in

Pairs become territorial during spawning.
 
To sense “smells” in water, they suck water in & expel it right back out.
 
Males darken/intensify color when breeding.
 
Breeding pairs lock lips & tail slap before spawning.
 
Females lay 100-1,000 eggs, which both parents defend. Once fry hatch, parents brood them in mouths. Once they reach free swimming stage, they leave parents mouth. Fry leave parents at 1.5 months.
 
Eggs typically laid on flat or rocky surfaces.
 
These fish are fairly easy to breed in captivity.
 
Maturity reached at 1-2 years old.
 
Fertilized eggs are brown & unfertilized eggs are white.

Fun Fact(s):
These fish do well in home aquariums.
 
In aquarium trade, sometimes referred to as the “poor man’s discus” (another genus of cichlids from South America).
 
These fish not as common in aquarium trade as once thought w/ many of these fish actually being the species Heros efasciatus (also called Common Severum & confusingly Banded Cichlid).
 
Also called Severum, Convict Fish, Striped Cichlid, Sedate Cichlid, & Hero Cichlid.

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