Severum

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Green / wild-type severum →

The natural olive-green to bronze form of *Heros efasciatus* with vertical bars that intensify with mood and breeding. The hardy baseline from which all aquarium lines derive.

Tip: Provide tall driftwood and a tannin-stained, soft-water setup — wild-type severums are shy and bar up (show stress) in bare bright tanks, so heavy decor steadies them.

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Red-spotted (Rotkeil / red-shouldered) severum →

A naturally occurring (and now line-strengthened) form with a vivid red-orange wash over the head and shoulder, often attributed to *Heros sp. 'Rotkeil'*. The red shoulder is the signature trait.

Tip: Feed carotenoid-rich foods (cyclops, krill, color-enhancing pellets) to hold the red shoulder — on a plain flake diet the prized red fades toward dull orange within months.

Gold severum →

A xanthic golden-yellow line, often with red speckling on the face of males. One of the oldest and most widely available aquarium-bred severum forms.

Tip: The gold body shows nitrate-driven 'pepper' spotting easily — keep water pristine, as the pale base makes any stress blotching or HITH (hole-in-the-head) pitting far more visible than on green fish.

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Super red / turquoise severum →

Intensely line-bred designer severums — 'Super Red' is near-solid red-orange and 'Turquoise' shows heavy blue-green vermiculation. Both are aquaculture creations selected for saturated color.

Tip: These saturated lines need warm (78-82 F), stable water and color-enhancing feed to express fully; sudden chills or poor water cause rapid color loss and stress barring on these high-strung selected fish.