Data sheet eyespot cichlid
German name:
eyespot cichlid
Scientific name:
Heros liberifer, also Heros severus, Heros notatus, Cichlasoma severum
Origin:
South America
Size:
Body length up to 28 cm
Aquarium
Length:
Length from 150 cm width and from 50 cm width
Contents:
from 450 liters
water values
Temperature:
23°- 30° C
pH:
6 – 7.5
GH:
2° – 20° dH
Behave
Area:
lower to middle range
Lining:
Omnivore, flake food, frozen food
Behave:
peaceful but territorial
Number:
individually or in pairs
Difficulty level:
advanced
The eyespot cichlid is also known by the names Heros severus, Heros notatus and Cichlasoma severum. This fish has been kept in aquariums in Europe since the beginning of the 20th century and was then considered the «poor man’s discus».
Origin
The natural habitat of the eyespot cichlid is in South America. Here it populates the Orinoco basin in Colombia and Venezuela and the Amazon river basin and the upper Rio Negro.
Stawikowski, Contribution liberifer1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Look
The body of the eyespot cichlid is somewhat high-backed and flat on the sides. His forehead, on the other hand, is rounded. Its basic color is usually beige, yellow, brown, green or blue-grey, with the back part being darker in colour. There are usually seven black horizontal stripes distributed over the body, which are very prominent in young animals and fade or even disappear in older animals. Only the last stripe on the tail is always visible. In addition, many dark spots can decorate the entire fish body.
food
No high demands are made on the diet, but it is advisable to offer fresh lettuce every now and then to protect the plants in the aquarium. Red mosquito larvae are also accepted, but they should only be fed sporadically, otherwise the fish tend to become overweight.
The eyespot cichlid can become very trusting and tame over time. Feeding by hand is then quite possible.
gender differences
Distinguishing between sexes is very difficult. Both sexes are the same size and color. It may be that males and females have gill covers equally, or that only males have them, as they disappear in females with age.
In adult animals, the fins of the males could be more extended than in the females.
breed
During courtship, the fish literally dance around each other. They nudge each other and spread their fins wide from their bodies. Sometimes it even looks like they’re kissing. The color can darken so much that only the eyes stand out.
After successful fertilization, the eggs are spawned on rocks or roots. The ground is cleaned very carefully by the parents beforehand. Up to 200 young fish hatch here and are only then taken into the mouths of the parents. After about a week, the babies swim freely in the water and can then be reared with Artemia nauplii.
However, it is not easy to find a pair suitable for breeding. This must fit together perfectly and harmonize with each other. It works best when several young animals are raised together. This is where there is the greatest possibility for a couple to get together.
socialization
A socialization with other peaceful cichlids is quite possible, because the eyespot cichlid is a very calm representative of its kind. Aggression can only occur during the spawning season.
Of course, the posture parameters should be approximately the same and there shouldn’t be too big a difference in size either. Because small fish that fit into the mouth of the eyespot cichlid could be eaten.
Other Questions
How should the aquarium be equipped?
The substrate should consist of fine sand and be additionally enriched with coarse gravel and rubble. Rock structures, caves and roots serve as places to hide and retreat. However, it is important to ensure that there is plenty of swimming space. Planting is possible, but this should then be brought in from very robust species at the edge, since the eyespot cichlid likes to dig in the sand.