Tank mates for severums

We checked severums against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for severums include nerite snail, bristlenose pleco, assassin snail, ramshorn snail, malaysian trumpet snail and convict cichlid. Avoid cherry shrimp, common goldfish and fancy goldfish: severum eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.

Severums: 24–28°C (75–82°F), pH 6–7, adult size 20 cm (7.9 in), minimum tank 55 gallons (208 L). Full severum care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (26)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (67)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Angelfish · 29+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase angelfish, which use the same area.
  • Betta fish · 5+ gal
    • Severum may eat bettas, especially young or small ones.
  • Bronze corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.
  • Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf gouramis.
  • Oscar · 75+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase oscars, which use the same area.
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase severums, which use the same area.
  • Tiger barb · 29+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase tiger barbs, which use the same area.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Severum hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Bala shark · 230+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase bala sharks, which use the same area.
  • Black skirt tetra · 20+ gal
    • Severum may eat black skirt tetras, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller black skirt tetras.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase black skirt tetras, which use the same area.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase blood parrot cichlids, which use the same area.
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase severums, which use the same area.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase boesemani rainbowfish, which use the same area.
  • Chinese algae eater · 80+ gal
    • Chinese algae eater is aggressive. Severums can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Denison barb · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase denison barbs, which use the same area.
  • Discus · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 28–28°C).
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase discus, which use the same area.
  • Dwarf neon rainbowfish · 20+ gal
    • Severum may eat dwarf neon rainbowfish, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf neon rainbowfish.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase dwarf neon rainbowfish, which use the same area.
  • German blue ram · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • Severum may eat German blue rams, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller German blue rams.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Severum hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Severum may eat hillstream loaches, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller hillstream loaches.
  • Jack Dempsey · 55+ gal
    • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Severums can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Julii corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Severum may eat julii corydoras, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller julii corydoras.
  • Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller kuhli loaches.
  • Molly · 29+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (6–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 2–10 vs 15–30 dGH).
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase mollies, which use the same area.
  • Mystery snail · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (6–7 vs 7.2–8).
  • Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Severum may eat peppered corydoras, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller peppered corydoras.
  • Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Platy · 15+ gal
    • Severum may eat platies, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller platies.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase platies, which use the same area.
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller rosy barbs.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase rosy barbs, which use the same area.
  • Silver dollar · 75+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase silver dollars, which use the same area.
  • Sterbai corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Severum may eat sterbai corydoras, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller sterbai corydoras.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Severum hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
    • Severum may eat bleeding heart tetras, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bleeding heart tetras.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase bleeding heart tetras, which use the same area.
  • Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller Bolivian rams.
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase buenos Aires tetras, which use the same area.
  • Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bumblebee catfish.
  • Clown pleco · 20+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller clown plecos.
  • Congo tetra · 40+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller Congo tetras.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase Congo tetras, which use the same area.
  • Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
    • Severum may eat diamond tetras, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller diamond tetras.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase diamond tetras, which use the same area.
  • Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
    • Severum may eat dwarf chain loaches, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller dwarf chain loaches.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Severum may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Emerald green corydoras · 55+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller emerald green corydoras.
  • Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Severum may eat gardneri killifish, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase gardneri killifish, which use the same area.
  • Giant danio · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Glass catfish · 29+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller glass catfish.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase glass catfish, which use the same area.
  • Gold barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller gold barbs.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase gold barbs, which use the same area.
  • Green terror · 80+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase green terrors, which use the same area.
    • Green terror is aggressive. Severums can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
    • Green terror defends its patch of the tank and may chase severums, which use the same area.
  • Jewel cichlid · 40+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase jewel cichlids, which use the same area.
    • Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase severums, which use the same area.
  • Odessa barb · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Severum may eat odessa barbs, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller odessa barbs.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase odessa barbs, which use the same area.
  • Panda garra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda garras.
  • Paradise fish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Peacock gudgeon · 15+ gal
    • Severum may eat peacock gudgeons, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller peacock gudgeons.
  • Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (6–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
  • Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase red rainbowfish, which use the same area.
  • Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Swordtail · 29+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase swordtails, which use the same area.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Severum may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Tinfoil barb · 200+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase tinfoil barbs, which use the same area.
  • Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase turquoise rainbowfish, which use the same area.
  • Upside-down catfish · 29+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller upside-down catfish.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Severum hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra loach · 29+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller zebra loaches.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller zebra plecos.
  • Black ruby barb · 20+ gal
    • Severum may eat black ruby barbs, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller black ruby barbs.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase black ruby barbs, which use the same area.
  • Keyhole cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase keyhole cichlids, which use the same area.
  • Pearl danio · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Severum may eat pearl danios, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller pearl danios.
  • Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Variatus platy · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Severum may eat variatus platies, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller variatus platies.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase variatus platies, which use the same area.

Avoid Bad tank mates (56)

  • Cherry shrimp: Severum eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Severum 24–28°C (75–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Severum 24–28°C (75–82°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Guppy: Severum can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Neon tetra: Severum can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Panda corydoras: Severum can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Zebra danio: Severum can eat zebra danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • African dwarf frog: Severum can eat African dwarf frogs.
  • Cardinal tetra: Severum can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Celestial pearl danio: Severum can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Cherry barb: Severum can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Chili rasbora: Severum can eat chili rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Severum 24–28°C (75–82°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Severums don't belong in that setup.
  • Ember tetra: Severum can eat ember tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight tetra: Severum can eat glowlight tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Harlequin rasbora: Severum can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Honey gourami: Severum can eat honey gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Otocinclus: Severum can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Pea puffer: Severum can eat pea puffers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Severums don't belong in that setup.
  • Pygmy corydoras: Severum can eat pygmy corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Severums don't belong in that setup.
  • Rummy-nose tetra: Severum can eat rummy-nose tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Severum 24–28°C (75–82°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F). Severum can eat white cloud mountain minnows: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • X-ray tetra: Severum can eat x-ray tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black neon tetra: Severum can eat black neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Black phantom tetra: Severum can eat black phantom tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bloodfin tetra: Severum can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Clown killifish: Severum can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Severum eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Severums don't belong in that setup.
  • Emperor tetra: Severum can eat emperor tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Endler's livebearer: Severum can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Forktail blue-eye: Severum can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Frontosa: They need very different water: pH 6–7 vs 8–9. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Severums don't belong in that setup.
  • Head and tail light tetra: Severum can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Kubotai rasbora: Severum can eat kubotai rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lambchop rasbora: Severum can eat lambchop rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Lemon tetra: Severum can eat lemon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Marbled hatchetfish: Severum can eat marbled hatchetfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Penguin tetra: Severum can eat penguin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rosy loach: Severum can eat rosy loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Rosy tetra: Severum can eat rosy tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Scarlet badis: Severum can eat scarlet badis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Serpae tetra: Severum can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Severum can eat shell dweller cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Severums don't belong in that setup.
  • Sparkling gourami: Severum can eat sparkling gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish: Severum can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Checkerboard barb: Severum can eat checkerboard barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Dwarf rasbora: Severum can eat dwarf rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Flame tetra: Severum can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Glowlight danio: Severum can eat glowlight danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Green neon tetra: Severum can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Least killifish: Severum can eat least killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Silvertip tetra: Severum can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with severums?

Good tank mates for severums include nerite snail, bristlenose pleco, assassin snail, ramshorn snail, malaysian trumpet snail and convict cichlid. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat severums.

Can severums live with angelfish?

Sometimes, with care. Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase angelfish, which use the same area.

Can severums live with bettas?

Sometimes, with care. Severum may eat bettas, especially young or small ones.

Can severums live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can severums live with bronze corydoras?

Sometimes, with care. Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.