Red devil cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

This is one of the most aggressive freshwater fish you can keep, so plan on a species-only tank with a single fish or an established pair and nothing else. Give them at least 284 liters, more for a pair, with strong filtration and weekly water changes to handle the heavy waste. They hold the middle of the water column and will charge anything that enters their space, including your hand. Keep the water at 24 to 26 C and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5, and shield or externalize heaters and filter intakes since they attack equipment. Feed a quality cichlid pellet as the base with the occasional meaty treat, and do not count on tankmates surviving.

In the wild

Red devils come from Lakes Nicaragua, Managua, and Xiloa in Nicaragua, open lake habitats with rock and sand where they dig and claim territory. To match that, give them a large tank with a deep bed of fine sand they can move around, since they bulldoze everything. Skip live plants because they will tear them up, and either anchor decor solidly or leave the tank mostly open. Keep the water at 24 to 26 C with a pH from 6.5 to 7.5.

Good to know

This is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae, growing to around 35 cm as an adult. It is a substrate spawner that lays eggs on flat rock, with both parents guarding the fry, and pairs breed readily once settled. A healthy fish can live well over a decade with good care.

Did you know

The name is misleading, since the color ranges from red all the way to plain white, with orange and mottled fish in between. Many also develop a large fatty hump on the forehead as they mature, more pronounced in dominant males.

Related species

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• 

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