Midas Cichlid / Red Devil

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Endemic to the San Juan river basin, including the large lakes Managua and Nicaragua in Central America. Thrives in still or slow-flowing waters, among rocky crevices and submerged roots along the banks, where it digs vigorously.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Midas Cichlid. Giant cichlid with an imposing stocky and massive build. Reaches 35 cm (14 inches). Often hybridized with its cousin A. labiatus (Red Devil), with which it shares the appearance, differing in less fleshy lips and a shorter snout.

Social Behavior: Extremely aggressive, territorial and destructive. Considered one of the most irascible fish in the aquarium hobby, it will bite attack anything introduced into its territory: thermometers, filters, nets, and even the breeder's hands.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Spectacular polychromatism: camouflage colors prevail in nature (gray-brown with black stripes), but in captivity vibrant yellow-orange or fire red varieties have been selected (Xanthism). Adult males develop a colossal adipose nuchal hump.

Aquarium Setup: Bulletproof tank of at least 400-500 liters (100-130 gallons). No plants (they will be uprooted or torn instantly). Provide thick stone slabs secured with silicone and coarse gravel bottom. Heaters must be strictly covered by titanium guards or hidden in sumps.

Diet and Feeding: Extremely voracious omnivore (bulimic). Will grind large cichlid pellets, earthworms, whole shrimp, mussels and strips of raw fish. A diet too high in protein or poor in vegetable fiber leads to lethal intestinal blockages and fatty degeneration.

Water Quality: Strong and resistant to poor conditions, but produces mountains of excrement. Requires hard water (GH 10-20), alkaline pH (7.0-8.0) and mammoth filtration to dispose of the huge biological load. Temperature 24-28°C (75-82°F).

Compatibility and Tankmates: Cohabitation in tanks under 600-800 liters is totally discouraged. If space is scarce, it should be kept alone (Single-specimen tank). In immense volumes it can cohabit (with reservations) with titanic armored plecostomus or large Central American cichlids (Jaguar, Dovii).

Aquarium Reproduction: Prolific and exasperatingly violent spawners. Open substrate spawners. The pre-courtship male can beat the female to death if she is not ready or if the tank does not offer visual barriers for her to hide.

Risks and Diseases: The greatest risk is not biological, but the physical destruction of technical equipment and injuries to hands. Pathologically robust; they can suffer from "Hole in the Head" (Hexamita) in the prolonged presence of very high nitrates.