Red Devil Cichlid

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Endemic to the Great Lakes of Nicaragua and Managua (Central America). Populates the warm and vast open waters of volcanic origin, descending to the depths to hide among majestic limestone rock structures.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Red Devil Cichlid (Amphilophus labiatus). One of the quintessential "Tank buster" cichlids. "Labiatus" alludes to the thick fleshy lips it develops in the lake (often reduced in farm-bred specimens). Boasts a powerful body and an impressive nuchal hump in males.

Social Behavior: Extreme. The "Red Devil" is notorious for its relentlessly aggressive temperament. It will destroy thermometers, move titanic rocks, bite whoever reaches in to clean the tank, and kill most tankmates.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Highly variable. The "wild" color is brown or gray, but the market offers xanthic color variants: pure fiery red, orange or white/peach. Males become enormous (over 30 cm / 12 inches) developing mammoth nuchal humps at maturity.

Aquarium Setup: Cyclopean and shatterproof: at least 200 cm (80 inches) for adult fish, and reinforced glass (it often bangs fiercely to attack through the glass). No plant will survive. The rocks used must weigh dozens of kilos and rest firmly on the bottom glass, or it will lift them and break it.

Diet and Feeding: Ravenous Omnivore. Swallows XXL pellets for massive Central American Cichlids. Must be fed with huge earthworms, shelled shrimp, fish meat, but never beef heart (which causes lethal liver degenerations).

Water Quality: Hardy to the point of indestructibility. Hard (GH 6-20) and moderately alkaline (pH 6.5-8.0) water. The power of its nitrogenous waste is such as to make massive and drastic weekly water changes (50%) essential.

Compatibility and Tankmates: It is the perfect "Solitary" Cichlid (Wet pet). Often even coexistence with its own female ends in femicide if the tank is not boundless (over 1000 liters / 260 gallons). Only a few huge armored Loricariids can endure its tolerance.

Aquarium Reproduction: Very easy and very violent. They lay hundreds of eggs on vertical stones. Biparental care is fierce and in this phase the pair attacks "the glass" biting it when the tank owner passes by. Impossibly prolific.

Risks and Diseases: Sensitive to "Hole in the Head" (HITH) disease if fed solely on warm meats (beef heart/liver) and kept in water dirty with droppings. Extremely painful and bleeding bite for the aquarist.