Red Devil Cichlid Care 101: Tank Size, Tank Mates, Food, Breeding, More..
The Red Devil Cichlid is another favorite freshwater fish breed of the Cichlid family. You may have here about If you love keeping fish as a pet or you are a fish enthusiast.
These Cichlid species are alluring and have impressive colorations, making them beautiful creatures to rare in an aquarium in your home since they will improve the décor of your room and keep you entertained when showing off.
In this guide, we are going to provide you with detailed information about Red Devil Cichlid care. The heads up is that Red Devil Cichlid are very territorial and aggressive but have a strong bond with their owners, just like dogs do.
In this Red Devil Cichlid care article, we have provided you with details such as food, setting up a tank, choosing tanks mates, water parameters, and other required tips to rear them in your fish tank.
Red Devil Cichlid Overview
Red Devil Cichlid, scientifically known as Amphilophus labiatus and are very aggressive but beloved their owners due to their charismatic personalities. In the aquarium, it is known to develop bonds with its owners just like dogs.
At times you can see them showing off or even begging for food like a dog. Once Red Devil Cichlid has developed a bond with you, you will see them follow you around in the aquarium.
These fish species are unique with appealing appearance and impressive activity levels, making them excellent creatures to have in an aquarium in your home.
It does not live well with other tank mates because of its aggressive nature. In the wild, this unique fish species can be found in certain lakes in Nicaragua, Central America.
These Cichlid species are heavily populated in Lake Nicaragua, Lake Managua, and Lake Xiloa. Initially, Red Devil Cichlid was scientifically classified under the genus Cichlasoma.
They were later moved to their genus since they were found not to fit the description of Cichlasoma labiatum. The name Red Devil Cichlid was given their name due to their aggressive nature but not their impressive appearance.
Further, this fish species is available in various colors, including yellow, dark brown, and bright red. You may also find others with two or more colors, and the color variations of Red Devil Cichlid may result from cross-breeding.
Red Devil Cichlid Lifespan
Proper care and health are the major factors that determine the Red Devil Cichlid lifespan of all living organisms. Factors such as food, diet, and the living environment greatly influence the lifespan.
The average Red Devil Cichlid lifespan is about 10 to 12 years with proper care in captivity.
However, maintaining the correct water quality and providing a favorable living environment in the aquarium and your room may lead to a Red Devil Cichlid lifespan of up to 12 or more years.
Bacterial diseases and other factors like stress may severely shorten the Red Devil Cichlid lifespan in your aquarium. Poor water quality may cause illness to Red Devil Cichlid and shorten its lifespan.
Red Devil Cichlid Size
Red Devil Cichlid size has an of around 15 inches when fully grown, making it a bit larger than other freshwater fish found in many aquariums. The male file is bigger than their female counterparts.
Additionally, the males have a permanent hump around their necks and a pointed genital papilla. Red Devil Cichlids are pretty sturdy, and they can weigh up to around 2.6 pounds.
You will need large tanks and space to rare this striking freshwater fish species in your home. The wild Red Devil Cichlid size may little bigger than captivity breeds because they thrive in larger water bodies.
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Behavior and Temperament
Red Devil Cichlid is a freshwater fish species that are very aggressive and territorial, and with their big teeth and powerful jaws, they are a force to reckon with.
These fish species’ behavior with their owners is very different from other tankmates, including their species. They are easily attached to their owners like dogs. Once it is attached to you, it will show off, follow your movement and even allow you to pet them.
Due to their aggressive nature, once you have developed unconditional love, it becomes really hard for you to part ways with this striking and alluring freshwater fish species. They will attack other fish in the tank, including their species.
No matter the tank size, it does not do well with other fish. Further, due to their big teeth and powerful jaws, you will find them destroying anything in the aquarium that they can get their mouth on.
Due to their energetic nature, you will rarely find them relaxing in one position. You will find Red Devil Cichlid doing a lot of swimming, and if you are around, showing off to you.
For them to move freely in the aquarium, you should keep the center of the tank relatively open. If the aquarium does not meet their needs, it can become very aggressive. On most occasions, if the tank space is small, these avid swimmers will become aggressive.
Because of their aggressive nature, they like to be kept alone in the tank unless when they are juvenile, when they are more tolerant. They are also very monogamous, and therefore you can keep a male and a female in the same aquarium.
Make sure the tank has enough space to be significant for them to be able to cohabit without any aggression.
Appearance and Colors
It has an intimidating appearance, and it is pretty beefy. Additionally, it features a robust personality, with the dorsal and anal fins being pointed and prominent.
The prominent and pointed dorsal and anal fins design aids them with speed and agility in the water. The appearance of males and females is quite similar.
However, you will notice a nuchal hump in the male Red Devil Cichlid if you look keenly. The males also feature a prominent forehead hump. Further, the males have pointed genital papilla.
In the natural habitat, the nuchal hump can only be seen during the breeding seasons, while in the aquarium, the protruding hump can be noticed all the time.
In their natural habitat, it can be seen in brown or grey colors. The dark brown and grey coloring in the wild help Red Devil Cichlid blend effortlessly with the surroundings in moments of trouble.
You may also find them with some more vibrant colors in the wild. In captivity, you will find Red Devil Cichlid in various colors ranging from green to white, red and even pink, yellow and bright red.
Furthermore, it has black tips on its fins and tails. They tend to be bigger in the wild than in captivity, and they have thick lips with a rubber-like consistency. You may find some with orange lips while others have black coloration.
It has some big strong teeth in its mouth that it can use to cause a lot of damage. They also have mighty jaws that they use in predating.
The striking appearance of these alluring fish species and their playful natures make them incredible creatures to have in an aquarium in your home since they will help in enhancing the décor of your room and keep you entertained when you watch them.
Red Devil Cichlid Care And Habitat Setup
When it is happy and healthy in your aquarium, its lifespan increases. Here are the specific requirements you should look out for to make Red Devil Cichlid happy and comfortable.
It is a freshwater fish species and caring is not overly challenging. However, if you are a beginner hobbyist, it is recommended for you to corral this freshwater fish species.
They are aggressive, and their tank organization and planning require experience, making it only suitable for advanced or experienced aquarists. Additionally, it is hardy and can tolerate a wide range of water conditions.
However, unless you care for them right, there is a chance that they will not reach their full potential in the aquarium. It is best to mimic your aquarium conditions to this fish species’ natural habitat as much as possible.
You should also try to replicate the tank aquascape, water conditions, tank mates, and many more to ensure that it does not become very aggressive in the aquarium.
Here are some details that will help keep them healthy in your aquarium for extended periods and live out their full lifespan.
– Red Devil Cichlid Tank Size
The size of the tank is very important because they are freshwater fish species that are avid swimmers and are very aggressive and energetic fish. They are also territorial, and if you rare them with other fish in the same aquarium, they will probably attract them.
Due to the nature of these fish, they will need plenty of room in the aquarium to explore and even avoid them fighting with one another.
With their massive size of around 15 inches and has the aggressive temperament, the Red Devil Cichlid tank size should be spacious. it is recommended that one fish should be kept in a 55 gallons tank at a minimum.
If you plan to rare two of them in the same tank, then a tank size of 125 gallons will suit them comfortably.
A Red Devil Cichlid tank size of around 200 gallons or more will provide ideal space for this freshwater and avid swimmers fish species to live comfortably with less aggression.
Since it is very territorial, more tank space will ensure enough space for it to maintain its territory and prevent aggression when they are kept in the same tank.
– Red Devil Cichlid Tank Setup
Preparation is vital when you are setting up an aquarium for Red Devil Cichlid. They are very aggressive, and they can attack anything in the tank, and in the process, they may rearrange and ruin the aesthetics of the aquarium.
Like dogs, these Cichlid species are diggers, and therefore you should not include gavel or tough substrate in the aquarium since it will only cause harm to them. It is best to choose sand substrate for them.
Additionally, it is very notorious for destroying anything in the aquarium, and therefore you should not add any plants since they will shred the plants.
Further, it is like highly oxygenated water, and therefore you should install airstones in the aquarium to keep the water oxygenated and keep them looking vibrant and attractive.
You should have a dual filter for your aquarium to keep it well filtered when it comes to filtration. If you cannot get dual filters, you should pair the traditional canister filter with a sump set up to get the desired effect.
In their natural habitat, it likes hanging around crevices; therefore, you should provide rocks and wood to replicate their natural settings and provide them with hiding places in the aquarium.
They are known to topple rocks and other things in their surroundings; therefore, you should anchor the rocks to the tank with fish-safe epoxy. When it comes to lighting in the tank, you should not go too overboard since it might affect their health.
Therefore, it is advisable that the lighting in the aquarium be moderate to outshine the impressive Red Devil Cichlid colors.
– Water Parameters
They are freshwater bottom-dwellers fish species. In their natural habitat, they like inhabiting highly oxygenated waters. You should stick to the ranges despite it is being hardy and tolerable to various water conditions since it is paramount.
An aquarium with water conditions beyond these parameters can lead to health complications and stunted growth of your fish in your aquarium.
- Tank Temperature: 74 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water Acidity Levels: 6.5 – 8.0
- Water Hardness Range: 6 – 24 dGH
You should also perform water changes in the aquarium regularly to prevent health and diseases. Poor aquarium water quality may lead to illness and shortened Red Devil Cichlid lifespan. Additionally, they may become aggressive due to changes in water quality.
– Suitable Aquarium Plants
They are very notorious for shredding any foliage they come across in the aquarium; hence it is not recommended to include any plants in the tank. But it is nice to have hardy artificial aquarium plants to feel them happy.
Common Diseases and Prevention
Despite being hardy, Red Devil Cichlid is prone to diseases. Some of the possible common diseases that can affect your fish in the aquarium include:
Inch:
A parasite causes this condition and with this condition, has white spots covering its fins and body. When spot displaying strange swimming patterns. You can treat this condition by raising the water temperature in the aquarium to 86°F for three days.
You can also you over the counter copper-based medications to treat this condition.
Hole in the Head Disease:
This condition is also known as lateral line disease, and it is a common freshwater disease that affects freshwater fish like Red Devil Cichlid.
The condition causes visible pits on the head and face of Red Devil Cichlid, and it is mainly caused by poor diet and poor water quality. You can treat and prevent this condition by doing frequent water changes.
You should ensure to replace at least 25% of the water in the tank each week. Additionally, it would be best if you used powerful filters to remove organic waste. You should also provide high-quality live and frozen food.
Finally, the water parameters in the aquarium should be within the recommended range.
Fish Dropsy:
This is a condition caused by bacterial infection of the Red Devil Cichlid kidneys. This condition causes fluid retention, and you will see Red Devil Cichlid having a bloated appearance.
You can treat this condition by using proper over-the-counter antibiotics and proper care.
Red Devil Cichlid Feeding and Diet
They are omnivores, and they will eat anything you drop in the aquarium. To keep them healthy by giving them a balanced diet. These fish needs foods rich in proteins such as bloodworms, earthworms, and crickets.
It would be best to offer them a variety of both fresh and freeze-dried and frozen meat sources such as:
- Dried beef heart*
- Bloodworms
- Carotene rich supplements
- Cichlid pellets
- Chicken*
- Crickets
- Earthworms
- Flakes and pellets
- Krill
- Nightcrawlers
- Shrimp
- Spirulina
* These foods should be offered on occasion, as treats rather than regular menu items
This freshwater fish species is a heavy eater and feeder; therefore, you should feed it several times a day. Ensure you meet all its dietary requirements, and it will grow to a large size within no time.
Differences Between Male Red Devil Cichlid and Female Red Devil Cichlid?
The difference between Red Devil Cichlid male vs female is the male Red Devil Cichlid is bigger and larger than the female Red Devil Cichlid. Additionally, the males have a permanent hump around their necks and a pointed genital papilla.
Red Devil Cichlid Breeding
Breeding of this Cichlid species has been done severally and successfully in captivity. It is quite easy to breed them thanks to their monogamous nature, and therefore you will not have to worry about common breeding issues.
Additionally, it has excellent parental behavior, and they will protect their young once until they are ready to fend for themselves and swim freely.
It would be best if you raised the temperature in the aquarium to about 77°F to mimic their natural warm waters during breeding.
Further, you should ensure you supply them with nutrient-rich foods like bloodworms. Once the female Red Devil Cichlid is ready to lay eggs, it will choose a flat rock or inclined substrate in the tank.
You can also create a subtle hill or introduce driftwood in the aquarium to use as a breed spot. The females will lay between 600 and 700 translucent, yellowish-orange tinge eggs at once, and after around 3 to 4 days, the eggs will hatch.
After that, they will move the fry to another area of the aquarium, or the male will dig a pit to offer more protection against any predators. From there, it will take another 6 to 7 days for the fry to swim freely on their own.
Red Devil Cichlid Tank Mates
Since these fish species are very aggressive, they like to be kept alone. If you want to rare them with other fish, you should start early since the juvenile Red Devil Cichlid does not show any signs of aggression if they are raised with other species, even of the same species.
However, this may change since once Red Devil Cichlid is grown and mature, it may not want to share any space even with fellow Red Devil Cichlid.
If you want to rare multiple in a large tank, you should provide multiple hiding spots and natural territory separations to prevent any aggression. Since it is monogamous, you can keep them in pairs of males and females.
The best fish species to keep as juvenile Red Devil Cichlid Tank Mates are;
Make sure you have to keep them separated when it becomes mature.
Origin and Distribution
They originated in Central America near the Atlantic slopes and water bodies in Nicaragua. They are predominantly found in Nicaragua lakes, namely Lake Nicaragua, Lake Managua, and Lake Xiloa. This fish species was first described by Gunther in 1864.
It is not listed in the IUCN Red List. These Cichlid species have been introduced in Singapore, Australia, Puerto Rica, Hawaii, and even in Indonesia.
It is widely available in online shops and fish shops in various places around the world.
FAQs
Are Red Devil Cichlids Aggressive?
These Cichlid species are very territorial and aggressive towards other tankmates, even their species. However, the aggressive nature may change towards its owners.
Once they have developed a bond with owners, they show off and follow their movements while in the tank, even allowing the owners to pet them.
Can Red Devils and Oscars Live Together?
Red Devil Cichlid and Oscars cannot live together. When young, they can but once matured; you will have to rehome one of them to prevent the Red Devil Cichlid from killing the Oscar.
How Many Red Devil Cichlids Should Be Kept Together?
Red Devil Cichlid are very territorial and aggressive, and they like to be kept alone. However, they are monogamous, and you can keep two of them together, a female and a male, in an amply spaced aquarium.
Do Red Devil Cichlid Have Teeth?
Red Devil Cichlid has big teeth and powerful jaws that they used to tear anything in the aquarium.
Do Red Devils Cichlid Change Color?
As Red Devil Cichlid grows it naturally goes through color changes. They do change color when breeding season and also at the time they feel sick.
How Long Does It Take for A Red Devil Cichlid to Grow?
It will take Red Devil Cichlid around three years to reach sexual maturity at a length of 6 inches. For Red Devil Cichlid to grow fully at 15 inches, it will take about six years.
What Is Average Red Devil Cichlid Price?
The average price of a Red Devil Cichlid is around $17 to $18in the USA market. The prices totally depend on the country that you reside in. You will be able to find them at reasonable prices in online stores such as eBay.com.
Final Thoughts
Despite Red Devil Cichlid being aggressive and territorial, it is a fantastic freshwater fish species in an aquarium in your home. Their striking appearance makes them excellent creatures to help improve the décor of your aquarium.
Caring for them is not easy, and therefore you need to be an experienced aquarist with proper planning to care for and rare Red Devil Cichlid in an aquarium in your home.
