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No federal permit to keepRed devil
Amphilophus labiatus
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Amphilophus labiatus is a large cichlid fish endemic to Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua in Central America.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 54 in long and 21 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 11.1 in / 28.3 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 82–91°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 70–79 °F, pH 6–8, 5–25 dGH.
- Behaviour: in a pair; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “There are few fish that show less regard for a beautifuly decorated tank than this species.”
- Diet: “One of the least fussy feeders you are likely to encounter in the hobby, most specimens will attempt to eat anything that looks as though it might be edible.”
- Tankmates: “One of the most downreight aggressive cichlids around, you need to know what you're doing when attempting to keep a red devil with anything else, and that includes its own kind.”
- Breeding: “Provided you can obtain a compatible pair, breeding is fairly straightforward.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Central and South American cichlids
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rivers and lakes of the Americas. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Size ranges widely, from convicts at 5 in to Parachromis over 20 in; plan tank size for the adult fish.
- Most tolerate neutral, moderately hard water; strong filtration and rock or wood caves.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 75–82°F |
Diet
- Omnivorous cichlid pellets plus vegetables for herbivores (Vieja, Uaru) and meaty foods for predators (Parachromis).
Social life
- Territorial; breeding pairs can clear a whole tank.
Health watch
- Aggression and territorial injuries, especially when breeding; hole-in-the-head in poor water.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is also known by the common name red devil cichlid, which it shares with another closely related cichlid, A. citrinellus.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Amphilophus labiatus” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams, lakes. Uses both the bottom and open water. Inhabits lakes and rarely enters rivers. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 82–91 °F (28–33 °C). |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: nesters, maternal parental care. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 82–91 °F.
- Parents guard eggs or young, so expect territorial behavior when breeding.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 88°F (up to 90°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 61°F (down to 53°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 70–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 77–79% on average (driest month about 75%) |
| Rainfall | about 2041 mm a year, spread fairly evenly |
Measured at 69 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Amphilophus labiatus is a large cichlid fish endemic to Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua in Central America. It is also known by the common name red devil cichlid, which it shares with another closely related cichlid, A. citrinellus. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Behavior | Aquarists who keep cichlids regard red devils as aggressive fish. This aggressive behavior combined with their razor sharp teeth and powerful jaws means cohabitants should be chosen carefully and the fish should be kept in a large aquarium. Red devils may be so aggressive that they ram into the glass to get at invaders, break heaters and other aquarium equipment, and will sometimes bite their owners. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | 600-700 eggs, female tends the clutch. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Colouration in wild specimens is variable and while most specimens are grey to greyish green some pink, red or white specimens do occur. Black pigmentation in spots or bands is also common. Some specimens have enlarged lips, though this condition is thought to be related to specific food choice preferences in their natural habitat as this trait disappears in captivity. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Inhabits lakes and rarely enters rivers. Feeds on small fish, snails, insect larvae, worms and other bottom-dwelling organisms. Females tend clutch of eggs. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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