I'd like to write a care guide about the first fish I ever got, the Red Devil (Amphilopus Labiatus). I still hold this fish near and dear to my heart as it was so much fun having it as a teenager. I named him Lucifer, and his name matched his personality. Let's talk about this fish.
Name: Amphilopus Labiatus
Endemic to: Nicaragua. Mainly Lake; Nicaragua, Managua, and Xiloa
Size: 12-16 inches (30.5 cm - 40.65 cm)
Tank Size: 55 minimum, though a 90 gallon or more would be ideal (208 liters, 345 liters being ideal)
Diet: Carnivore, will eat high quality pellets, frozen and fresh food like shrimp, silversides, squid, kirll, tilapia, scallops, and clams, and live foods like crickets, worms, live bearers, crayfish, and shrimp (though you should only do this if you KNOW the live feeders are disease free, are gutloaded, and pesticide free)
Water Parameters: Low Nitrates, no ammonia and no nitrites. Temperature of 70-78 degrees Fahrenheit or 21-26 degrees Celsius
Tankmates: Other large, aggressive South and Central American fish like the Oscar, Green Terror, Pike Cichlid, and Severum
Tank Set Up: A tank of atleast 55 gallons (208 liters) with plenty of swimming space with small decorations (like plants, rocks, driftwood, etc.). The tank would likely have to be heated, but make sure to get a heater guard because the fish may burn itself on the heater (Or in my case, the fish may break the heater)
Breeding: The fish will naturally get into a pair to breed. In the breeding tank, you should keep the male and female separated (with egg crate) until they are ready to breed. When they are ready to breed, the nuchal humps of the fish will get bigger and the females ovipositor will be revealed. The female will lay the eggs in a cave or on a vertical surface (likely driftwood or rock) and the male will fertilize the eggs and the eggs will hatch within 2-3 days and be free swimming within 5-7 days. Unlike with a lot of fish, you should leave the fry in with the parents as removing the fry will cause the Red Devil to live up to his name. The Female should be removed to prevent the male from harassing the female to try to mate again. The fry should be fed meaty items like infusoria, daphnia, baby brine shrimp, vinegar eels, and microworms.
Sources:https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/amphilophus-labiatus/
https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=444
https://www.thatpetplace.com/Amphilophus-labiatus-red-devil-213392
Name: Amphilopus Labiatus
Endemic to: Nicaragua. Mainly Lake; Nicaragua, Managua, and Xiloa
Size: 12-16 inches (30.5 cm - 40.65 cm)
Tank Size: 55 minimum, though a 90 gallon or more would be ideal (208 liters, 345 liters being ideal)
Diet: Carnivore, will eat high quality pellets, frozen and fresh food like shrimp, silversides, squid, kirll, tilapia, scallops, and clams, and live foods like crickets, worms, live bearers, crayfish, and shrimp (though you should only do this if you KNOW the live feeders are disease free, are gutloaded, and pesticide free)
Water Parameters: Low Nitrates, no ammonia and no nitrites. Temperature of 70-78 degrees Fahrenheit or 21-26 degrees Celsius
Tankmates: Other large, aggressive South and Central American fish like the Oscar, Green Terror, Pike Cichlid, and Severum
Tank Set Up: A tank of atleast 55 gallons (208 liters) with plenty of swimming space with small decorations (like plants, rocks, driftwood, etc.). The tank would likely have to be heated, but make sure to get a heater guard because the fish may burn itself on the heater (Or in my case, the fish may break the heater)
Breeding: The fish will naturally get into a pair to breed. In the breeding tank, you should keep the male and female separated (with egg crate) until they are ready to breed. When they are ready to breed, the nuchal humps of the fish will get bigger and the females ovipositor will be revealed. The female will lay the eggs in a cave or on a vertical surface (likely driftwood or rock) and the male will fertilize the eggs and the eggs will hatch within 2-3 days and be free swimming within 5-7 days. Unlike with a lot of fish, you should leave the fry in with the parents as removing the fry will cause the Red Devil to live up to his name. The Female should be removed to prevent the male from harassing the female to try to mate again. The fry should be fed meaty items like infusoria, daphnia, baby brine shrimp, vinegar eels, and microworms.
Sources:https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/amphilophus-labiatus/
https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=444
https://www.thatpetplace.com/Amphilophus-labiatus-red-devil-213392
