Red devil only chasing my other red devil

[waytoodeep03]

They are both about 4 inches. The one that is the aggressor is starting to grow a hump. The other just runs away. The bullied one is very skittish too. If you walk by the tank it will dart all over the place for no reason. I hate it. I got them both on the same day and they were maybe 1.5 inches at the time

Anyways the nuchal hump will only chase this skittish red devil around and i have about 8 other fish of varied sizes in tue same tank and it doesn't even bother those fish.

Why is that?

 

[Deadeye]

It sees it as the most immediate threat, so is bent on destroying it. Or it is a female and the male wants to breed.
Most likely the former.

 

[tlindsey]

Agree with Deadeye the one with the hump will probably kill the other one if not seperated asap. There will always be a hierarchy with Cichlids so best to have more than two so aggression can be spread out.

 

[Gourami Swami]

The other red devil is enemy #1 to the dominant red devil. He will not stop harassing it until it goes away or is killed.
Chances are, if the other 8 fish are cichlids, your devil may move on to harassing enemy #2 after you get rid of enemy #1.
Though, they are usually more aggressive towards their own kind, so it may be less enthusiastic about enemy #2.
Usually the issue with these fish is not enough space or too many cichlids in the tank.

 

[waytoodeep03]

The other red devil is enemy #1 to the dominant red devil. He will not stop harassing it until it goes away or is killed.
Chances are, if the other 8 fish are cichlids, your devil may move on to harassing enemy #2 after you get rid of enemy #1.
Though, they are usually more aggressive towards their own kind, so it may be less enthusiastic about enemy #2.
Usually the issue with these fish is not enough space or too many cichlids in the tank.

Ahh ok so the fish knows its own kind. That is very interesting.

Yea ill move him over to the monster tank. He will find out soon that he is no longer dominant

 

[Deadeye]

Watch out though, things can get quite ugly if he starts challenging for dominance...and wins.