Shy red devil

[Nathan1989]

I've got a 3 to 4 inch red devil that hides in a ornament log when ever I'm near the tank it also never eats in front of me. It has been in the tank about 3 weeks but ever since I have empties its tank mates because of aggression or he/she killed them it has stopped being active whenever I am near the tank. I have to peer at the tank through a slightly open door which isn't ideal as I really wanted a wet pet and an active fish. Has anyone else had this before it will not tolerate tank mates I've tried malawis twice it's size and it killed them all within 3 days. Any help would be great as I really want to grow this fish up. The only thing I would add is the tank is not in a heavily trafficked area

 

[PhishMon84]

Depending on tank size you may want to add target fish. Like a group of convicts- hopefully same sex so no spawning or some tough quick dithers, like markianna, Myleus or even good sized giant danios-
Or stop feeding for a week.

sometime a fish isshy because of water quality lots of thingscould be going on .

 

[dan518]

Providing all tank parameters are OK then I wouldn't be concerned. It can take years for a fish to become a fearless glass banger. At 3 to 4 inch its very much a little baby. Give it time and act normally around the tank, personally I don't think sneaking around helps in the long run.
I have found a decent scape can help, if it has multiple hiding spots they feel more secure, floating plants or other surface cover helps as well, biggest threat to them in the wild comes from birds.

 

[duanes]

Red Devils (any Amphilophines) commonly kill tank mates, (although much depends on tank size).
If you have a 200+ gallon tank, it may be less common, but anything under that, you should consider the tank to be only a one cichlid tank.
It is also common, once every other cichlid is vanquished, that the RD will spend most of its time hiding, at least until it feels comfortable, could be as long as a month or three.
Some do OK with non-cichlid tank mates as dither fish, but again, the tank must be large enough, and the fish need to be fast enough, and large enough.
In nature, an adult Amphilophine will easily claim an area of about 250 gallons as its sole territory.

 

[Nathan1989]

Thanks guys their is a pictus catfish in their which it never touches for some reason. All my water parameters are good. Some people have told me to starve it but I don't want to do that really if I cna help it.

 

[lp85253]

I've got a 3 to 4 inch red devil that hides in a ornament log when ever I'm near the tank it also never eats in front of me. It has been in the tank about 3 weeks but ever since I have empties its tank mates because of aggression or he/she killed them it has stopped being active whenever I am near the tank. I have to peer at the tank through a slightly open door which isn't ideal as I really wanted a wet pet and an active fish. Has anyone else had this before it will not tolerate tank mates I've tried malawis twice it's size and it killed them all within 3 days. Any help would be great as I really want to grow this fish up. The only thing I would add is the tank is not in a heavily trafficked area

don't get in a rush..keep him with an armored cat or 2 (like a striped raphael) and anything you want to turn into hamburger .. i have a black belt , similar disposition.. a con worked for a while , then got killed... a striped raphy adult is doing well in that tank with him.. and it's only a 75 , so i think it could work in your tank as well

 

[Jexnell]

As others have said you have two major things going on.
First the fish just went thru a big move, from where ever he was to now your tank.
Second the fishy is just a baby yet.

Give him a couple weeks to settle in. I would continue to feed and use a floating pellet so you can scoop out any left over food after 15 minutes or so.

Do things you would normally around the tank to get him used to all the newness.

As far as other fish go I really wouldn't try anything unless you have another tank to put it in later. My Sagittae in time had killed everything I tried to home with it. From Spanner barbs to his wife that he breed with. Amphilophus are on a different aggression level than most other fish.

 

[duanes]

Thanks guys their is a pictus catfish in their which it never touches for some reason. All my water parameters are good. Some people have told me to starve it but I don't want to do that really if I cna help it.

I many cases, a cichlid like a RD will not bother o-cichlids, like cats, or large tetras.
It usually seems, and other cichlid is a territorial treat to be eliminated.

 

[Nathan1989]

I many cases, a cichlid like a RD will not bother o-cichlids, like cats, or large tetras.
It usually seems, and other cichlid is a territorial treat to be eliminated.

Had a dwarf giraffe cat in their which once all other malawis were eliminated he them turned his attention too that. But the pictus remains unscathed

 

[stiker]

Had a dwarf giraffe cat in their which once all other malawis were eliminated he them turned his attention too that. But the pictus remains unscathed

I kept my Amphilophus Citrinellus pair in a 6ft 220G with 5 Melanotsemis Trifasciata and 8 Neetroplus Nematopus. Everything was fine until the Citrinellus spawned and then all of the Nematopus were a threat and chased / attacked relentlessly and no allowed to leave the rock work, to the point I had to remove them. The rainbowfish are not seen as a threat and left alone unless they get too close to the cloud of fry.
If you were adiment on adding something to help your red devil feel more comfortable instead of waiting I’d try a fast swimming, top dwelling fish such as tetras, Danio aequipinnatus, or Myles as stated above.
I have had good experience with non cichlid dithers bringing out shy fish. But personally I don’t think it is required and with more time your red devil should come around.