Red Devil Cichlid Story

I never found fish particularly exciting or interesting until I met my "Red Devil" better known as "Mr. Fish". I adopted him from a friend when he was four years old; he is now fourteen years old. I can't believe it has been a decade since I first set eyes on "Mr.Fish". Time truly does fly by when you are in the company of a big handsome red fish.

I can't take credit for his name but I can honestly say it suits him well. When I first brought him home I knew absolutely nothing about the wonderful world of fish. I would learn and delve deeper into it as the years passed.

Well the first thing I did was go shopping for fish supplies totally clueless on what the do's and don'ts where in raising a "Red Devil". I couldn't get help from the previous owner as she had moved out east that is why I took Mr. Fish. I should have got more info when I picked him up. One of the first things I learned about my Cichlid was that he didn't like plants in his tank. I had bought a couple of nice plants to decorate his tank with; I tried every corner in that tank but Mr. Fish pulled them out and tore them up. I finally got the point and gave up trying to decorate his tank with plants.

My next visit to the pet store was to see about getting some more fish to put in the tank with "Mr.Fish" so he wouldn't be all alone. I finally chose a couple of fish that I thought would look nice in the tank. During my conversation with the salesman I mentioned that I already had a "Red Devil Cichlid" at home. The salesman explained to me if I put any other fish in with my "Red Devil" he would kill them and or eat them. He told me that they don't even like the company of their own kind; explaining that they are loner fish. At this point I decided my next purchase would be a book on Cichlids instead so I would have a better idea with what I was dealing with.

Well I did learn some interesting things about my fish's breed. I found out that the "Red Devil" is found in South America and is known to be an aggressive fish and a loner by choice. I can understand them not liking their own kind because I know there is a few of my own kind I am not too fond of either.

Well over the years "Mr. Fish" and I have created a close bond with each other. In fact my pet name for him is "my little water dog." I call him this because he loves me to pat the top of his head not unlike a dog. People can't believe it when they see him come up for a head pat from me.

In all the years I have owned him he has never been aggressive towards me instead he is very gentle. The only time he shows aggression is when I put on the white cleaning glove I use to clean his tank. Mr. Fish hates this glove with a passion I think he see's it as another big white fish invading his territory. Well one time I got too close to him while wearing the glove and he bit my hand. I had a perfect red circle on my hand where he had bitten me. But in all fairness to my beloved fish as far as he was concerned he wasn't biting me but the nasty "Glove Fish".

I never thought I would get so much joy from a fish but I have to admit I am Hooked!