The best red devil cichlid food is a high-quality sinking or slow-sinking cichlid pellet with animal protein (fish meal, krill, or squid) as the first ingredients, rounded out with frozen seafood, occasional whole foods, and some vegetables. Feed juveniles small portions two to three times a day and adults once or twice a day, only what they finish in a couple of minutes.
What Red Devils Eat
Red devils (Amphilophus labiatus) are big, hungry omnivores that lean heavily toward meat. In the wild they eat insect larvae, snails, worms, shrimp, and small fish. In an aquarium they accept almost anything, which makes it easy to overfeed them and easy to feed them poorly.
Staple: cichlid pellets
Make a good pellet or stick the base of the diet. Look for fish meal, krill, salmon, or squid in the first few ingredients. Skip foods where corn, soy, wheat, or potato starch lead the list. Those are cheap fillers, and they foul the water. Slow-sinking pellets suit red devils well because they feed at all levels. Pick a size that matches the fish’s mouth so it can eat each pellet in one or two bites.
If you want to bring out their color, see our guide to color-enhancing fish food for cichlids.
Frozen and whole foods
- Frozen mysis shrimp, krill, and prawns (thaw first). Our guide to feeding frozen mysis shrimp covers the basics.
- Chopped mussel, cockle, or squid from the seafood counter, unseasoned.
- Earthworms and crickets as occasional treats.
- Blanched vegetables such as spinach, kale, lettuce, and cucumber a few times a week.
Live food is not required. If you make your own, our homemade cichlid food guide has ideas.
What to avoid
- Store-bought feeder fish. They often carry parasites and diseases into your tank.
- Mammal and poultry meat, such as beef heart or chicken. Fish cannot process the fats well, and it can lead to fatty buildup over time.
- Bread, crackers, and table scraps.
- Starch-heavy fillers as the main ingredient.
- Uneaten food. Remove anything left after a few minutes.
How Much and How Often
| Age | Frequency | Portion |
|---|---|---|
| Juvenile (under about 4 inches) | 2 to 3 small meals a day | What they finish in 1 to 2 minutes |
| Subadult (about 4 to 8 inches) | 2 meals a day | What they finish in 2 minutes |
| Adult (up to about 15 inches) | 1 to 2 meals a day, with a fast day each week | What they finish in 2 to 3 minutes |
These are rules of thumb, not strict numbers. Adjust to your fish’s body shape: a healthy red devil is rounded but not bloated. Young fish grow quickly and need more frequent protein-rich meals. Adults need less, and a weekly fast day gives their digestion a break and helps keep the water cleaner. Fry and very small juveniles have different needs, so see best food for cichlid fry for babies.
Water Quality and Overfeeding
Red devils are messy eaters, and heavy feeding is the fastest way to a water-quality problem. Keep these habits:
- Do frequent partial water changes. Large fish and rich food mean nitrates climb fast.
- Use strong filtration, such as a canister or sump rated for a much bigger tank.
- Keep the temperature around 73 to 79 F and pH roughly 7.0 to 8.0. Red devils tolerate a fairly wide range.
- Provide at least 75 gallons for one adult. Larger is better.
- Watch for signs of overfeeding: cloudy water, uneaten pellets on the bottom, stringy droppings, and a bloated belly.
Poor water and a thin diet can lead to hole-in-the-head type damage and other problems. If your fish stops eating, develops white spots, sores, or pits in the head, or is breathing hard, test your water and call an aquatic vet or experienced fish vet for treatment advice. This article is general information and not veterinary advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can red devils eat goldfish or feeder fish?
They will, but you should not feed them. Feeder fish bring parasites and give poor nutrition. Frozen seafood and pellets are safer and cheaper.
How long can a red devil go without food?
A healthy adult can go several days without eating, so a weekend away is not a problem. For longer trips, ask a friend to feed small portions rather than using a heavy dose of food.
Do red devils need live food?
No. Captive red devils do well on pellets and frozen foods. Live worms or crickets are an occasional treat, not a need.
Why is my red devil not eating?
Common causes are poor water quality, a recent move, stress from tank mates, or illness. Test your water first, do a water change, and offer a favorite treat such as thawed shrimp. If it still refuses food for more than a few days, talk to a vet.
What do red devil flowerhorn crosses eat?
The same basic diet. See our flowerhorn cichlid food guide for a related feeding plan.
Bottom Line
Feed red devils a quality animal-protein cichlid pellet as the staple, add frozen seafood and some vegetables, and skip feeder fish and fillers. Feed small portions often when they are young, once or twice daily when adult, and keep the water clean with regular changes.
