Says Red’s owner: “Red was my 5 and a half year old African Cichlid ‘red devil.’ I bought him when he was less than an inch long. Upon his death early Saturday Morning at 2:30am EST on August 22, 2009 he was 12 and a half inches long and 6 and a half inches tall. Red was hand fed all his life and loved to be petted. I had him for a little over 5 years. This morning at 11:00am EST I committed his body into Lake Hickory behind our home. I’m gonna miss him!”

Editor’s note: The owner says the aquarium is a quarantine tank, not Red’s regular aquarium; he moved Red to QT when his fish started to struggle, hoping he’d heal. Also, to correct the above statement, red devils are Central American, not African.  It is also important to recognize that the natural lifespans of red devils is 10-12 years (sometimes longer).  No one knows why Red died prematurely, assuming Red’s owner kept accurate track of his age; Red looked big and healthy upon his death.  This article isn’t meant to cast aspersions but rather to appreciate empathy for a passing of a finned friend.