Cockatoo dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma cacatuoides
The easiest apistogramma: males carry a tall, crest-like dorsal fin, and females guard eggs and fry fiercely in their caves.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 17 gallons
- Group
- 2+
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp, micro pellets
- Origin
- South America
- Hardier than92%
- Bigger than46%
- Calmer than28%
Water: their range vs yours
Cockatoo dwarf cichlid tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpShrimplets get eaten.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish eats small fish: Cockatoo dwarf cichlid.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 8550 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Cockatoo dwarf cichlid.Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat young or small Cockatoo dwarf cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- DemasoniTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 7200 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Cockatoo dwarf cichlid: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Cockatoo dwarf cichlid: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Cockatoo dwarf cichlid: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Cockatoo dwarf cichlid: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for cockatoo dwarf cichlids: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 7.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 6.33 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 3.93 BU
- Min. water
- 54 L net
- Min. footprint
- 60 × 30 cm per pair
- Group
- 2+ (best 3)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- carnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Care notes
Cockatoo dwarf cichlids come from South America; males reach about 3 inches and females about 2. Orange flash, double red and triple red forms are popular, and captive-bred fish are fairly unfussy about water.
Keep one male with one or two females in a 15 gallon tank or larger over sand, with a cave or coconut shell for each female. Females guarding fry chase everything, and different apistogramma species should not be mixed.
Questions
What size tank does a cockatoo dwarf cichlid need?
At least 17 gallons (54 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3 inches without fins.
How many cockatoo dwarf cichlids should be kept together?
Keep at least 2, ideally 3 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do cockatoo dwarf cichlids need?
72–84 °F, pH 5–6 and 0–15 dGH. Cockatoo dwarf cichlids come from South America.
How long do cockatoo dwarf cichlids live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with cockatoo dwarf cichlids?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.