Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma cacatuoides

Named for its crest-like dorsal fin. Males flare their fiery fins to defend a cave and a harem.

A semi-aggressive freshwater fish that grows to 8 cm, lives near the bottom and needs 23–29 °C, pH 5.5–7.5 and an aquarium of at least 60 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

23–29 °C (73–84 °F)

pH

5.5–7.5

Adult size

8 cm (3.1 in)

Aquarium

60 L or bigger (16 US gal)

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Bottom

Diet

Carnivore

Wild home

Peruvian Amazon

Good to know

• Territorial. Fights other territorial fish in its zone, especially in small tanks.
• Shy. Stressed without plants, rocks or caves to hide in.

Tank mates

Good company: Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Cherry Barb, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Endler's Livebearer, Fancy Guppy, Glowlight Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora.

Will eat: Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Ember Tetra, Neocaridina Shrimp.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Fights with: Black Ghost Knifefish, German Blue Ram, Kribensis, Red-Tailed Black Shark, Sunshine Peacock Cichlid.

Attacks: Corydoras, Otocinclus.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Eats the newborn fry of: Angelfish, Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Congo Tetra, Corydoras, Demasoni Cichlid, Dwarf Gourami and 26 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Ghost Knifefish, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra, Discus, Dwarf Gourami, Electric Blue Acara, Fancy Goldfish and 11 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Classic uncommon
• Double Red rare

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.