All fish / Cichlidae

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma cacatuoides

Also known as cockatoo cichlid, cacatuoides, apisto cacatuoides, double red cockatoo, triple red cockatoo, orange flash cockatoo, super red cockatoo, cockatoo apisto, apistogramma cacatoides, ปลาค็อกคาทู, アピストグラマ・カカトゥオイデス, apistogramma kakatua

Males have tall, spiky front dorsal rays that look like a cockatoo's crest, a dark stripe along the flank and a lyre-shaped tail, often bright red or orange in cultivated strains. Females are smaller and yellowish. It is one of the hardiest and most adaptable dwarf cichlids, so it is a popular first Apistogramma.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 29 °C

pH

6 to 7.8

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

One male with two to four females

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, plus quality small pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin in Peru, Colombia and Brazil

Breeding

A cave spawner: the female lays eggs on the roof of a cave or coconut shell and guards them while the male defends the territory. Breeding is easy in soft to moderately hard water, and the female herds the free-swimming fry around for several weeks.

Good to know

Males become territorial and aggressive while breeding, so give each female her own cave and plenty of cover. Warmer water tends to produce more male fry.