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Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma cacatuoides
Family: Cichlidae
📍 Amazon & Ucayali, South America
Apistogramma cacatuoides is one of the most popular dwarf cichlids, named for the male's elaborate dorsal fin with extended first rays that resemble a cockatoo's crest. Males come in a variety of colour forms (double red, orange flash, triple red) but all share the bold territorial personality typical of apistogrammas. They breed readily in caves and the female alone guards the fry with fierce dedication.
Keeping this species
- diet
- Carnivore – micro pellets, bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp
- breeding
- Cave spawner; female broods; provide small caves or coconut shells
- lifespan
- 3–5 years
- max size
- 8 cm males; 5 cm females
- tank size
- 20 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Males territorial; females aggressive when guarding fry; peaceful toward unrelated species
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Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <10 ppm
- hardness
- 2–12 dGH
- temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
Natural Habitat Temperature
77°F — 81°F seasonal range · (Jan low, Mar high)