Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

Looks how to spot one

Small, elongated dwarf cichlid; males with a crest-like dorsal fin

Males have extended front spines on the dorsal fin that stand up like a cockatoo's crest, plus bright red or orange in the dorsal and tail fins. Females are smaller and pale yellow, with a dark stripe along the flank that deepens when they guard young.23

Personality what they are like

Lively and bold; males hold territories and females become fierce guardians while caring for fry. Tank-bred fish usually fit well in a calm community.23

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Moderately active, patrolling the bottom and its caves.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Use gentle flow, dim light and plenty of caves or leaf litter. Males are bigger, brighter and longer finned. In small tanks the male may need moving out while the female raises fry.32

Home where they are happiest

Minimum 60 x 30 cm base (about 54 litres) for a pair, around 120 litres for several. Water 22-29 C, pH about 5.0-8.0 depending on source, hardness up to about 15-19 dH.312

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Mainly carnivorous; feeds on small bottom-dwelling invertebrates in the wild and takes brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworm and pellets at home.31

Company who they like around

Kept as a pair, trio or harem of one male with several females, alongside peaceful dither fish.23

The story where it all began

Hoedeman described the species in 1951, originally from specimens wrongly labelled as coming from Suriname; its true home is the upper Amazon. It is now one of the most widely bred Apistogramma, with many line-bred colour forms.321

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (assessed 30 November 2020)1

Taxonomy

Described by Hoedeman in 19511

Family

Cichlidae (cichlids)1

DATZ

Listed as A200 in the DATZ Apistogramma numbering system3