Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

The cockatoo dwarf cichlid is the hardiest and most readily available of the Apistogramma. The front rays of the male's dorsal fin are elongated and stand up like a cockatoo's crest; the tail and fins have a red–orange pattern. There are color forms such as "double red" and "orange flash." Females are small, yellow and plain; when guarding fry they turn yellow and black.

It lives in the upper Amazon, in shallow streams and pools covered with leaf litter, in soft and slightly acidic water.

• Volume: at least 60 liters for one male and 2–3 females; a length of 80 cm or more is more comfortable.
• Caves: a separate small cave for each female (coconut shell, small stone cave).
• Setting: fine sand, dried leaves, roots, dense planting; dim light.
• Water: 25–27°C; soft and slightly acidic is ideal, but it also adapts to moderate hardness.

Mainly carnivorous. Frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops; quality small granules. Live food boosts appetite and color.

The male guards his territory and his females; the females also defend the area around their own caves. It usually leaves midwater fish alone but may chase bottom dwellers.

Good companions: small to medium tetras and rasboras (cardinal, rummy-nose, harlequin), otocinclus, kuhli loaches (with enough space).

Avoid: other Apistogramma males (in a small aquarium), fish that constantly roam the bottom such as corydoras (in a small aquarium), shrimp, large cichlids.

The cockatoo dwarf cichlid lives in a harem: 1 male and 2–3 females. Each female sets up her own small territory and cave; the male controls a large area that covers all of these territories. A single pair also works, but the female may be worn out by the male's attention. Two males can only be tried in a large aquarium well divided by decor.

The female lays 50–100 eggs on the ceiling of the cave and guards the fry almost alone; during this time her color turns bright yellow. Once the fry start swimming, the female leads them around as a school. Temperature affects the sex ratio of the fry (at higher temperatures the proportion of males increases).

Relatively hardy, but sensitive to nitrate buildup and poor water; regular water changes are essential. Internal parasites are common in imported fish.

Sexing is easy: males are 7–8 cm, with a long-rayed, colorful dorsal fin and a patterned tail. Females are 4–5 cm, yellowish–gray and short-finned; they have a dark horizontal stripe on the body and turn bright yellow when guarding fry.