Cockatoo dwarf cichlid

Care at a glance

The cockatoo dwarf cichlid is the best-known apistogramma, and with reason: the male carries a tall, spiky dorsal fin and a red-orange flamed tail, and flares both at every opportunity. The female is small and inconspicuous until she has eggs — then she turns bright lemon yellow and drives off fish three times her size.

These are bottom dwellers that claim a territory around a cave, so give them sand, driftwood and upturned flowerpots or coconut shells as nurseries. One male with two or three females works better than a pair, because the attention is then divided. They do not need extremely soft water, but they do need clean water and calm company.

Good to know

• Territorial

Related species

• Bolivian ramMikrogeophagus altispinosus
• Hillstream loachSewellia lineolata
• OscarAstronotus ocellatus
• Yoyo loachBotia almorhae
• Clown loachChromobotia macracanthus
• Convict cichlidAmatitlania nigrofasciata