Apisto Cacatuoides

The male Cockatoo or Apistogramma Cacatuoides dwarf cichlid is truly magnificent when he grows to his full two-inch size. Females are a bit drabber but still have nice yellow and red coloration. AquariumFish.com tries to pair when shipping more than one item; males just never display all their colors without a female around. These apistogrammas, like all apistos, are great additions to gentle community tanks, nano tanks, and planted aquariums.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Give them a heater, a gentle filter, dim lighting and lots of plants, driftwood and leaf litter. Add a cave (a coconut shell or small clay pot) for each female. Most apistos prefer soft, slightly acidic water.

Feeding: Feed small pellets or flake once or twice a day. They also enjoy frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Tankmates: Keep them with small, peaceful fish such as tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, otocinclus and corydoras. A calm school of small "dither" fish helps apistos feel safe enough to come out. Keep one male per tank unless it is large and well planted, and avoid large or boisterous fish. Adults may eat small shrimp and baby shrimp.

Breeding: Apistos are cave spawners. The female lays her eggs inside a cave and guards the fry, while the male patrols the territory. One male with several females works well in a planted tank.

Good to know: Cockatoo apistos are among the hardiest apistogrammas and handle a wider range of water than most, which makes them a great first dwarf cichlid.