Cockatoo Apistogramma

A dwarf cichlid with spectacular double-flag dorsal fins and vivid colour morphs. Males claim a harem and a cave; give plenty of cover and keep midwater schooling fish as company.

• Minimum footprint: 20 gallons; a 25+ gallon tank gives real swimming room.
• Preferred swimming zone: bottom of the water column.
• Social — keep a group of at least 2.
• Care level: moderate.

• Temperature: 74–82°F
• pH: 6–7.5
• Hardness: 2–12 dGH (Moderate)

Stable parameters matter more than perfect ones — aim for consistency before chasing an exact number.

semi-aggressive

cichlidterritorialcave-spawnerpairssoft-waterbottom-dweller

An omnivore — offer a staple flake or pellet plus regular frozen or live foods (daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp) and some vegetable matter for balance.

No outright-compatible species in our current database — check individual pairings with the compatibility tool.

• Ember Tetra — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Celestial Pearl Danio — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Nerite Snail — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Chili Rasbora — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Pygmy Corydoras — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.

Standard tanks at or above the recommended 25 gallons:

• 29 gallon 30 × 12 × 18″
• 30 gallon 36 × 12 × 16″
• 40 gallon Breeder 36 × 18 × 16″
• All tank sizes

• Start from a 20 gallon minimum and plan the full group size (2+) before you buy.
• Activity level is moderate, which affects how much of the tank it uses and how much it adds to the bioload.
• Zoning matters: this species lives mostly in the bottom zone, so choose tank mates that occupy other levels.

Compatibility depends on tank size, water chemistry, temperament, and adult size. Run a full check against any species in our database.

• FishBase(Scientific Database, accessed 2026-09-20)
• SeriouslyFish(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
• Practical Fishkeeping(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
• Aquarium Forge editorial guidelines(Editorial Interpretation, accessed 2026-09-22)

Data reviewed: September 2026 · Data version: 2026.11
Editorial note: Minimum tank recommendations may vary by source and husbandry approach. Our figures synthesise the sources above for planning purposes.