Apistogramma cacatuoides
Also sold as Cockatoo dwarf cichlid · Apisto · Cacatuoides · Triple red apistogramma · Double red cacatuoides
Synonyms Cockatoo cichlid
Apistogramma cacatuoides is a semi-aggressive freshwater fish that reaches about 8 cm (3.1 in) and swims along the bottom. It wants 72–83°F (22–28.5°C) and pH 6–7.5, can be kept singly, and needs a tank of at least 60 L (16 gal).
Check a freshwater stocking selection with your tank size and animal counts.
Try it in a tank
Put Apistogramma cacatuoides in a 3D tank at your size and see how it sits with everything else. Free with an account.
At a glance
| Type | Fish |
|---|---|
| Adult size | 8 cm (3.1 in) |
| Minimum tank | 60 L (16 gal) |
| Group size | Can be kept singly |
| Temperature | 72–83°F (22–28.5°C) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| GH | 2–12 |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Eats shrimp | Yes |
Before it goes in
- Apistogramma cacatuoides needs at least 60 L (16 gal). The smallest size in this library that clears that is the Dennerle Nano Cube 60L.
- It eats shrimp. Cherry Shrimp, Crystal Red Shrimp and Bamboo Shrimp are on the menu.
- It holds at 72–83°F (22–28.5°C). That shares a window with Betta and Cherry Shrimp.
- It can go wrong with Cherry Shrimp and Crystal Red Shrimp — it works in some tanks and not in others, so it is not a combination to buy blind.
- It is semi-aggressive — plan the tank around it rather than adding it to a finished community.
- It digs in the substrate. A freshly planted carpet — Dwarf Hairgrass Mini and Downoi — gets lifted before it roots.
- One of them takes up roughly 21% of what a Dennerle Nano Cube 60L will comfortably hold, so plan the rest of the stock around it.
Apistogramma cacatuoides: care and setup
What tank size does it need?
At least 60 L (16 gal). The smallest size here that clears it is the Dennerle Nano Cube 60L.
Will it eat shrimp?
Yes. Shrimp are food to it, so pick one or the other.
What water does it want?
72–83°F (22–28.5°C), pH 6–7.5, GH 2–12.
How long does it live?
3–5 years in a tank that suits it. That is how long you are signing up for.
Good tank mates
- Tank mates from this library that share its temperature window, are peaceful and eat neither it nor its young: Goldfish, Bristlenose Pleco, Celestial Pearl Danio, Molly and Otocinclus.
- Plants that hold up with it: Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis', Water Sprite, Anubias nana 'Petite' and Cryptocoryne wendtii.
Often compared with
| Apistogramma cacatuoides | Apistogramma agassizii | Bolivian Ram | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult size | 8 cm | 8 cm | 8 cm |
| Min tank | 60 L | 60 L | 75 L |
| Group | 1+ | 2+ | 1+ |
| Temperature | 72–83°F (22–28.5°C) | 75–84°F (24–29°C) | 73–81°F (23–27°C) |
| Eats shrimp | Yes | Yes | Yes |