Apistogramma cacatuoides is commonly known as Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid. This specie belongs to Cichlid American family and is commonly bred in captivity. Their specie name is cacatuoides.
Moreover, Apistogramma cacatuoides found in amazon rivers, lives in small shallow and lagoon water in rainforest. These are preferes to live in 24 and 28 degree temperature water, where bottom of the water covered with leaves where they can hide.
Apistogramma Cacatuoides Appearance
The male dwarf cichlid is about 8 cm length. Whereas, female dwarf cichlid are 5 cm long than males. This fish is middle height, long, with a big mouth and thick tips. The male fish are more colorful have vibrant red or orange dorsal fins.
Whereas, females are dull in color but black lines on their body are more prominent. Their base color is pale yellow but get prominent while breeding and mating. There are various colors forms naturally while breeding, like blue, yellow and some times red.
Both genders have black lines on their body which stats from eye and leads to the tail.
Types of Apistos
For aquarist one of the enjoyable thing in fish keeping is their vibrant colors. There are several different types of apistos which are given below:
- Cacatuoides : also known as cockatoo dwarf cichlid available in differet shades of red and in orange
- Flash.
- Agassizii : comes in fire red and gold and distinguish from its rounded tail.
- Then comes Borelli: a umbrella dwarf cichlid, in blue color body with yellow fins.
- The last but not the least is Trifasciata popular because of their three black strips with blue fins.
These species of fish are easy to breed at home.
Apistogramma Cacatuoides Breeding
The good thing about this family specie is they are easy to breed. Female Apistogramma cacatuoides lays salom color eggs, on the roof of their cave and protect them alone. While male Apistogramma cacatuoides guards the territory. The interesting thing is that some male fish are known as ‘sneaker male’, they mimic females in appearance to attract them and to avoid conflict. The sneak will give them the chance of mating.
Moreover, if the dominate males dies, then sneaker will develop a full trait male fish. For them 120 liters tank is not suitable of multiple couples, females required almost 30cm area.
An aquarist, should keep on thing I their minds especially beginners, not to keep fast swimming fish with them in community tank. This will harm or steal the fry from mothers.
Feeding
The Apistogramma cacatuoides stays on balance diet to stay healthy. They eat foods that are rich in protein such as black worms and blood worms, they also should be provided with the fiber to avoid bloating. The food with fibrous comes from plant food and crustaceans like brine shrimps. Moreover, apistogramma more like to have small pellets, repsahy gel and some sinking options.
Are Apistogramma Agassizii aggressive?
However, Apistogramma cacatuoides are quite peaceful, as they are from cichlid family they are become aggressive some times. After knowing that they become aggressive, than second question arises in your mind “when they got aggressive”?
They usually become at the territorial dispute and at the time of breeding. They become aggressive not only while establishing territory, in maintainig the territory. Male Apistogramma cacatuoides tracking other apistos and fish when they close to territory.
Whereas, at the time of breeding, not only males but also females become extremely aggressive about their spawning site. Usually females allow male fish to track the other fish, but they also stand by there to protect their eggs by own.
How to reduce their aggression? is another question which is frequently there. So the answer of this is that to reduce apistogramma aggression minimize the planted frames which makes them aggressive. Secondly, the acquarist should place objects like driftwood and other objects that makes places for apistogramma. This will helps them to stop guarding the whole tank.
At last…
Apistogramma cacatuoides is the best choice for the aquarists and its beginner friendly. These are territorial fish, have fascinating colors, and easy to breed. They can also change their colors during breeding. As peaceful territorial instinct to keep them one should understand their environment and their needs. With a proper tank set up, balance diet and thoughtful space management, cockatoo dwarf cichlid can survive in community aquarium.
Explore More: Apistogramma Agassizii: Complete Care Guide