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Cockatoo Apistogramma care

Apistogramma cacatuoides · Freshwater · Intermediate level care

Cockatoo Apistogramma, painted illustration

A colorful dwarf cichlid that does best with one male and several females.

Smallest tank20 gallons
Adult size3 inches
Temperature74 to 80°F
pH5.5 to 7.2
GroupA group of 3 or more
TemperamentSemi aggressive
SwimsBottom of the tank
Lives4 to 5 years
Watch for: Males are territorial toward other males, so keep one male per tank unless it is large.

Feeding

Twice a day. A small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes. Small pellets, frozen foods, live foods.

Claims a territory and guards it.

Good tank mates

Fish that pass every check with Cockatoo Apistogramma in a 40 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.

Betta (Female)Betta (Male)Black Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlue AcaraBlue GouramiBoesemani RainbowfishBrilliant RasboraBristlenose PlecoBronze Corydoras

Do not mix with

  • Tinfoil Barb: Tinfoil Barb grows big enough to eat Cockatoo Apistogramma.
  • White Cloud Mountain Minnow: White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Cockatoo Apistogramma need different water temperatures.
  • Discus: Discus and Cockatoo Apistogramma need different water temperatures.
  • Oscar: Oscar grows big enough to eat Cockatoo Apistogramma.
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey grows big enough to eat Cockatoo Apistogramma.
  • Severum: Severum grows big enough to eat Cockatoo Apistogramma.
  • Green Terror: Green Terror grows big enough to eat Cockatoo Apistogramma.
  • Demasoni Cichlid: Demasoni Cichlid fight their own kind. Keep only one per tank.

Questions

What size tank does a Cockatoo Apistogramma need?

At least 20 gallons for a group of 3. Adults grow to about 3 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.

What temperature does a Cockatoo Apistogramma like?

74 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of about 5.5 to 7.2. A steady temperature matters more than hitting one exact number.

How many Cockatoo Apistogramma should I keep together?

Keep 3 or more. They feel safe in a group and show better color and behavior.

What do Cockatoo Apistogramma eat?

Small pellets, frozen foods, live foods. Feed twice a day: a small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes.

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-11-10. When sources disagree we use the safer number.