Cockatoo dwarf cichlid care: tank size, temperature and tankmates

A small cichlid with a spiky dorsal fin. Cockatoo apistos are one of the easiest Apistogramma to keep.

Quick facts

How to keep them

Give them caves and leaf litter. Keep one male with females. Bottom dwellers need their own hiding spots.

Like every fish, they need a cycled tank, a heater set inside their range, and a weekly water change of about 25%. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before you add them. New to this? Start with how to cycle a fish tank.

Tankmates

Good tankmates

Neon tetra · Cardinal tetra · Ember tetra · Rummynose tetra · Harlequin rasbora · Zebra danio · Cherry barb · Platy · Guppy · Endler's livebearer · Molly · Swordtail · Honey gourami · Dwarf gourami · Pearl gourami · Amano shrimp · Nerite snail · Mystery snail · Glowlight tetra · Black neon tetra · Lemon tetra · Congo tetra · Chili rasbora · Lambchop rasbora · Dwarf neon rainbowfish · Sparkling gourami · Clown loach · Siamese algae eater · Ramshorn snail

Possible, with care

• Black skirt tetra: Fast, nippy fish stress slow, calm fish like these. Pick calmer tankmates if you can.
• Serpae tetra: Fast, nippy fish stress slow, calm fish like these. Pick calmer tankmates if you can.
• Tiger barb: Fast, nippy fish stress slow, calm fish like these. Pick calmer tankmates if you can.
• Betta (male): Both can be territorial. It can work in 20 gallons or more with plenty of plants and caves, but watch them closely.
• Corydoras (bronze or peppered): Kribensis and apistos guard caves and chase bottom dwellers away when they have eggs. Give everyone their own hiding spots.
• Pygmy corydoras: Kribensis and apistos guard caves and chase bottom dwellers away when they have eggs. Give everyone their own hiding spots.
• Kuhli loach: Kribensis and apistos guard caves and chase bottom dwellers away when they have eggs. Give everyone their own hiding spots.
• Otocinclus: Kribensis and apistos guard caves and chase bottom dwellers away when they have eggs. Give everyone their own hiding spots.
• Bristlenose pleco: Kribensis and apistos guard caves and chase bottom dwellers away when they have eggs. Give everyone their own hiding spots.
• Angelfish: Both are cichlids and claim territory. Give them 40 gallons or more, with caves and plants to break up the view.
• Cherry shrimp: Cockatoo dwarf cichlids eat baby cherry shrimp. Adults usually survive with plenty of moss to hide in.
• Gold barb: Only a narrow shared temperature range (74–75°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must.
• Rosy barb: They only share 74°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must. Fast, nippy fish stress slow, calm fish like these. Pick calmer tankmates if you can.
• German blue ram: Both are cichlids and claim territory. Give them 40 gallons or more, with caves and plants to break up the view.
• Bolivian ram: Both are cichlids and claim territory. Give them 40 gallons or more, with caves and plants to break up the view.
• Kribensis: Both are cichlids and claim territory. Give them 40 gallons or more, with caves and plants to break up the view.
• Hillstream loach: Only a narrow shared temperature range (74–75°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must. Kribensis and apistos guard caves and chase bottom dwellers away when they have eggs. Give everyone their own hiding spots.
• Ghost shrimp: Dwarf cichlids hunt small shrimp. Ghost shrimp often end up as food.
• African dwarf frog: African dwarf frogs are slow, nearly blind eaters. Bigger or faster fish take their food, so feed the frogs with a baster or tongs.

Avoid

• White cloud mountain minnow: No shared temperature: cockatoo dwarf cichlids like 74–82°F, white cloud minnows 60–72°F.
• Fancy goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
• Common goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.

Not sure about a mix? See the tankmate answers or the stocking ideas by tank size.

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