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Common Name |
Cockatoo / Crested dwarf cichlid |
 |
|
Scientific Name |
Apistogramma cacatuoides |
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Distribution |
South America, Amazon basin |
|
Fully Grown Size |
3" (7.5cm), female smaller |
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Minimum tank size |
10 gal for a pair |
|
Water composition |
24-28oC (75-82oF), pH 5.5 - 6.8 preferred |
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Diet |
Carnivorous: may take dry foods, but live or frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae will be preferred |
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Sexing |
Males are larger and have dramatically elongated rays in the dorsal fin |
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Breeding |
Soft and acidic water of excellent quality required. Can be bred as a pair or a harem with several females holding small territories. Provide caves with a very small entrance. The female normally guards the fry, while the male defends the wider territory. Fry are normally free-swimming in about a week |
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Comments |
This is one of the most popular and commonly available of the Apistogramma species, and several colour forms are available, such as the popular "Super Red" and "Double Red" varieties |
