Comments: These are fabulous fish with vibrant colors. The young male in the picture just above was swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Origin: Apistogrammas are Dwarf Cichlids whose ancestors lived in the Amazon, but now they live in aquariums all over the world.

There are often several species of Apistogramma for sale in this store.

Maximum Size: In aquariums, male Apistogrammas can grow to be about 2.5" long, and females are smaller.

Behaviors: Apistogramma are usually semi-aggresive fish and from time to time males have energetic battles.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include, other South American Cichlid species and Corydoras Catfish.

Click here for more about Synodontis Catfish.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: Apistogrammas live best from about 75 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is best to feed to Cichlids.

Smaller sized pellets when they're small, and larger sized pellets when they're larger, is the ideal food for these fish.

Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: These fish can adapt to most types of water, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or alkalinity.

Unless you want to spawn them, they you'll need to lower the pH and the hardness, and the usual way do that is by gradually diluting you water with RO-water.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: Dwarf Cichlids like this Apistogramma, will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 30-gallons of water, but of course bigger is better.

Decor: Apistogrammas do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel.

Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, but Cichlids will usually rip plants up, so most Mbuna aquariums do not have live plants.

Some Cichlids love rocks and rocky caves.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

Most 30-gallon aquariums do best with a 200B or a 350B Penguin Filter.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.

Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: Apistogrammas can live for several years.

Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they will most likely breed and produce the next generation of fish for your aquarium.

Gender: It's difficult to tell males from females, when they're very small, but as they mature the male will color up and the female will become plumper, as she fills with eggs.

Breeding: Apistogrammas females lay their eggs on flat rocks or in small cavities between rocks.

The male fertilizes, and then they protect their eggs and babies from other tankmates.

Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: These fish are rare but popular in the aquarium hobby.

Names: The scientific name for Cockatoo Dwarf Apistogramma is Apistogramma cacatuoides.

Variations: There are some variations of the Cockatoo Dwarf Apistogramma, and in fact they may be part of a complex of closely related species or subspecies.

Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Apistogrammas, including a picture gallery.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrTom - 12/11/15