Aquariumcichlid · freshwater
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma cacatuoides) grows to about 3.5 in (7.5 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 24 inches long and about 14 gallons. It doesn't need a group of its own kind, at 72–84°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 3.5 in (7.5 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 24 inches long and about 14 gallons
- Temperature
- 72–84°F
- pH
- 5–6
- Hardness
- 0–15 dGH
- Group size
- 1 (solitary or pair)
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- semi-aggressive
- Swims
- bottom of the tank
- Diet
- carnivore
- Care level
- intermediate
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: may eat baby shrimp
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
- Lemon TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 68–82°F
Use caution
- Celestial Pearl DanioCockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Celestial Pearl Danio (pH 6.5–7.5) prefer different pH.
- GuppyCockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Guppy (pH 7–8.5) prefer different pH.
- PlatyCockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Platy (pH 7–8.2) prefer different pH.
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careCockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Endler's Livebearer (pH 7–8.5) prefer different pH.
- AngelfishNeeds careAngelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid.
- Pygmy CoryCockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Pygmy Cory (pH 6.4–7.4) prefer different pH.
- Cherry ShrimpCockatoo Dwarf Cichlid may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Amano ShrimpCockatoo Dwarf Cichlid may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
Avoid
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid is peaceful.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid is peaceful.
- Fancy GoldfishOutgrows tanksCockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (72–84°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid only grows to about 3.5 in.
- OscarOutgrows tanksOscar eats small fish, and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid only grows to about 3.5 in.
All 105 species we checked against the Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Discus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| German Blue Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| African Dwarf Frog | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and African Dwarf Frog (pH 6.6–7.4) prefer different pH. |
| Amano Shrimp | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Angelfish | Caution | Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid. |
| Assassin Snail | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Assassin Snail (pH 7.5–8) prefer different pH. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.; Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Bamboo Shrimp (pH 7–7.5) prefer different pH. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid.; Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Blood Parrot Cichlid (pH 6.5–7.4) prefer different pH. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (pH 7–8) prefer different pH. |
| Bumblebee Goby | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Bumblebee Goby (pH 7–8.5) prefer different pH. |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Celestial Pearl Danio (pH 6.5–7.5) prefer different pH. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.; Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Cherry Shrimp (pH 6.5–8) prefer different pH. |
| Clown Pleco | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Clown Pleco (pH 6.8–7.6) prefer different pH. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Denison Barb | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Denison Barb (pH 6.5–7.8) prefer different pH. |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish (pH 6.8–7.5) prefer different pH. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Caution | Electric Blue Acara can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid.; Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Electric Blue Acara (pH 6.5–8) prefer different pH. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Endler's Livebearer (pH 7–8.5) prefer different pH. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Caution | Firemouth Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid.; Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Firemouth Cichlid (pH 6.5–8.5) prefer different pH. |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Forktail Blue-eye (pH 7–8) prefer different pH. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.; Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Ghost Shrimp (pH 7–8) prefer different pH. |
| Guppy | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Guppy (pH 7–8.5) prefer different pH. |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Japanese Trapdoor Snail (pH 6.5–7.3) prefer different pH. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid. |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Malaysian Trumpet Snail (pH 7–7.5) prefer different pH. |
| Molly | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Molly (pH 7–8.5) prefer different pH. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (0–15 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Odessa Barb | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Odessa Barb (pH 6.5–8.5) prefer different pH. |
| Paradise Fish | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid and Paradise Fish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Pea Puffer | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Pea Puffer (pH 6.8–8) prefer different pH. |
| Pictus Catfish | Caution | Pictus Catfish can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid. |
| Platy | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Platy (pH 7–8.2) prefer different pH. |
| Pygmy Cory | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Pygmy Cory (pH 6.4–7.4) prefer different pH. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid.; Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Rainbow Shark (pH 6.5–8) prefer different pH. |
| Ramshorn Snail | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Ramshorn Snail (pH 7–8) prefer different pH. |
| Red-Tail Shark | Caution | Red-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid. |
| Swordtail | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Swordtail (pH 7–8) prefer different pH. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid. |
| Tinfoil Barb | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Tinfoil Barb (pH 6.5–7) prefer different pH. |
| Variatus Platy | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Variatus Platy (pH 7–8.2) prefer different pH. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Caution | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid is peaceful. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (72–84°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.; Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Fancy Goldfish (pH 6.5–7.5) prefer different pH. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid only grows to about 3.5 in.; Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) and Iridescent Shark (pH 6.5–7.5) prefer different pH. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid only grows to about 3.5 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Soft, acidic water kept stable; caves for spawning; dim light with floating plants; breeding female can turn very aggressive in small tanks.
Group: Not a shoaling fish. SF base footprint (60x30 cm) is for a single pair; a larger group/harem needs a bigger tank. Wild fish should not be mixed with other Apistogramma.
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, semi-aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid get?
About 3.5 inches (7.5 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid need?
At least 24 inches long and about 14 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 20 gallon long.
How many Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids should be kept together?
It can be kept on its own. Not a shoaling fish. SF base footprint (60x30 cm) is for a single pair; a larger group/harem needs a bigger tank. Wild fish should not be mixed with other Apistogramma.
What fish can live with a Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Cherry Barb.
Gear for a Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 20 gallon long (30 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 100 W for 20 gallons, holding 72–84°F.Find on Amazon →FoodSinking food reaches the bottom before tankmates grab it.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: researched from source pages. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/apistogramma-cacatuoides/
- fishbase.se /summary/Apistogramma-cacatuoides.html