Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma cacatuoides
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 5–8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 60 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
Species profile
Blue Panda Apistogramma
Apistogramma panduro
Common names: Blue Panda Apistogramma, Panduro Dwarf Cichlid, Blue Sky Apistogramma
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 6.5 cm
Typical adult length 4–6.5 cm.
Up to 6.5 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Advanced shrimp keepers
- Peaceful nano aquariums
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A colourful Peruvian nijsseni-group dwarf cichlid correctly named Apistogramma panduro. It forms strong pairs, prefers soft acidic water, and can become highly territorial while breeding.
Appearance and Identification
Adult males are blue to turquoise with dark flank markings and orange or red edging in the fins. Females are yellow with a large black flank patch, dark caudal-base marking, and bold brood pattern. Body and colour vary with condition.
Use Apistogramma panduro as the accepted name. The words pandurini and Blue Panda are trade names, not separate species. Distinguish it from A. nijsseni and related forms by female blotch pattern, male colour, caudal markings, and provenance.
Males are larger and blue, with more extended fins and warm-coloured fin margins. Females are smaller, yellow, and show prominent black flank and caudal markings, especially in breeding condition.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 120–180 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–100 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 60 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 60 cm
- Minimum group size
- 2
- Recommended group size
- 2
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Maintain one compatible pair in a 60 cm or longer aquarium with fine sand, heavy leaf litter, wood, roots, plants, and several caves. Strong sight breaks and an emergency divider are recommended because pair aggression can escalate.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A pair-oriented, territorial dwarf cichlid that can be calm when settled but becomes highly defensive around a cave and brood.
Best kept as one established pair. It is less suited to a casual harem arrangement than many polygynous Apistogramma.
Both partners may defend the pair area, while the brooding female controls the immediate cave and fry zone. An incompatible pair can injure one another in a confined tank.
A species-focused aquarium is safest for breeding. Calm upper-water dithers may be used in a larger display. Avoid other dwarf cichlids, intrusive bottom dwellers, aggressive fish, and ornamental shrimp.
Water Parameters
Soft acidic water is preferred, particularly for breeding and egg development. Captive-bred fish may tolerate slightly higher mineral content, but hard alkaline conditions are unsuitable for long-term specialised care.
Parameter caveat
Use low-mineral water before trying to lower pH. Acclimate slowly and monitor pair behaviour closely after water changes, spawning, or major rearrangement.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
Daraz NepalCheck availability on Daraz
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore, Insectivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Live baby brine shrimpA useful conditioning food for adults and a staple for juveniles; rinse before feeding.
- Live or frozen daphnia and cyclopsSmall crustacean prey encourages natural hunting and is suitable for regular rotation.
- Frozen brine shrimp or mysisOffer thawed portions small enough for the fish to swallow cleanly.
- Small carnivore micro-pelletUse as part of a varied diet after the fish accepts prepared food.
A small-invertebrate predator that should receive varied live, frozen, and high-quality prepared foods.
Feed small portions once or twice daily. Newly imported fish may need live or frozen foods before accepting pellets. Avoid a long-term single-food diet.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Cave Spawner, Egg Layer
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 26 °C
- Breeding pH
- 5.5
- Brood or egg count
- Usually several dozen eggs; dependable species-wide fecundity data are limited.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Maternal care
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpPrimary food once fry become free-swimming; feed small rinsed portions several times daily.
- MicrowormsUseful supplementary first food for fry feeding close to the substrate.
- Paramecium or cultured infusoriaUseful during the first days for fry that cannot yet take baby brine shrimp.
- Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly as a supplement and remove uneaten material.
A cave-spawning species with maternal direct care and strong pair territoriality. The female lays adhesive eggs inside a shelter and guards eggs, larvae, and fry. Soft acidic water and privacy improve success.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Peru, South America
- Natural habitat
- Blackwater, Freshwater Stream
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Planted Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
- Audience level
- Advanced
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Apistogramma
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Dwarf Cichlids, Fish
- Previous scientific names
- Apistogramma sp. "Pandurini", Pre-description and commercial aquarium name for the species now accepted as Apistogramma panduro., Apistogramma pandurini, Common but incorrect scientific-style trade usage; Apistogramma panduro is the accepted name., Apistogramma sp. "Sky Blue", Older aquarium trade name used before formal identification.
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Elizabeth’s Apistogramma
Apistogramma elizabethae
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 litres
- Temperature
- 23–29 °C
Hoigne’s Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma hoignei
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 litres
- Temperature
- 23–29 °C
Macmaster’s Apistogramma
Apistogramma macmasteri
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4–7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 80 litres
- Temperature
- 23–30 °C