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Origin: Amazonas

Etymology: Unk

Synonyms: Apistogramma U2, Apistogramma borelli, Meinken, 1961described to be a li*&*&*&*&*&*v

First import: Unk

Description: See pictures, many colorvariations exist.

Care: Less difficult as other apistogrammas, requiers neutral to slighltly acidic water, soft to medium hard. Well filtered water, best filtered over peat, and frequent waterchanges. The fish are susceptible to waterpollution. Since the males can get quite large, and should be kept with more than one female, a 60 cm tank is the minimum size, but it's better to use a larger tank. The tank should be well planted, have lots of hideouts created with driftwood, coconut shells, and stones. The females will establish small territoria around a hideout, and the male will usually considere the whole tank as it's territorium. If more than one male is kept in a tan, fights may occur between the males.

Temperature: 24-26 degrees.

Feeding: Only live food is accepted by wildcaught fish, but the breeding forms accept also frozen and freeze dried food.

Size:Males up to 9 cm, females up to 5cm.

pH: 6.0-7.5

Breeding: Cavebreeder, female takes the initiativ. The fish will spawn, and attach the up to 80 eggs to the top of the cave. Females protect and care for the eggs. A rise in temperature, combined with a large waterchange and lots of live food will often induce spawning. Eggs will hatch in 3-4 days. The female should not be removed in the first week.

Sexual dimorphism:Males much more colorfull, and larger.

Prices:Netherlands: 3-5€.

Additional: Apistogramma cacatuoides is sensitive to pollution, and to medications. The eggs won't hatch sometimes if medication against fungus is used.

Picture references: All pictures: E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)

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