Cockatoo dwarf cichlid

The cockatoo dwarf cichlid is a small South American cichlid of the family Cichlidae, native to the western Amazon basin in Peru. Males are colorful, with elongated spiky dorsal fin rays that stand up like a cockatoo's crest, and captive strains show intense red and orange finnage. It is a relatively peaceful dwarf cichlid best kept as a single male with several females in a harem. Males can become territorial during breeding, but it coexists well with peaceful mid- and upper-level tankmates such as small tetras. A well-planted tank with driftwood, leaf litter, and small caves suits it, in soft, slightly acidic water. It accepts most small live and frozen foods. It is a cave-spawner: the female tends the eggs and guards the fry, defending them fiercely while the male patrols the wider territory.