Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Male vs Female, Breeding, Tank Size, Tank Mates

The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid fishes are one of the most famous fishes all over the world. These are available in rivers, lakes, and ponds. These fishes are very strong. These fishes are found only in specific areas. If you want to take them home to live in an aquarium, you can easily buy these fish from a commercial area. These Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids fishes are small to medium in size and may vary from 8 cm to 10 cm. These fishes have the least lifespan as compared to the other small fishes. Their life expectancy may vary from 3 years to 5 years only.

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Male vs Female 

They have common differences in the male and female fishes. The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid male fishes are large in size as compared to the female fishes. The size of male fishes may vary from 8 cm to 10 cm but the female fishes are small and they may vary from 4 cm to 5 cm. The life expectancy is the same for both male and female fishes. The male’s dorsal fins are large as compared to the female’s dorsal fins. The body of male fish is colorful but the body of female fish is simple.

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Breeding

For the successful breeding of these fishes, you should take one male and several females and put all of them in the same tank. They require a large tank for breeding. The small tank is not suitable for the breeding of these fishes although their size is small. The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid male fishes protect the female when the female is in the process of spawning. The female fishes spawn 80 eggs by the first hatch. These fishes get spawned in the caves. These fishes require some specific temperature of water for breeding. The low temperature is mostly required for their breeding. 

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Tank Size

The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid fishes require a large tank to live and also require more clean water to live a longer lifespan. The measurements of the tank required by them may vary from 50 gallons to 52 gallons. These requirements are only for a pair of these fishes but a single Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid fish requires less water as compared to a pair. A single fish requires 20 gallons to 30 gallons and that is more than enough for it. They do not feel happy in the small tank and dirty water. They do not like dirty or bacterial water because they would not survive. 

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Tank Mates

The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid fishes are small to medium. They also want some small fish around them in the tank because sometimes these fish are eaten up by the large fish instead of food. One male and 5 to 6 females should be kept in a single tank for better spawning. These fishes are not aggressive. They like to spend more time with the same fishes and other small fishes. These fishes easily play with them and feel comfortable and fit. They do not like to live alone. When they live alone they become sad and anxious and that is not suitable for them.