in the future,im thinking about getting a pair of cockatoo cichlids.ive read the caresheets but was just wondering if anyone can give me any additional information about them? i gather you cant really put 2 males in together that they should be a mixed pair or 2 females to 1 male? would a male be ok on its own?

You can keep a solo male, but be aware that it might be hard to find one. A lot of sellers will only sell in pairs, and if the fish are juveniles/stressed it's not always easy to tell the sexes apart.

thanks. just to let you know.the guy in one of my local fish shops,has 6 male cockatoo cichlids,when i asked him are they also known as dwarf apaistogrammas,he said no? also said that males together would be fine! but did some research of my own,as well as your confirmation that this is not the case.gotta love advice from some fish shop owners!!! also had the cheek to try and sell me another fish tank!

Par for the course with shops - some are staffed by very knowledgable people, but in the main their pronouncements need to be taken with a pinch of salt Always do your own research and if the shop tries to tell you differently, walk away!

I agree with Fishlady, as in my local fish store I was told the White cloud mountain minnows come from all around the world including here!!! Another told me I could stuff 40 in my 80L and that I shouldn't water test as It will only make me try to change things and make it worse. Even the ones who know a fair bit still bluff. And being a pharmacy student for 4 years I'm lucky to have a developed a very strong bluff radar!

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least this bit was correct, they aren't dwarf apistogramma, as far as apisto's go, they can be the big boys of the genus, they are dwarf cichlids though

splitting large hairs though

thanks for the additional info about them.starting to find out they are a facinating and extensive species.

Quick (and very basic) lesson in taxonomy (just for fun), using Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid as an example.

The Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid is a Species: cacatuoides of the Genus: Apistogramma which is a member of the Family: Cichlidae in the Suborder: Labroidei of the Order: Perciformes in the Class: Actinopterygii of the Phyllum: Chordata in the Kingdom: Animalia

There are a great many species in the Apistogramma genus, all with certain similarities. Apistogrammas are a dwarf genus withing the cichlid family which includes very diverse genera such as Pterophyllum (Angelfish), Symphysodon (Discus), Astronautus (Oscars) and so on. There are other genera of dwarf cichlid such as Mikrogeophagus, Pelvicachromis and so on.

As you move further back in the tree, the diversity increases. For instance look up the order: Perciformes to the the huge diversity of fish families within that order.

well thanks FL for confusing me evenmore lol. remember with me,its best kept simple,think forest gump