Some species of fish are very popular in the aquarium hobby. Many of them are kept only as sports or breeding forms that do not exist in the wild and most aquarists are completely unaware how the wild form looks like. One of these species is the very popular dwarf cichlid Apistogramma cacatuoides. The species occurs in the Amazon basin of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru between 69°W and 71°W and is imported only occasionally.
The wonderful A. cacatuoides we currently have in stock have been imported from Peru. Although they look rather drab compared with their selective-bred cousins and their mainly red finneage, the wild ones impress with the stout body and gorgeous dorsal fin. By the way: the black clusters of pigment are not inherited, but can be found in wild collected specimens only. It is said that they result from recovered diseases in the wild. May that be as it is, it is a fact that the black clusters are completely harmless.
For our customers: the fish have code 617204 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Apistogramma: ancient Greek, means “with unreliable line”. It is not known wether the lateral line organ or the pattern is meant. cacatuoides: means “looks like a cockatoo”. The author of the species was reminded by the dorsal fin of the males in the hood of an cockatoo.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
