Fins come out flat orange, without the black patterning that the red grades carry. Females carry orange fins as well, lighter than the male's, so an unsexed group still reads as an orange line. Some sellers list a platinum orange flash, which adds a pale body over the same fin color. Names are not standardized across shops, so compare photos rather than labels.
In the wild
A hobby line of uncertain origin. It has been in the trade a long time, but no breeder, country or year is reliably documented, so treat origin stories about this line as unverified. Seriously Fish lists orange flash among the ornamental line-bred forms of the species, and wild cockatoo cichlids are far plainer than any of them.
Good to know
Selection here removed the black fin patterning that defines the red grades, leaving unbroken orange. Breeders report that good orange flash stock spawns true, throwing orange flash fry batch after batch, while poorer aquarium stock throws a mix of forms. It crosses freely with the red lines either way, and hobbyists trade notes on triple red by orange flash pairings.
Did you know
The color can hide inside a red line. One keeper reported a triple red pair throwing about ten percent orange flash fry, and those fish went on to breed one hundred percent orange flash. Breeders take that as a sign the trait can sit unseen in red stock.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Orange flash cockatoo cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Is an Orange flash cockatoo cichlid a different species from the Cockatoo cichlid?
No. An Orange flash cockatoo cichlid is a variety of the Cockatoo cichlid, Apistogramma cacatuoides, and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.
What size tank does an Orange flash cockatoo cichlid need?
An Orange flash cockatoo cichlid needs at least 18 gal (70 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
How big does an Orange flash cockatoo cichlid get?
An adult Orange flash cockatoo cichlid reaches about 3 in (7.5 cm).
3 in (7.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
3.3 in (8.5 cm)18 gal (70 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)18 gal (70 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
3 in (7.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
3 in (7.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)