Rainbow Cichlid

Herotilapia multispinosa

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 7.0–8.0
Adult size: 6.3 in (16 cm)
Minimum tank: 26 gal (100 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Common
Origin: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

One of the more peaceful Central American cichlids, sitting in the mid water and willing to share a tank of at least 100 liters. Keep the water in the low to high 20s C with a pH of 7 to 8. It is an omnivore that leans toward algae and plant matter, so feed a varied diet with vegetable content alongside pellets and the occasional meaty treat. It gets territorial when breeding, so give a pair space and watch tankmates then.

In the wild

The rainbow cichlid comes from warm lakes, ponds, and slow rivers in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, often over soft bottoms with plants and submerged wood. The water there tends to be neutral to slightly alkaline. Give it a tank with open swimming room, some rock or wood for cover, and a digging-friendly substrate.

Good to know

This is a Central American member of the Cichlidae, reaching about 16 cm. It is a substrate spawning, biparental cichlid. A pair lays eggs on a cleaned surface and both parents guard the eggs and fry. It has tricuspid teeth, three-cusped for grazing algae, an unusual trait among Central American cichlids.

Did you know

Rainbow cichlid parents will move their fry around the tank and even chew up food to feed them, an attentive level of brood care that makes them a good first cichlid for watching parenting behavior.