Rainbow cichlid
Herotilapia multispinosa
- Tank length
- 32 cm13 in
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C72–82 °F
- pH
- 6.5–8
- Adult size
- 8 cm3 in
- Lifespan
- 8–12 yrs
One of the gentlest Central American cichlids, suitable for a community of sturdy mid-sized fish; guards fry fiercely.One of the gentlest Central American cichlids, suitable for a community of sturdy mid-sized fish; guards fry fiercely.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African pike
African pike may eat Rainbow cichlidAfrican pike may eat Rainbow cichlid
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Rainbow cichlidAlligator gar may eat Rainbow cichlid
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Rainbow cichlidAntenna ray may eat Rainbow cichlid
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Rainbow cichlidArapaima may eat Rainbow cichlid
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Rainbow cichlidAsian arowana may eat Rainbow cichlid
- Atahualpa dwarf cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Rainbow cichlidAustralian pearl arowana may eat Rainbow cichlid
- Barred bichir
Barred bichir may eat Rainbow cichlidBarred bichir may eat Rainbow cichlid
- Black bullhead
Black bullhead may eat Rainbow cichlidBlack bullhead may eat Rainbow cichlid
- Black diamond cichlid
Black diamond cichlid may eat Rainbow cichlidBlack diamond cichlid may eat Rainbow cichlid
- Brown bullhead
Brown bullhead may eat Rainbow cichlidBrown bullhead may eat Rainbow cichlid
- Bullseye snakehead
Bullseye snakehead may eat Rainbow cichlidBullseye snakehead may eat Rainbow cichlid
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 22–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.5–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–20 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Pacific slope of Central America, Honduras to Costa Rica | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | semi aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 8–12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |