• Scientific name: Archocentrus multispinosus
• Synonyms: Heros multispinosus, Herotilapia multispinosa
• Common name: Rainbow Cichlid
• Group: Cichlids
• Habitat: Central America: from Costa Rica to Honduras and Nicaragua
• Size: Male:11-12 cm, Female: 9 cm
• Biotope: Inhabits in turbid waters with soft, muddy substrates usually in lakes and swamps.
• Social behavior: Territorial, peaceful and rarely aggressive except during spawning. Males will not tolerate other males in a small space, especially during breeding. Pairs form lasting relationships and a nuclear family. They can be kept with larger live bearers and characins.
• Diet: Omnivorous; Feeds detritus and algae in nature, but can be fed with all types of live foods, stewed lettuce, spinach and flake foods in aquarium. They especially like brineshrimp and mosquito larvae.
• Breeding: Quite easy
• Tank: Minimum 100 litres
• Population: 1 pair for 100 litres
• Decoration: Needs a tank with fine gravel, or sand with rocks and roots providing hiding places. Overturned pots work well too.
• Temperature: 21-36 °C
• pH: 7-8
• Hardness: 9-20 NK°
• Lifespan: 8 years

Description: Rainbow Cichlid have bright orange base color with variable black markings along the length of the body. Fins - excluding pectorals - are edged in bright blue. The fish can quickly change colors according to mood. They have orange eyes. Debatably the smallest Central American cichlid, it is closely related to the genus Cichlasoma differing only by its three-pointed teeth. Archocentrus multispinosus has tricuspid teeth, which greatly enhances the ability to feed on filamentous algae, making up a large portion of its natural diet. These three specialized teeth have earned multispinosa its own genus, Herotilapia. The Rainbow Cichlid is an ideal fish to keep and breed for the beginner.

It is a little difficult to distinguish between the sexes: males tend to be longer and larger with pointed dorsal and anal fins, a more certain sign is the short ovipositor of the female. For breeding they require a separate breeding tank with neutral, soft to medium-hard water, pH around 7, 5-10 dGH° at a temperature of 26-27 °C. During spawning the fish turn almost black, and they will also keep this color during fry guarding. Open breeders, the fish drop 600-1000 eggs on previously cleaned roots and rocks. The female will lay the eggs, then the male will move in to fertilise them. They are carefully guarded by the female who circulates water by fanning the eggs with her fins. The eggs are hatch in 2-3 days, and the fry are protected in pits. After a week, the fry will be free swimming. When the young fishes are swimming free you can feed them with baby brine shrimp and some days later with fine crushed dry food. While the brood is generally well cared-for, the parents may cannabalize some of the fry.