Rainbow cichlid
Encyclopedia
The rainbow cichlid is a tropical freshwater
Central America
n fish
of the cichlid
family. It was formerly the sole species of the genus Herotilapia, but has since been reclassified to the species Archocentrus
, based on a study by Juan Schmitter-Soto. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican suggested that the Rainbow Cichlid is actually more closely related to the Jack Dempsey
(genus Rocio
) and the cichlids of the genus Astatheros than to the other Archocentrus cichlids, and thus should be moved back to the genus Herotilapia. This cichlid is native to both the Atlantic slope and the Pacific slope of Central America, ranging from Costa Rica
to Honduras
and Nicaragua
. This species is found in lakes and swamps with muddy bottoms where it uses its specialized teeth, a defining characteristic of this monotypic
genus, to feed on algae. The rainbow cichlid prefers a pH
range of 7.0–8.0, water hardness
of 9-20 dGH
and a temperature range of 21–36 °C.
The rainbow cichlid is commercially important as an aquarium fish. As the name suggests, this is a brilliantly colored fish with a gold-orange body and iridescent hues. The rainbow cichlid can change colors rapidly according to its mood. Relatively small (9 centimeters) and quite peaceful compared to other Central American cichlids, it is a suitable and hardy fish for most aquariums. This cichlid is a substrate spawner. Adults pair up and defend their eggs and fry from other fish.
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
n fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
of the cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
family. It was formerly the sole species of the genus Herotilapia, but has since been reclassified to the species Archocentrus
Archocentrus
Archocentrus is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 3 species. It formerly included 7 of the species now included in the genus Cryptoheros, as well as the convict cichlid, now included in the genus Amatitlania. The Rainbow Cichlid, Archocentrus...
, based on a study by Juan Schmitter-Soto. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican suggested that the Rainbow Cichlid is actually more closely related to the Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey (fish)
The Jack Dempsey is a cichlid fish that is widely distributed across North and Central America...
(genus Rocio
Rocio
Rocio is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Mexico and northern Central America. The genus currently contains 3 species. It was established in 2007 as the genus for the Jack Dempsey and its close relatives.-Species:...
) and the cichlids of the genus Astatheros than to the other Archocentrus cichlids, and thus should be moved back to the genus Herotilapia. This cichlid is native to both the Atlantic slope and the Pacific slope of Central America, ranging from Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
to Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. This species is found in lakes and swamps with muddy bottoms where it uses its specialized teeth, a defining characteristic of this monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus, to feed on algae. The rainbow cichlid prefers a pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
range of 7.0–8.0, water hardness
DH
-Flying:* de Havilland, a former UK aircraft manufacturer* Decision height, an element of aviational instrument approach* Independence Air's IATA code-Health:* Department of Health , a branch of government...
of 9-20 dGH
DGH
Degrees of general hardness is a unit of water hardness, specifically of general hardness.General hardness is a measure of the concentration of metal divalent ions such as calcium and magnesium per volume of water...
and a temperature range of 21–36 °C.
The rainbow cichlid is commercially important as an aquarium fish. As the name suggests, this is a brilliantly colored fish with a gold-orange body and iridescent hues. The rainbow cichlid can change colors rapidly according to its mood. Relatively small (9 centimeters) and quite peaceful compared to other Central American cichlids, it is a suitable and hardy fish for most aquariums. This cichlid is a substrate spawner. Adults pair up and defend their eggs and fry from other fish.
External links
- Herotilapia multispinosa "Rainbow Cichlid" by Zeb Ernest. cichlid-forum.com