Rainbow Cichlid???

[ineedabox]

I have just aquired a baby 'rainbow cichlid.'

Now, I don't really know much about it, some of my friends who have never failed me before assured me it would be alright in my one of my tanks, so it's in. Now it's not very aggressive, but I just want to know about what it will eventually become..lol
Right now it's about 1and 1/2-2 inches, brownish, with colorful fins, and a few bright metallic green spots around it's gills. It's also got a black spot behind the pectoral fin, and one at it's tail. BUT, all the pics I found of the fullgrown fish look absolutely NOTHING like mine...so what's the deal? Does it just change alot?
Can anybody help a bro out?

 

[nativelady76]

i have 2 pairs of these fish and they are great mine are about 3 inches and i think thats all the bigger they will get they will have fry like crazy so watch out and have fun they are great fish to watch they always look like they are ready to fight but never do any damage... its funny i think

 

[ineedabox]

Yeah....well the little bastich just killed a baby oscar that I really liked, so I dont know what's gonna happen here...

 

[nativelady76]

WHAT????
wow thats weird i have had other fish in with mine including convicts and they never did that to them thats strange sorry to hear that

 

[TONO]

Are you sure sure the rainbow killed it? Was the oscar going after it?

 

[AikidoGuy]

Yeah....well the little bastich just killed a baby oscar that I really liked, so I dont know what's gonna happen here...

Rainbow cichlids (Herotilapia multispinosa ) are very peaceful. Not likely it killed the oscar.

To answer your other question. Most juvenile CA,SA, cichlids look nothing like their adult counterparts. Part of the reason why more varieties arent offered at most lfs.