Sounds like breeding behaviour Lil

What type of cichlids do you have again? I remember you saying they look like my Maingano. If they're Maingano then they are mouth brooders & egg layers. The female will lay them on the substrate, then pick them up in her mouth, she'll then hassle the male to get him to release milt which she will take into her mouth to fertilize the eggs. The eggs will stay in her mouth until they a free swimming fry

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