reproduction managuensis

Question
Hi Chris. Please help me. I have a 55gal tank set up for approx a year now. I have 4 total fish. One female managuensis, 2 pacus, and 1 chocolate ciclid. All were babies when bought. I have just noticed my managuensis has layed a whole bunch of eggs on top of a flat rock. She is proctecting them ferociously. How on earth did she lay eggs? Did she mate with another fish in the tank? How were they fertilized, or are they? What's going to happen to them and is there anything I need to know or should do? Please help.

Answer
Hi Pamela;

Female cichlids will lay eggs without a male present but they are not fertile. If a male is present, he fertilizes as they are laid. She will "go through the motions" and guard them, but they will turn white because they aren't viable. She will eat them and may do it again the future but it does no harm to her. She may get mean with the other fish in the tank though. If it gets too bad you might consider giving her a tank of her own.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins