The spawnings I got, I did water changes and pumped live food (earth worms) through them, also soft water
They can be a very highly agressive cichlid, placid with others, but the males have been known to kill their females throughtout the spawning process. I had my male try to kill her the once, turned my back for 30 mins and came back inside and found her bashed up.. Sometimes a divider is needed for breeding, however, I haven't had to so far, I just took the female out to patch her and he accepted her back again without agression. Both times of spawning they have spawned on a terracotta pot, they don't seem to like the slate. (however that could just be my pair)