3. you realize that it's just the males that have color, right? Most females
are a drab gray/brown earthy tone color...

Thats mostly in peacocks...in most Mbuna, the females are colorful. Many species
have no sexual dimorphism, and many have totally different, but equally
coulorful females (Ps. Salousoi, Ps. Lombardoi "Kenyi", Melanchromis "Chipokae",
etc.)

If you want info on Africans try the African Cichlid Resource Forum, or you
could try Cichlid-forum.com. I currently have a 55 gallon set up, with 8 Yellow
labs, and 6 tiger barbs...the tank is lightly planted..and the only thing the
labs seem to do (bright yellow...females too..) is pick the algae off the sword
leaves...

Rich