Not very sure, but cichlid pair will definitely protect their young together when face with a threat, example 1 parent will protect the eggs or young by staying close to them and if any threat comes near, they will maybe fight or use their mouth to chase them away (usually the female) While the other one guards the territory and this is most probably the male. To get to the eggs, the intruder must face the male first, as he is the one guarding the territory and fending off predator.
